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Beth Harmon

This character is orphaned at the age of eight and becomes a chess celebrity by her late teens.

Alma Wheatley

This character adopts a child, and, soon after, her husband leaves on a business trip and never returns. She takes tranquilizers to calm her anxiety and is surprisingly good at lying.

Vasily Borgov

This character has been the World Champion of chess for five years before he is beaten in the Moscow invitational.

Allston Wheatley

This character signs adoption papers and, shortly after, leaves the family.

Manuel

This character is the Mexican high school pen-pal of one of the main characters. The two have a fling while she is in Mexico.

Helen Deardorff

This character is the superintendent of the Methuen House. She is a cruel woman who forbids the main character from playing chess as a punishment for being addicted to pills prescribed to her.

Fergussen

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