my favorite ending of chess the musical is the standard one where act 2 game is sergievsky vs viigand, but it is interesting how drastically different freddie trumper's fate is depending on the ending.
in most versions, he loses the title and becomes a commentator. it breaks his ego, but it gives him actual growth. "pity the child" is a private breakdown where he finally faces his childhood trauma, leading to that moment of grace where he selflessly helps anatoly win just for the love of the game.
but the broadway version where anatoly throws the match so freddie wins the title? thatβs a death sentence for his psyche. "pity the child" is a defensive, self-piteous rant to a journalist rather than actual self-reflection. he's smart enough to sense the unforced error and that false victory will just rot his mind with paranoia. he never addresses his deep-seated trauma or his behavior. winning the world championship again tells freddie's brain: "see? being loud, arrogant, selfish, and abusive works. you don't need to change." and instead of finding peace, a winning freddie is completely doomed to crash and burn exactly like bobby fischer.
