Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com
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EP 472- Author Katie Kormanik on How Chess Helped Shape Her Life, and Why She Left it Behind
What role does chess play in our lives? That’s a recurring question on Perpetual Chess, and one that author Katie Kormanik explores in her new, personal memoir, Adventures of a Chess Girl. A former top scholastic player, Katie looks back at the competitive years of her early 20s and reflects on how chess became a refuge during a stressful and uncertain time. The game allowed her to travel widely and immerse herself in an eclectic social circle of strong players from around the world. Although Katie ultimately stepped away from competition, she still loves chess, and now fondly revisits those formative memories. We also discuss her experience self-publishing the book, as well as our thoughts on the new Queen of Chess documentary on Netflix. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Simon Williams' new course here: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-stonewall-dutch/course/378958/ 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:49 Exploring the Memoir: Adventures of a Chess Girl Mentioned: All the Wrong Moves by Sasha Chapin 03:28 Chess as a Refuge and a place to build identity 08:14 The Role of Peer Influence in Chess 12:00- Does Katie have a love-hate relationship with chess? 16:09 Romantic Relationships and Chess Improvement 19:00- Gender dynamics in the chess world 22:05 Advice for Young Women in Chess 23:15 Introducing Chess to Children 25:59 The Journey of Self-Publishing a Book You can find Katie’s self-publishing checklist within this article: https://booksbywomen.org/the-case-for-self-publishing-and-why-its-easier-now-than-ever-before/ 34:13 Reflections on Life Lessons and Risks 39:47 Our thoughts on the new Netflix Queen of Chess documentary 43:32 Parenting Styles and Nurturing Passions 45:00- Thanks so much to Katie for joining me! You can find out more about her and her book at: https://www.chessgirlbook.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 471- Dr. Kevin Scull on Adult-Only Tournaments, Plateaus and Progress
Is it possible to continue to get better at chess once you hit your 50s? The Adult Improver Series returns, and that’s one of the central questions I explore with today’s guest, long-time friend of the pod and fellow chess podcaster Dr. Kevin Scull. Kevin is the host of the popular Chess Journeys podcast, where he interviews adult chess improvers on a weekly basis. In our conversation, he shares insights drawn from hundreds of interviews, as well as from his own dedicated pursuit of tournament chess. We discuss: How Kevin managed to reach a new all-time rating high of over 1800 USCF in his early 50s The social and competitive benefits of adult-only tournaments Whether struggling to remember your games afterward means you’re hopeless at chess As you’d expect, Kevin also shares a wealth of chess resource recommendations and practical improvement tips, and reflects on nearly five years of producing Chess Journeys. Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Website: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=ab7ba68225fb43dc 0:00- Thanks to Chessable, check out Kevin’s course here: https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ 0:01- Kevin joins the pod. How did he achieve a new rating high of 1800+ USCF in his early 50s? 0:08- Why Kevin particularly enjoys adult and senior-only tournaments 18:00- Kevin’s recent chess improvement realizations Mentioned: Karpov’s Strategic Wins by IM Tibor Karolyi 23:00- The benefits of having a coach Mentioned: NM Gopal Menon https://lichess.org/streamer/vitamixbrand 28:00- More chess improvement secrets! Mentioned: 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know The Carlsbad Pawn Structure Revisited Chess Structures 32:00- Is Kevin hopeless at chess because he can’t remember his games? Post- Am I bad at chess or our brains really that different? https://drscull.substack.com/p/am-i-bad-at-chess-or-are-brains-really Playing a Chess Tournament without Calculating https://substack.com/@drscull/p-185151203 43:00- What is new with the Chess Journeys Podcast and Kevin’s Streaming? Check at Chess Inception at Chesspuzzle.net https://chesspuzzle.net/Inception 47:00- Patterns that Kevin sees in successful improvers 50:00- What has Kevin learned from watching his daughter pursue chess? 53:00- Kevin’s review of IM Danny Rensch’s Dark Squares 54:00- How to recalibrate expectations as you get older 56:00- The value of studying random positions Thanks to Kevin for joining me! Blog/substack here: https://substack.com/@drscull/posts Chess Journeys Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=4b82e81608c24743&nd=1&dlsi=1afd66a98e904dc7 Chessable course: https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 470- GM Yasser Seirawan on Fischer, Najdorf, Silman & How he Became a GM-Level Storyteller
