In the episode 6 - Adjournment - of the Queen's Gambit series, Beth is preparing for the big game with the Soviet champion Borgov. However, on the evening before, she receives a call from Cleo - a model that Beth has met before only once, during the "chess party".
Cleo invites Beth for a drink, even while the latter protests and says that she needs rest. This ends with Beth being hungover in the morning and losing the game to Borgov.
Did Cleo try to sabotage Beth's chances or was she genuinely trying to "have some fun" with Beth? She insisted on meeting that evening ("tomorrow I might be away!"), she kept pouring new drinks, she insisted on meeting some guys in the hotel's lounge bar... Earlier on, she admits (although jokingly) that she is jealous of Beth's talent.
So was Cleo acting out of malice?