Checkmate Manhwa English Print Guide: Volumes, Reading Order & Where to Start
Looking for the physical books? This guide explains the English print edition. Use the collection to see the Checkmate manhwa volumes currently available.
Shop Checkmate manhwaLooking for the physical English edition of Checkmate? Here is the current print volume count, the correct reading order and the easiest place to start if you want TAN's full-colour BL manhwa on your shelf.
Checkmate currently has four official English print volumes.
Read them in normal numerical order, starting with Checkmate Vol. 1. The Seven Seas edition is a full-colour paperback adaptation of TAN's Korean webtoon/manhwa.
Start reading Checkmate in English
Start with Volume 1
Volume 1 introduces Soohyun, Eunsung and the rivalry that drives their increasingly messy adult relationship.
View Checkmate Vol. 1Browse the English volumes
Use the series page if you are continuing the story or filling a gap in your physical collection.
Shop Checkmate ManhwaHow many Checkmate manhwa volumes are there in English?
There are currently four official English paperback volumes published by Seven Seas Entertainment.
| Volume | English release | Reading order |
|---|---|---|
| Checkmate Vol. 1 | 29 October 2024 | Start here |
| Checkmate Vol. 2 | 28 January 2025 | Second |
| Checkmate Vol. 3 | 29 April 2025 | Third |
| Checkmate Vol. 4 | 4 August 2026 | Fourth |
Those numbers refer to the physical English books. They should not be confused with individual webtoon episode numbers.
What is Checkmate about?
Checkmate follows Soohyun, whose teenage years were defined by one frustrating fact: no matter how hard he tried, Eunsung always seemed to come out ahead.
Years later, Soohyun sees his former rival caught up in a public scandal. Instead of leaving the past alone, he reinvents himself as a reporter and becomes determined to force a reaction from Eunsung.
The result is a BL story built far more around obsession, rivalry, manipulation and psychological tension than a soft or straightforward romance.
Good fit if you like: adult BL, rivals with history, flawed characters, psychological drama, obsessive relationships and full-colour manhwa.
Is Checkmate manga or manhwa?
Checkmate is Korean manhwa.
Manga normally refers to Japanese comics, while manhwa refers to Korean comics. Checkmate was originally released as a Korean webtoon before receiving its physical English edition.
If you want a fuller explanation of the terminology, read our Manga vs Manhwa vs Manhua guide.
What order should you read Checkmate?
The physical reading order is very simple:
Volume 1 → Volume 2 → Volume 3 → Volume 4
There is no prequel or separate side volume that needs to be read first. If you are buying Checkmate for the first time, Volume 1 is the correct starting point.
Is the English Checkmate manhwa in colour?
Yes. The English physical books retain the full-colour presentation associated with the original webtoon.
That makes the books visually different from a typical black-and-white Japanese manga paperback and is part of the appeal for readers building a physical manhwa collection.
Should you read Checkmate digitally or buy the print edition?
You want a physical collection
The English paperbacks are best if you prefer reading away from a screen, collecting books by volume and keeping the full-colour artwork on your shelf.
You prefer webtoon reading
The original scrolling format makes more sense if you primarily read comics on a phone and have no interest in owning the physical series.
Is Checkmate a good first BL manhwa?
It can be, but it depends on why you are interested in BL.
If you want something gentle, cosy or uncomplicated, Checkmate probably should not be your first choice.
If the appeal is adult characters, strong psychological tension and a relationship where both people bring plenty of baggage, it is a much better fit.
Checkmate FAQs
How many Checkmate manhwa volumes are available in English?
Four physical English volumes are currently available, from Checkmate Vol. 1 through Vol. 4.
What volume should I start Checkmate with?
Start with Checkmate Vol. 1. The physical books follow normal numerical reading order.
Is Checkmate a manga?
Checkmate is Korean manhwa, originally released as a webtoon. The English print edition is published as full-colour paperback books.
Is Checkmate BL?
Yes. Checkmate is a Boys' Love manhwa centred on Soohyun and Eunsung, with a strong focus on rivalry, obsession and psychological drama.
Is the Checkmate English print edition full colour?
Yes. The Seven Seas paperback edition uses full-colour artwork.
Start Checkmate in English
New to the series? Begin with Volume 1. Already reading? Browse the current physical English volumes and continue your collection.
Shop Checkmate Manhwa