In the 9 years of Perpetual Chess’ existence, GM Yasser Seirawan is the most requested guest by listeners. It took some time to make it happen, but today the renowned commentator, author, and 4-time US Champion delivers. We chat about: Yasser is renowned as a storyteller- what does he think the origins are of this skill? Stories about Bobby Fischer, Bent Larsen, GM Miguel Najdorf, and many others. The role that IM Jeremy Silman played in helping Yasser craft his popular Winning Chess Series. Current exhibits at the World Chess Hall of Fame (including “Seirawan Chess”) and exciting renovations at the St. Louis Chess Club This episode features plenty of laughter and a number of entertaining stories that I hadn’t heard Yasser tell before. 0:00- Here is the link to join the Perpetual Chess Discord: https://discord.gg/aVWPk6P3 0:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessiverse.com. Be sure to check out the Bots and courses, and use the code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on courses and premium offerings. 0:00- And you can check out Yasser’s Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/Yasser_Seirawan/ 0:02- Yasser joins me! He begins by discussing his storytelling roots, and some of the best raconteur GMs- Bent Larsen and Miguel Najdorf. 29:00- Yasser on his love for books and how he managed to write his Play Winning Chess series in such an accessible style. 47:00- Where do the point values for the pieces come from? Mentioned: NFL player John Urschel, GM Fabiano Caruana 48- ADD BOARD GRAPHICS LATER IF YOU UP FOR IT 56:00- Yasser’s friendship with IM Jeremy Silman, and his favorite authors Mentioned: Mikhail Tal, Larry Christiansen, John Nunn, Fred Reinfeld 1:12:00- Yasser describes the renovations at the St. Louis Chess Club and the displays at the World Chess Hall of Fame, including one on chess variants. https://worldchesshof.org/exhibits-programs/current-exhibitions/ Play “S Chess” or Seirawan Chess here: https://www.chess.com/variants/seirawan-chess 1:23:00- Playing blitz hustlers in NYC Mentioned: Vincent Livermore, FM Asa Hoffman 1:35:00- The St. Louis Chess Club’s community outreach and work with first responders Watch Anita Aronian singing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUEsLaf3R9w World Chess Hall of Fame Music Performances: https://www.youtube.com/worldchesshof 1:41:00- One last Botvinnik story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 469- Author Brad Stulberg on What ‘Excellence’ Means for Amateur Chess Players
Best-selling author Brad Stulberg has devoted a large part of his professional life to studying what it means to be excellent. He has interviewed peak performers in fields ranging from athletics and music to, of course, chess. His new book, The Way of Excellence distills all he learned. In our conversation, Brad shares tons of helpful advice for anyone looking to improve at something. We tackle topics such as: – What “pursuing excellence” means for an amateur chess player hoping to get a little bit better – Why Brad admires chess, and what he learned from interviewing GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave for his new book, – Brad’s advice for striking a balance between digital and analog life and learning As a long-time fan of Brad’s writing and podcast, I was honored to speak with him about improving at chess and other domains. 0:00- Be sure to check out the bots and courses at Chessiverse.com. Use the code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on courses and premium offerings. 2:00- Brad joins the show. What is “arrival fallacy” and is it the same thing as what hikers call "summit fever?” 08:00- Why did Brad want to include chess in a book about excellence? 12:00- How would Brad define excellence for someone engaged in a hobby, such as a chess player who just wants to go up in rating class? 15:00- Brad’s advice for people working hard on chess who are not seeing any rating gains Mentioned: The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 22:00- What did Brad learn from an exchange with Kasparov about the value of early-life specialization? Mentioned: Kasparov’s reply here: https://x.com/Kasparov63/status/2002428459688341793 25:00- Brad’s experiences as a chess player and parent 28:00- Digital vs. Analog life and the biophilia hypothesis 37:00- The value of consistency over intensity 40:00- What Brad learned from interviewing 70+ elite performers across domains 45:00- Brad’s parting advice Thanks to Brad for joining me, here is how to keep up with him: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/ Substack: https://bradstulberg.substack.com/ Webpage: https://www.bradstulberg.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 468- FM Carsten Hansen on Tactics Plateaus & The Best Recent Chess Books
