Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Jolene tells Beth that Mr Shaibel has died and takes her to his funeral. Returning to the orphanage basement, Beth discovers newspaper clippings charting her career and a photograph of herself with the man who taught her. She breaks down with Jolene afterward. When the Christian sponsors demand a statement Beth cannot support, she returns their money. Jolene helps finance the Moscow journey, allowing Beth to travel after her attempts to secure other help fail. She arrives ready to compete without the pills she once relied on.
Beth wins her way through the Moscow tournament, where she notices Soviet players analysing together. An older opponent, Luchenko, praises her after she defeats him. Eventually she reaches Borgov, and their game is adjourned overnight. Beth tells reporters about Shaibel's part in her life and reunites with Townes, who has come to cover the tournament. A telephone call then connects her with Benny, Harry and their fellow players in New York. They share possible continuations, while Townes helps her record the analysis.
When play resumes, Borgov departs from the lines her friends prepared. Beth looks upward and visualises the board on the ceiling without taking tranquilizers. She refuses his draw offer and continues until he resigns, handing her his king before embracing her. On the drive toward the airport, Beth asks to stop. She walks among the older men playing chess outdoors, who recognise her and gather around. Accepting a seat opposite one of them, she removes her gloves and agrees to play another game.