Summary

In Chapter 16, Mallory watches a video while at Zugzwang in which two gossip talk show hosts discuss why she might have been chosen by FIDE to compete in the Challengers tournament. Defne interrupts her and asks for a moment alone. Defne explains that FIDE likely did choose Mallory because she is a woman and there were not enough female players. She insists that Mallory’s speculative relationship with Nolan had nothing to do with it. Privately, Mallory thinks about Nolan’s unanswered texts on her phone, in which he keeps giving her chess-related advice, as though they were friends.

Mallory arrives in Las Vegas for the Challengers tournament in Chapter 17. She told Mom she was going to Boulder to visit Easton. The first player she sees is Koch, who insults her immediately. Next, she spots Tanu and Emil, who greet her warmly. They...