Prolific author and book reviewer FM Carsten Hansen returns to Perpetual Chess to talk chess improvement, chess publishing, and to provide a rundown of standout recent chess books. We start with a listener question about plateauing in tactics training. How do we know if we’re just hitting a speed bump, or if we’ve reached our ceiling? From there, we dive deep into chess books, sharing recommendations with both a biographical and improvement focus. Lastly, we discuss Chess Openings for Dummies and Carsten’s many other book projects. I still don’t know how Carsten puts out so much chess material, but it’s always fun to hear about it. 2:00 – Welcome 4:00 –Carsten joins: Patreon mailbag question: tactics plateaus and adult improvement Mentioned: The Chess Wizardy of Wotowa Invisible Chess moves Forcing Chess Moves 12:00 – Carsten’s own chess goals and IM aspirations 19:00 – Carsten’s favorite chess books of the past few years Mentioned: Tiger’s Chaos Theory The Stories, Games and Intrigue of Capablanca and Alekhine Gideon Stahlberg: An Epoch in Swedish Chess Korchnoi Year by Year Hubner Year by Year Alexander Alekhine: The Russian Sphinx IM Cyrus Lakdawala: Becoming an IM Converting an Extra Pawn in Chess Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual: 6th Edition Endgame study books by GM Jan Timman and IM Yochanan Afek 29:00 – Carsten discusses his newest project with FM James Eade, Chess Openings for Dummies Download the Chess for Dummies bonus content here: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Chess+Openings+For+Dummies%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781394345014#downloadstab-section 41:00- Carsten’s other projects: Mentioned: Mazukevich’s Madness Carsten’s Newly Edited Capablanca books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carsten+hansen+capablanca&crid=E42JM4JTS3CX&sprefix=carsten+hansen+capablanc%2Caps%2C114&ref=nb_sb_noss Coming soon: The Canal and Prins Gambits Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer 53:00 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up Thanks to Carsten for rejoining me! Here is how to keep up with him: Website: https://www.winningquicklyatchess.com/ Email- carstenchess at gmail dot com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 467- GM Surya Ganguly on Gratitude, Overcoming Bad Tournaments & Life Lessons from Vishy Anand
Grandmaster Surya Ganguly is a six-time champion of India, a popular Chessable author, and a former member of Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship preparation team. He is also a co-founder and coach at ProChessTraining.com, where he works with students ranging from adult amateurs to elite grandmasters. Surya joined me shortly after returning from the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships, where his own results fell short of expectations. This experience led to a thoughtful and honest discussion about perspective, gratitude, and what truly constitutes a challenge in life. We also talk about the impact of Indian government support for chess, Surya’s love of 1. E4 and (non-chess) board games, and how recent health scares in his family have helped keep chess in its proper place. I always find Surya to be wise and introspective, and it was an honor to speak with him again. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:01- Surya Ganguly joins me! He discusses the importance of understanding rather than memorizing, both in chess and in life. 03:30- Observations and lessons learned from competing the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz You can see Surya’s bishop ending game, as well as Magnus’ in games 33 and 34 of this Lichess study: https://lichess.org/study/PbwMAIXZ/y7DRWHu1 14:00- What is it like to teach Pragganandhaa, Aravindh and other top GMs in ProChessTraining.com classes? 16:45- Surya’s favorite (non-chess) board games 18:00- Why Surya never shows openings in his classes 23:00- Surya’s approach to teaching lower rated players 26:00- The importance of Surya’s government-supported job at Indian Oil. 32:00- How should students utilize Surya’s course if they don’t have time to consume the 36 hours of video content it offers? Mentioned: The idea in the Keres attack is #35 in this study (And can be found in full detail in Surya’s Chessable course!) https://lichess.org/study/PbwMAIXZ/rRDeHWmk 41:00- Surya’s FIDE Candidates thoughts and plans 42:30- What was it like having an Indian movie made about Surya’s life? Learn more about Daburu here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6eprCvDPDc 49:00- Can chess be a means of upward mobilization for underprivileged kids in India? 51:00- What Surya learned from spending days with a fishbone stuck in his throat. Mentioned: Surya’s interview with Chessbase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0PQmDTtMsI&t=1041s Must watch interview with Surya about his daughter here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PKWPZJVMyQ 1:01:00- How working with Anand taught Surya to develop an "eternal student” mindset. GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly's childhood friends share with us the secrets of what makes Surya great Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 466 – Gaston Franco on the Remarkable Turnaround of the Hammersmith Chess Club and How to Grow Chess in Your Community
