Danny Rensch's Journey from Religious Group to Chess.com Co-Founder
Danny Rensch, who grew up in the Church of Immortal Consciousness in Arizona, was assigned a spiritual purpose to become a world chess champion. This religious group, often referred to as the Collective, expected each member to live by their assigned purpose. Rensch's interest in chess was sparked at the age of nine after watching the film 'Searching for Bobby Fischer,' which led to his obsession with the game. Within the Collective, chess became more than a hobby, and a successful youth team was formed with Rensch at its center. Despite the pressure to fulfill his spiritual purpose, Rensch became an elite chess player. Today, he is the co-founder and chief chess officer at chess.com and has authored a memoir titled 'Dark Squares.' 
