The Royal Game

Brief Overview

«The Royal Game» by Stefan Zweig tells the story of a chance encounter aboard an ocean liner between the world chess champion Mirko Czentovic and Dr. B., who turns out to be an exceptional chess player. Dr. B. recounts how he learned to play chess while in isolation in a Nazi prison, where his only entertainment was a book of chess games. As the match between Czentovic and Dr. B. unfolds, the psychological aspects and inner struggles of the characters are revealed, making the novella not only about chess but also deeply philosophical.