Twelve years ago, the Hammersmith Chess Club in London was down to fewer than 20 members and facing an uncertain future. Today, thanks to committed volunteers, a welcoming culture, and the broader boom in chess, it’s the largest chess club in London, and was recently named ECF Chess Club of the Year. I’m joined by Hammersmith Club Captain Gaston Franco to discuss the club’s remarkable turnaround and what other communities can learn from it. We cover topics like financial sustainability, league play, and gender dynamics, as well as the importance of creating an inclusive, welcoming environment. We also explore Gaston’s own chess journey, which highlights one of the game’s great strengths: its ability to provide instant community, especially when moving alone to a new country. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Check out GM Ganguly’s new course here: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-suryas-1e4-part-1/course/353840/ 2:00- Gaston Franco, the club captain of the Hammersmith Chess Club, joins me Mentioned: Watch Charlyze van Zyl’s tour of the Hammersmith Chess Club here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxR6mFl9d4E&t=1s John White, club chairman 6:00 The Transformation of Hammersmith Chess Club 12:00- Common Club Activities and Structure, How they Appeal to Women and Junior Players 17:00- League Participation and Competitive Play 20:44 Membership Fees and Financial Sustainability 29:47 Sponsorship and Community Support 31:00- How the Club Fielded a team in the FIDE World Team Championship 33:13 Role of Grandmasters in the Club Mentioned: GM Daniel King 34:28 League Matches and Club Activities 36:55 Chess Outreach and Community Engagement 39:10 Post-Pandemic Chess Boom 41:04 Challenges and Sustainability of Chess Clubs 43:18 Advice for Fledgling Chess Clubs 45:55 Guest Visits and Club Membership 47:24 Gaston’s Chess Journey from Buenos Aires to London 49:29 Comparing Chess Scenes: Argentina vs. London 51:52 The Future of Chess in Argentina 52:43 Community Events and Upcoming Tournaments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 465: Chess Improvement Q&A with IM Junta Ikeda - Tactics, Time Trouble & Training Resources
Japanese-Australian chess player, trainer, and content creator Junta Ikeda is the 2013 Japanese National Chess Champion and a runner-up in the 2020 Australian Championship. These days, with a full-time job outside of chess, Junta devotes most of his chess energy to helping others improve. He has shared countless insights on his excellent blog, Infinite Chess, which I’ve been reading religiously since its launch. There, Junta offers thoughtful advice on topics such as improving your tactics, managing the clock, and budgeting your study time. For this interview, I compiled questions based on some of his most insightful observations as we explored chess improvement from a wide range of angles. Toward the end of the conversation, we also touched on Junta’s background, chess in Japan, and even picked up a few non-chess book recommendations. Check out Chessiverse and take out of their end of year sale here: http://chessiverse.com/ Check out IM John Bartholomew’s Comprehensive Scandinavian Course here: https://chessiverse.com/courses/scandi Find out more about Chessdojo’s classes here: https://www.chessdojo.club/blog/live-classes Use Code NY26 to get a free month of the tier program Use Code Ben to save 10% off anything 0:04- Junta joins me! Does Junta’s fellow Canberra, Australia resident, IM Andras Toth exist in real life? 0:06- How does Junta respond to FM Nate Solon’s inflammatory tweet about chess books? https://x.com/natesolon/status/1988955760965963898?s=20 0:11- Junta’s coaching and content creation background 0:12- What are the most common mistakes Junta sees amateurs make? 0:19- What did Junta learn from the book How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician? 22:00- Junta shares some advice from his lifelong battles with time trouble What I needed to cure my time trouble: https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/how-i-escaped-time-trouble-hell In search of lost time: 20 Time Trouble Tips https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/1-in-search-of-lost-time-20-time EP 383 with Dan Bock 24:00- How to learn to face your fears Mentioned: The Uncool by Cameron Crowe 39:00- The Impact of Talent in Chess Mentioned: GM Moulthan Ly, GM Max Illingworth 47:00- How did “the worst openings player in Australia” learn to tolerate them? Mentioned: GM David Smerdon’s The Complete Chess Swindler 51:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Checkout their holiday sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/ 52:00- What type of challenging exercises does Junta recommend in order to improve calculation? Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s Endgame Studies 101, IM Tatev Abrahamyan’s Endgame Studies: Solve to Evolve, Domination by Kasparyan, Studies for Practical Players Sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 1:01:00- Junta’s recommended chess books and resources Mentioned: Lichess, The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games , My Great Predecessors My 10 Memorable Chess Books https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/my-10-memorable-chess-books 1:02:00- Is chess growing in Japan despite Shogi’s popularity? 1:08:00- Balancing Chess and Content Creation 1:10:00- Why Junta wishes he had committed more to chess than university 1:13:00- Will Junta pursue the GM title? Mentioned: Dojo Talks with IM-elect Gauri Shankar 1:15:00- Non chess book recs! Mentioned: Murakami, Infinite Jest, The Book of Disquiet, Finite & Infinite Games 1:19:00- Thanks to Junta for sharing his advice and perspective! Here is how to keep up with his work: Infinite Chess Blog: https://juntaikeda.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@juntaikeda Website: https://juntaikeda.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 464- IM John Donaldson- Bobby Fischer’s Chess Improvement Advice, the Story Behind His Colossal Rating Leap
What can Bobby Fischer still teach us about chess improvement? In this episode, renowned trainer, author, and historian IM John Donaldson returns to discuss Fischer’s writing, advice, and training methods, as featured in his new book Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer. We explore Fischer’s views on openings, what he said about his own IQ, and what modern players can realistically take from his approach. I was particularly interested to hear John break down how Fischer went from roughly 2100 strength to an elite player in less than two years. After our Fischer deep dive, John shares his memories of a young Daniel Naroditsky and discusses the outlook for the next U.S. Olympiad team, which he has captained 15 times. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ Check out special offers from Chessdojo, Chessmood and more here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners Sign up for my free chess newsletter here: https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 0:02- Why was Bobby Fischer writing a chess column for Boys Life magazine? 0:07- Are world class talents like Fischer good people to give chess improvement advice? 0:14- Bobby Fischer’s 4 Chess Improvement Tips 0:17- Why was Fischer confident about his match vs. Spassky despite a losing record? 0:20- How did Fischer respond when he was asked about reportedly having a genius-level IQ? 0:24- The impact of Fischer growing up in New York City 0:43- Patreon mailbag question- Why, after all these years, is there still such a cult-like obsession with Fischer? 1:02:00- John’s memories of GM Daniel Naroditsky, who John knew since Danya’s childhood, Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, GM Lev Psakhis 1:13:00- Status of the US Olympiad team 1:19:00- Will John pursue the GM title at age 67? Thanks, as always, to IM John Donaldson for joining me! Here is where to get Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Mind-Bobby-Fischer-Annotations/dp/1890085286/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QKKXI2SDOLYS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._2M3HsSJt-U7Bdai-uPvhA.AJtX-b-nDihPzKRJb_BUo7jCkpq_R2sPMhsked9R8GU&dib_tag=se&keywords=inside+the+mind+of+bobby+fischer&qid=1765826270&s=books&sprefix=inside+the+mind+of+bobby+fischer%2Cstripbooks%2C55&sr=1-1 Chess4Less: https://chess4less.com/products/pre-order-inside-the-mind-of-bobby-fischer-john-donaldson Also available in Europe: https://gazellebookservices.co.uk/products/9781890085285?_pos=1&_sid=e49e3c6fa&_ss=r Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 463- FM Nick Matta on Immersion, Mindset, and a Remarkable Decade of Chess Improvement (Adult Improver Series)
