This week’s guest, GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez is an accomplished trainer, player, Chessable author and one of the busiest players on the US tournament circuit. As such a frequent competitor, Fidel has had more than his share of successes (including winning the 2023 World Open!), but I have nonetheless often wondered how he finds the time and energy to play at a high level so frequently and consistently. Hearing Fidel’s fascinating life story helped me untangle the mystery. Fidel and I covered a ton of topics, including: 

• Why he quit his job as a computer programmer in 2023 to work full time in chess
• His long and winding path from Cuba to the United States 
• Attending Webster University with GM Wesley So, IM Eric Rosen and others 
• The most common mistakes he sees by his amateur students 
• How much he worries about OTB cheating as a frequent competitor for the top prizes
• His deep love for the Scotch Opening 

This nearly 90-minute conversation flew by, and I am confident that you will enjoy it, as I did. Timestamps for topics discussed are below. 

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0:02- Fidel has a family and a busy work schedule  but manages to play OTB quite frequently, how does he manage? 

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen 

10:00- Fidel tells the story of how he first got a Visa in the US. 

Mentioned: GM Susan Polgar 

16:00- Why did Fidel quit his programming job to focus on chess in 2023? 

27:00- Advice for getting over a tough loss. 

30:00- As someone competing for top prizes, how worried is Fidel about OTB cheating? What about online cheating? 

37:00- What are the biggest challenges Fidel sees in his under 1800 students?

40:00- Recommended chess books

Mentioned: Can You Be a Positional Chess Genius? , Magnus Carlsen: Endgame Virtuoso, Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM Ramesh

50:00- Has Fidel ever played with the Cuban legend, GM Leiner Dominguez?

52:00- How did Fidel and his sister, WIM Zenia Corrales Jimenez get into chess? 

Mentioned: IM Joaquin Carlos Diaz 

1:05:00- Fidel discusses his time at Webster University with stars like GM Wesley So, Ray Robson and Le Quang Liem. 

1:10:00- What was it like to play GM Judit Polgar in the World Cup?

1:13:00- We discuss Fidel’s experience with the Scotch Opening

Mentioned:Mayhem in the Scotch: https://www.chessable.com/mayhem-in-the-scotch/course/259795/

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