Danny Rensch

Danny Rensch, an International Master in chess since 2009 and record holder for the youngest national master in Arizona's history, has a long and distinguished career in the realm of chess. Apart from his skills on the board, Rensch has proven his acumen off the board as well, co-founding Chess.com and taking up the role of Chief Chess Officer. He has directed over 1100 chess tournaments under the United States Chess Federation, including high-profile events such as "The $40,000 GM Blitz Battle Championship" in 2016. Furthermore, Rensch has been instrumental in organizing and hosting the PogChamps, an online tournament for internet personalities, and the 2022 Rapid Chess Championship, a significant online event with a $650,000 prize fund.

As a commentator, Rensch has covered a variety of major events ranging from the World Chess Championship to Chess.com's flagship events like the Bullet Chess Championship and the Speed Chess Championship. He also provided live commentary for the Isle of Man International. As an educator, his series on Chess.com, such as "Rook Endgames: Beginner to Master" and "Everything You Need to Know," have garnered millions of views. He also hosts the quarterly "State of Chess.com" show, discussing the platform's activities and future plans, reflecting his keen interest in the intersection of chess, entrepreneurship, and esports.

Outside his direct involvement in the chess world, Rensch has left his footprint in various other spheres. He has been a presenter and panelist at various conferences, including multiple appearances at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, where he has discussed the impact of chess engines and machine learning in chess. In 2017, he hosted a lecture titled "Chess and the Art of War: Strategies That Win" with Magnus Carlsen. Furthermore, Rensch authored a memoir titled "Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life," published in 2025, and also contributed to directing chess scenes in the independent film "Life of a King." He co-hosted the podcast "Coffeehouse Blunders," and has appeared as a guest on multiple other podcasts, showcasing his ability to articulate complex chess-related topics to a wide audience.