The Adult Improver Series returns with the remarkable story of FM Nick Matta, a five-time Louisiana State Champion who made one of the most unusual rating climbs in recent memory. Nick returned to tournament chess as a college freshman and went from roughly 1400 to 2400 USCF over the next decade. In our conversation, he breaks down the habits and mindset shifts that fueled that rise, including: How complete immersion in chess during his college years accelerated his progress Why the mental game became increasingly important as he climbed the rating ladder The books, videos, and tools that helped him at each stage Nick’s improvement in his 20s may be rare, but his insights are applicable to players of a wide range of levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 00:00 – Intro & AnnouncementsFInd out more about the teaching job opportunity at IS 318 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796878173716685/posts/32637324772578611/ Join the Perpetual Chess discord here! https://discord.gg/27AXnaUr 03:20 – Who Is FM Nick Matta? Mentioned Nick was also interviewed in episode 450- Hikaru in Louisiana https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/9/9/ep-450-hikaru-in-louisiana-stories-from-his-surprise-appearance-in-the-louisiana-state-championshipnbsp Check out Nick’s USCF Rating History here: https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12845401 His rapid rise from 1480 → 2390 and return to chess after Katrina. Also Mentioned: Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis, IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess, Pawn Power in Chess 08:30 – How the Improvement Started Immersion, study habits, book recommendations, and developing a love for feedback. Mentioned: Kasparov’s My Story with GM James Plaskett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeEY66T0q80 GM Melih Khachiyan’s Evaluation and Planning Series on Chess.com https://www.chess.com/video/player/evaluation-and-planning---part-1 23:50 – Openings, Training, and Evolution Why he constantly changed openings, how his training shifted as he reached master level, and learning from top coaches. Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, IM John Bartholomew, GM Jacob Aagaard’s Thinking Inside the Box 30:40 – Time Trouble & Mental Game Breakthroughs Aagaard’s tough feedback, decision-making, cold-plunge training, meditation, and building emotional resilience. Mentioned: Karpov in a cold plunge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAhtMKhvG1A 53:20 – Coaching, Pursuing the IM Title & Final Advice Balancing coaching with personal ambition, whether he’ll chase the IM title, and his distilled guidance for adult improvers. 1:15:00- Thanks to Nick for joining me! Here is how to reach him: Lichess coaches page: https://lichess.org/coach/nickmatta Chess.com coaches page: https://www.chess.com/member/nickmatta Email- Nickmatta13 at gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 462- FIDE World Cup Reflections with GM Felix Blohberger: Blunders, Bouncebacks, Tiebreaks and The New Candidates Field
As a fascinating and upset-laden FIDE World Cup comes to an end, 2022 Austrian National Champion GM Felix Blohberger joins me to break down the key moments, share stories from his own World Cup experience, and reflect on his chess career. GM Blohberger has been offering insightful commentary on his YouTube channel where he has been sharing his thoughts on the FIDE World Cup, and was able to elaborate on many themes from his channel in our interview. In our conversation we discuss: The new Candidates qualifiers: GM Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko plus who Felix now sees as the favorite to win the Candidates. The pressure of tiebreaks including Felix’s take on GM Esipenko’s heartbreaking blunder against Wei Yi, plus what it’s actually like inside the venue between games. Felix’s chess career: including his favorite books, his rating goals, and reflections on the viral video that helped grow his channel. . This was another entertaining and surprising World Cup, and I am already excited for the FIDE Candidates next year. Timestamps are below. 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 01:30 Introduction 05:00- GM Felix Blohberger joins me Sub to his YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@febloh Felix’s video about the challenges of life as a chess pro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8DW6XShofQ&t=0 Esipenko’s blunder- https://x.com/GMJuditPolgar/status/1992651679108616301?s=20 07:00 The FIDE World Cup Experience- 10:00 Tiebreaker Tensions and Player Dynamics 14:00 Youth vs. Experience in Chess 15:30- Patreon mailbag question: Why does Felix think so many players were content to go to tiebreaks? 