Beth travels to New York with Benny, where he trains her for the Paris Invitational. He invites two strong players, Hilton Wexler and Arthur Levertov to assist, along with a model named Cleo, who quickly befriends Beth. Beth repeatedly beats Benny, Wexler, and Levertov at simultaneous speed chess. After the others leave, Beth and Benny have sex, but Benny ruins the mood by talking chess strategy afterwards. At the Paris Invitational, Beth advances to the finals against Borgov. Cleo, who is also in Paris, invites Beth out for drinks, resulting in a late-night bender. Hungover, Beth oversleeps the final and can't focus, losing to Borgov again. Devastated, Beth declines Benny's offer to continue training with him for the Moscow Invitational. She returns to Kentucky, where her lawyer informs her that Allston now has issues with her living in his house. He demands she vacate, but Beth buys the house from him, removes all his belongings, and redecorates. Soon after, she plunges into a days-long drug and alcohol bender, ignoring the outside world. She reluctantly honors her commitment to visit the Kentucky State Championship, where Beltik confronts her about her alcoholism. The next day, Beth finds Jolene at her front door.