12th Blitz "Death Match" Player Announcement!
It's official! Rising stars GM Alexander Ipatov and GM Marc Arnold are confirmed to participate in Chess.com's 12th Blitz Death Match, set to take place Saturday, March 30th, at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. The two young studs will duke it out for the $1000 cash prize, as well as the pride and glory of becoming a Blitz Death Match Champion!
GM Ipatov recently entered the limelight by winning the 2012 World Junior Championship, ahead of such stars as GM Ding Liren, GM Yu Yangyi, and many other strong junior GMs. Alexander has competed all over the world and is currently ranked 4th among Turkish chess players, with a FIDE rating of 2569.
GM Arnold comes in as a slight underdog with a FIDE rating of 2538, but Marc's future chess career is just as promising, as he recently became the 2012 U.S. Junior Champion and has been on a steady rise for the past few years. With lots of experience in blitz and bullet, Marc should in no way be underestimated.
Although the two players have never played each other before, and are even friends (away from the chessboard!!), they are sure to be motivated to give it their best with the goal of defeating a fellow young star.
Be sure to catch all of the live action, including pre-match interviews on Saturday, March 30th, at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern, open to all members on Chess.com/tv! IM Rensch and other special guests will bring you "play by play" of all the action as it happens.
Danny Rensch is an international master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.
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Read “Dark Squares,” Danny’s Highly Anticipated Memoir
Danny Rensch has released his highly anticipated memoir on September 16, 2025. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, this powerful and deeply personal book dives into his upbringing in an abusive cult and how chess ended up saving his life.