18:00- Felix’s thought on GM Sindarov Sindarov’s 2700chess.com rating graph- https://2700chess.com/players/sindarov_javokhir 22:00 Wei Yi's Comeback Story 24:00 Felix’s big picture conclusions from the World Cup 29:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences 31:00 The Pros and Cons of Making Predictions 33:00 Experiences in the Croatian Chess League 35:00 Confidence Boost from Recent Performances 36:30 Balancing Chess and Content Creation Felix Rook Endgame Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEESoSw164w 39:00 Resources and Training Techniques Mentioned: Yusopov’s Build Up Your Chess Series 42:00 Working as a Second for GM Harikrishna Mentioned: The Anand Files by FM Michael Abeln 49:00 Career Highlights and Favorite Games Mentioned: Blohberger-Svane 2023 https://www.chess.com/events/2023-2024-austrian-chess-bundesliga/04/Blohberger_Felix-Svane_Frederik 52:00 Future Plans and Interests Outside Chess 55:00- An update on how he is enjoying life as a chess professional 56:00- Thanks to GM Blohberger for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@febloh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felixblohberger/?hl=en Website: https://www.felixblohberger.com/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 461- IM John Bartholomew on Chess Improvement Lessons, The Scandinavian Defense & His New Business Venture
IM John Barthomew is a former scholastic national champion turned popular and longtime chess Youtuber and serial entrepreneur. His clear and friendly teaching style has garnered him over 200,000 subs and many devotees of the Scandinavian defense, the opening for which he is best known. In our conversation we discuss: Five chess improvement conclusions that John drew from playing in (and documenting) The LiChess LoneWolf League The challenges and rewards of helping to build Chessiverse. Chessiverse offers over 600 “human-like” bots to play against, and is also the site where you can find John’s new, Comprehensive Scandinavian course. Lastly, John told a few memorable stories about his good friend GM Daniel Naroditsky that reflect Daniel’s unusual talents. It is always enjoyable talking chess with John, and there are many nuggets to be gleaned from this conversation. 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 00:00 Intro and Guest Introduction 02:32 John’s chess improvement lessons learned from the LiChess Lone Wolf League https://lichess.org/@/Fins/blog/what-i-learned-from-playing-lonewolf-league-season-37/19yaMKfW Here is John’s Lone Wolf game recap playlist- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MCYu9m5ji2tJgIoU7JMHkD9&si=Lg1RvP2PhmX2M68Q 05:41 Self-Talk and Thought Process in Chess 08:28 The Importance of Time Management John’s Using the Clock as a Weapon Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MD7go55KaMPOGKSHxXhWED_&si=e34rgZ05auwzOauQ 11:28 The Importance of Opening Variety 14:07 The Value of Longer Time Controls 17:01 Introduction to John’s new venture- Chessiverse 19:50 Patreon mailbag questions: How does Chessiverse compare to other online products? What ratings is it best suited for? 22:50 Comparing Chessiverse to Other Platforms 25:45 Chessiverse's Business Model and Future Plans 27:03 The Subscription Model and Course Creation 27:40 The Depth of Course Development 29:29 Analyzing the Scandinavian Opening 32:15 The Evolution of Scandinavian Theory Mentioned: Ponomariov-Papaioannou 2003 https://lichess.org/q55Y75PQ#15 34:52 Navigating Course Design Challenges 37:43 Balancing Comprehensiveness and Usability 39:18 Feedback and Future Plans for Chessiverse 40:34 The Vision for Chessiverse and Bot Experience 42:04 John’s memories of GM Daniel Naroditsky Mentioned: John’s tribute- https://youtu.be/kclevjiPK5I?si=7CO6ydPqkyFNKBjy 47:56 Honoring Daniel's Legacy through Fundraising https://givebutter.com/naroditsky 52:00- Thanks to John for rejoining! Here are links to keep up with him: Newsletter: https://johnbartholomewchess.com/the-chess-mindset-newsletter-im-john-bartholomew/ Course- https://chessiverse.com/courses/scandi?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=scandi_search_tier1_purchase&utm_term=chess%20courses&utm_content=185814884617_782203235972_c&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23214933240&utm_term=chess%20courses&utm_content=782203235972&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23214933240&gbraid=0AAAAABc5PsgmfRvqVuvKClF-9oZLSp0mn&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoZDJBhC0ARIsAERP-F_lAVpIoPksVCsZ5LG7GydpV4Wi8KIL4HMSbf_V_ZGei2837lHT57gaAu9fEALw_wcB Twitter/X: https://x.com/fins0905?lang=en 55:00- If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 460- FM Peter Giannatos on GM Daniel Naroditsky’s Life, His Last Days & How We Can Honor Danya’s Legacy
