WINNER of the 2024 Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize

Before he turns three-years-old, Little Misha Bloom discovers his special gift: He's able to see black and white chess pieces in color, each type radiating a tell-tale glow. With the help of two old men – his Grandfather and his Grandfather's gambling buddy – he learns to play competitively, and within a few years he's one of the best young players in America. Coming to terms with his “abnormality,” Misha gradually learns how to engage with the world – adults, women, fellow chess nerds – and to accept his inexplicable gifts. With the aid of several peculiar acquaintances, he grows into one of the greatest players of all time, earning a shot at the 1993 World Championship, where the omnipresence and power of magic guides him to his destiny.