Well developed characters and plot.

... Last updated on February 23rd, 2024, 4:24pm

finally finished this one after well over a year of not reading it and i'm so glad i did☹️☹️😭😭 one of my absolute favorite bls for sure.. lee soohyun you crazy bitch

The analogy to a game of chess is definitely fitting for the couple, not in a kind of run and chase, but really just always challenging the other with their tactile moves. There are some dubious scenes, but not in a toxic way. This is definitely something I will reread, although the first chapters dragged on, apart from the love story, the plot was very engaging.

Tried reading but this series did not hold my interest...The art is SO good and the premise is interesting but story wise and development wise the first five chapters did not interest me....

I felt like the interactions between the two male MC's in the first five chapters was so awkward and a bit unnatural/forced (and forced tension on the part of the Soohyun the black-haired glasses MC).

In addition, I found it boring/annoying(?) at the start how often we heard the perspective of the black-haired glasses MC. Those long ongoing inner monologues throughout the first few chapters about their obsessive and analytical feelings was so boring/annoying/too long. I think I had the same problem that turned me off from reading Payback (SAMK & Fujoking) . These two manhwas try so hard at doing a long winded overly analytical/overly detailed first person perspective by the uke's....I wonder if most webnovels are like these? It's like they are trying to say too much in the style of a novel first person perspective.

I can't rate it since i dropped it too early on (5 chapters). I might revisit Checkmate (by TAN) one day because I do find the premise interesting and the art is REALLY good.

... Last updated on May 21st, 2023, 8:21pm

This is so good and deserve more attention
Yk I hate obsessive, control freak and insecure characters but author made it good somehow here
Soohyun harsh attitude and word can make your life hell but there is many good things about him
He is always there to back u up
I seriously loved that sunbae character so much , I shipped him with shinhae but author never give side characters more focus 😭

... Last updated on May 16th, 2023, 10:42am

this is THE hate to love trope that will blow your mind. I love my cutesy hate to love trope but this portrays hate as it is and how it's so easy to blur hate, obsession, and love. their relationship is complex under a complicated situation. the development of their relationship is portrayed in such ridiculously natural manner. checkmate is definitely up there on top in my top fave manhwa list.

... Last updated on January 6th, 2023, 5:29am

Their chemistry is sooo goooood.
Every thursday, I roll over and the first thing I do is buy Checkmate even though I can just pirate it a few days later. Tan deserves my money. It's my favourite webtoon. I have reread this like 6 times.
Please talk to me about Checkmate. I'm easy to find. I have no one to scream with!!!

c/w: Rape (well... it's more like Soohyun welcomes it as long as he's the one in control 😂 otherwise he's utterly obsessed with Eunsung)

The mind chess? Fantastic. Art? Fantastic. If you like antagonistic pairs like this where they play mind games with each other and their common enemy, this is grade A+.

The only things that aren't a masterpiece are... well, if Tan were able to write them as musicians like originally planned, that would've been much better than fine art imo lol. Their common enemy seems pettier than he could be... hm. Little things.

One of my favourite lines is I just love it.

It's twisted. It's smart. It's devilishly enchanting.

... Last updated on October 16th, 2022, 8:43am