A fascinating chronicle of the battle for dominance in chess and the brilliant, eccentric, and highly online grandmasters who are changing an ancient game. Every elite chess player dreams of becoming a world champion, wearing the crown, and making history. However, for many of today's top grandmasters, this dream seemed far away: the Norwegian Goliath Magnus Carlsen was simply too good. When Carlsen announced he would not defend his title for the fifth time, others saw an opportunity to finally sit on the throne. The interregnum follows these brilliant and often eccentric personalities around the world as they compete to become the world chess champion. It's a story about the millennial giants of chess, whose time is running out. About teenage prodigies refusing to wait their turn. About triumphs and disappointments, ambitions and anxieties. About an ancient sport experiencing a remarkable renaissance and the highly online enfant terribles changing the game. Part sports chronicle, part ode, part character study, the interregnum offers something for passionate chess enthusiasts, curious onlookers, and anyone who enjoys an exciting story of competition or triumph of the mind.