Welcome to Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit. Join hosts Jess and Ryan as they unravel the ongoing chess cheating scandal (among other chess controversies).
Elon Musk tweets - and then deletes - a joke (?) about cheating in chess via anal beads. Suddenly, the game of chess is thrown into the spotlight again, two years after the well-received debut of The Queen's Gambit Netflix series (we have no affiliation, but, like, the SEO is cool for us...and it was a pretty good show, in our opinions).
But what the anal bead headlines are missing is the complicated web of accusations, slander, lies, cheating, and overall drama that is casting a shadow on the once noble game of chess. We're looking for answers - and the truth - as this true crime continues to unfold in the manner of a truly modern whodunnit, where the clues are hidden in the holes of a chessboard, the deepest of Internet rabbit holes...and maybe some other holes, too.
Visit our website at rookedpodcast.xyz to learn more about the show, access transcripts, and discover some neato Easter eggs.
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Welcome to Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit. Join hosts Jess and Ryan as they unravel the ongoing chess cheating scandal (among other chess controversies).
Elon Musk tweets - and then deletes - a joke (?) about cheating in chess via anal beads. Suddenly, the game of chess is thrown into the spotlight again, two years after the well-received debut of The Queen's Gambit Netflix series (we have no affiliation, but, like, the SEO is cool for us...and it was a pretty good show, in our opinions).
But what the anal bead headlines are missing is the complicated web of accusations, slander, lies, cheating, and overall drama that is casting a shadow on the once noble game of chess. We're looking for answers - and the truth - as this true crime continues to unfold in the manner of a truly modern whodunnit, where the clues are hidden in the holes of a chessboard, the deepest of Internet rabbit holes...and maybe some other holes, too.
Visit our website at rookedpodcast.xyz to learn more about the show, access transcripts, and discover some neato Easter eggs.
Powered by Firstory Hosting

Last episode, we took a deep dive into the open secret in chess of rampant sexism, misogyny, and abuse of women. This time we continue that conversation, and look at the ways that the chess community is fighting back to create not just better equality, but better chess. We talk with chessfeels hosts Julia Rios and JJ Lang, Women in Chess Foundation founder Emilia Castelao, streamer and chess player Lile Koridze, commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Aontoni about what needs to change to finally bring the game we all love into the 21st century.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses acts of assault, sexual assault, and abuse, including abuse of minors. The end credits also include brief mention of suicide prevention.
Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess.
If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts.
Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked
Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb.
Music by Lorna Gildfedder.
Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography.
Resources
Rare Interview - Bobby Fischer On Women
Bobby Fischer answers the same question about women in chess 10 years apart.
Kasparov Interviews by Edward Winter
Addressing Sexism in Chess: A Guide to Making Chess More Inclusive
Ju Wenjun denied seat at 2023 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship
"Chess has not been that kind to women," says GM Magnus Carlsen: The Queen's Gambit
Susan Polgar
Facts and Myths About Women in Chess, Dr David Smerdon (GM)
Anna Cramling tells Levy Rozman that opponents were sending her sexual messages after her Games
The Experiences Of Women In Chess
FIDE introduces ground-breaking Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI) – 2023 Rankings unveiled
Jen Shahade tweet: “Very insightful from the great Pia Cramling on this topic” [video]
Jordan’s Principle