Checkmate

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Alternative Titles

Japanese: 체크 메이트

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Information

Type: Manhwa

Volumes: Unknown

Chapters: 115

Status: Finished

Published: Aug 7, 2020 to Sep 28, 2023

Genres: Boys Love, Drama, Erotica

Theme: Psychological

Serialization: Ridi Webtoon

Authors: Tan (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.92¹ (scored by 984 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: N/A²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #9114

Members: 2,368

Favorites: 63

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Resources

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7.92

Ranked N/APopularity #9114Members 2,368

ManhwaRidi WebtoonTan (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /?

Chapters: /115

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Synopsis

Soohyun doesn't have a "first love," but he definitely has a "first hate"—his high school classmate Eunsung. A smooth-mannered all-star, Eunsung snaps up first place in everything, leaving Soohyun always trailing behind in second place. Winning out over Eunsung is the one thing that motivates Soohyun, but after graduation, Soohyun contents himself with a dull, mediocre life. One day, Eunsung appears on the news, knee-deep in scandal and, for once, not perfectly at ease...lighting Soohyun's inner fires once again. Desperate to see a fallen Eunsung with his own eyes, Soohyun jumps into the fray as a reporter, and gets Eunsung to strike an outrageous deal with him.

(Source: Lezhin Entertainment)

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Background

Checkmate is originally a webtoon series released on Ridibooks which has been published in print by Lezhin Entertainment since May 10, 2023. The series has been published digitally in English and Spanish by Lezhin Entertainment, and in French by Delitoon on Le Bontoon. The volumes have been published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment since October 29, 2024.

More characters
Characters

Lee, Soohyun

Main

Jung, Eusung

Main

Kim, Young-jin

Supporting

Yoon, Ji-woo

Supporting

Kim, Kang-woo

Supporting

Kim, Seo-jun

Supporting

Lee, Soo-jung

Supporting

Lee, Jin-hyun

Supporting

Kim, Min-seok

Supporting

Lee, Shin-hae

Supporting

Reviews

Nov 19, 2025

Myoui-Chan

Recommended

It took me one year to finish reading this manhwa. I'm not even kidding, I checked it out yesterday because I remembered it and there was a timestamp on the third chapter that I left this on read for A YEAR. The thing is, I remember exactly why.

I really tried to read this manhwa, the positive reviews really made me curious but the main character was just soooo embarrassing I kept slamming my head to the pillow before deciding, y'know what, I'm actually not going to waste my time trying to get through this but here we are- I picked this up yesterday and ... actually binged this all in one day and all I'm thinking is, why didn't I push through a year ago?!?! This was so good, the last time I felt like this was when I suffered through the first season of Jojo just to find out, why was the rest lowkey peak?

Anyway, past is past but I think what really drives the story home for me is the characters. Soohyun, the main narrator in particular, is soooo incredibly in his head it's just embarrassing, man. But also, I actually understood his viewpoint despite finding it difficult to see things from his lens. He is so wrapped up in his spite, and it's very interesting how the author portrays this. It made me squirm and wince the first initial chapters (mostly from sheer second-hand embarrassment because one of us had to be embarrassed for his decisions because WTF) but looking back, the way the author wrote his narrative so delicately is honestly so amazing. What a mind. Eunseung was a little more predictable, but his character was written so nicely as well it didn't felt so cliche. What I like the most about them though is when they're together- they just mesh with each other so perfectly that even when they're just in one frame, it's oozing with so much. Whether that be chemistry, tension, or whatnot. It adds that the author is actually very detailed, even when it's just a momentary panel to a big action.

I came in here expecting a psychological horror more than romance, but honestly, the psychological horror aspect kind of fizzles out which I surprisingly don't mind. The romance wasn't what I expected but it's good too. It was honestly such a rollercoaster ride and the author made it so enjoyable, they deserve their flowers to be honest.

TL;DR not really but I like that their dynamic is actually balanced. They're both dominant in a way, but they give way for each other, and if we ignore the first couple of chapters- I think what makes them work so well is that they consider each other, which honestly is such a 180 but I welcome it just because the author wrote the story so well.

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May 3, 2025

Nikinookie

Recommended

Damn, this was a great read.. I found it to be actual art and more than just a senseless BL sex scroll. Honestly I have kept so many screenshots from this manhwa, the characters are stunning, drawn absolutely perfect.

MC’s yeahhhh are some very handsome fellas. When they come together it’s the perfect yin yang situation aesthetically, but I mean at all times also independently, the art just blew me away the whole way thru. It was refreshing how nothing looked odd or cringe, especially in terms of the boys’ faces and generalized expressions. (Which is an important ass thing! - if you read BL ...

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Mar 9, 2024

tyc33

Mixed Feelings

Informative

Preliminary (103/115 eps)

It was actually an interesting ride!

This BL is incredible if you're the kind of person who enjoys good dialogues and overanalyzing characters rather than sex scenes that happens every two chapters for no reason. I was stunned once I noticed that every mature scene was actually plot-relevant and not unnecessary to the point it is merely for shock value LOL

The dialogues, I kid you not, are genuinely really good. There's ton of poetic scenes, I was amazed at how their love-hate relationship developed, the way that they see each other changing, ugh!!

Although, the protagonist in this is pretty much a morally grey character and, after ...

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