FM Peter Giannatos, founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, was a close friend of GM Daniel Naroditsky and played a pivotal role in encouraging Daniel to build his post-collegiate life in Charlotte. Peter and the tight-knit Charlotte community spent significant time with Danya, including in the days leading up to his tragic passing. In this conversation, Peter reflects on their friendship, shares what he feels is appropriate about Danya’s final days, and highlights a new fundraiser created to honor Daniel’s legacy. I’m grateful for the clarity and courage Peter brought to this deeply emotional discussion as the chess world begins to process and heal from this immense loss. 0:00- Intro- Support the fundraiser here: https://givebutter.com/naroditsky 0:02- FM PeterGiannatos joins the podcast and begins with the story of how he met Danya. Read Peter’s Eulogy here: https://x.com/PeterGiannatos/status/1981875015030079553?s=20 IM John Bartholomew’s tribute to Danya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kclevjiPK5I&t=2s 0:09- Getting Danya to move to Charlotte 19:00- Clarifying the timeline around Daniel’s death 32:00- The weight of the allegations on Daniel Mentioned: Daniel explains a Bc8 move that some found suspicious https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1g7la27/daniel_narodistky_full_analysis_of_the_move_bc8/ 43:00- How to honor Daniel’s legacy 57:00- One last Danya story 1:02:00- Thanks to Peter for sharing so many personal stories during a difficult time. Here is how to support Danya's legacy if you are so inclined: https://givebutter.com/naroditsky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 359- GM Maurice Ashley on Pursuing Excellence, Seeking Novelties, and His Extraordinary Chess Journey
This week’s guest is U.S. Chess Hall of Famer GM Maurice Ashley. Maurice will forever be known as the first African American to earn the Grandmaster title, yet he has gone on to build a varied and distinguished career across all facets of the game. He is a popular author and highly regarded Chessable creator, a teacher, an organizer, and a frequent commentator for major chess events, often from the St. Louis Chess Club. Maurice and I discussed: His perspective on chess improvement as a rare late starter who began tournament play at fourteen and still reached the Grandmaster level What we can learn from the ascent of GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the second African American GM at age fifteen The difference between being competitive and striving for excellence We also touched on the lessons Maurice learned from organizing the “Millionaire Chess” tournaments, his passion for salsa dancing and puzzle composition, and whether he has experienced any “pinch me moments” on his journey from “walking barefoot to school in Jamaica” to giving TED Talks and teaching chess to Will Smith. I have long looked forward to interviewing Maurice, and the conversation did not disappoint. https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/ 0:00- Check out Maurice’s popular and highly reviewed Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/ 0:02- Maurice’s chess improvement advice- why people shouldn’t focus on doing things “quickly” Mentioned: New York Times article about the Raging Rooks https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/26/nyregion/harlem-teen-agers-checkmate-a-stereotype.html Maurice’s Chessable Q & A- https://www.chessable.com/discussion/thread/1187730/ask-maurice-ashley-anything-special-qa-/ Cover Stories with Chess Life Interview: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sskej-f237dc?download=1 0:08- Maurice’s observations about young GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the 2nd ever African American GM, at age 15. Mentioned: You can read Maurice’s article about GM Hardaway here: https://new.uschess.org/news/inside-story-long-time-coming 15:00- Patreon mailbag question: Maurice’s siblings are kickboxing and boxing champions- what did they do to cultivate such achievement? 18:00- Which chess player got GM Maurice Ashley into salsa dancing? 21:00- Patreon mailbag question: What are Maurice’s reflection on the Millionare Chess tournaments that he founded? 25:00- What is the vision for Maurice’s “Clutch Chess, which took place recently at the St. Louis Chess Club? 29:00- Is commentating still Maurice’s favorite professional activity? 33:00- Maurice’s passion for designing chess puzzles and courses Mentioned: The puzzle that (temporarily) stumped MVL is here: https://x.com/MauriceAshley/status/1609261621247086592?s=20 39:00- Has Maurice ever had a “pinch me” moment? 42:00- Maurice’s struggles after earning the GM title 44:00- The origins of Maurice’s communication skills 46:00- What does Maurice want his chess legacy to be? 48:00- Maurice’s next projects 51:00- Thanks to Maurice for joining me! Here is how to keep up with his many activities: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauriceashleychess/?hl=en Chessable: https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 458: Pawel Kacprzak: The Founder of ChessVision AI on Scanning Chess Diagrams, Digital Flashcards, and Building a Chess Business
Polish programmer and chess enthusiast Pawel Kacprzak joins me to share the story behind ChessVision AI. ChessVision AI is a helpful app and browser extension that can scan chess diagrams and connect them to related YouTube videos and chess books, and allows you to easily turn these positions into digital flashcards. We talk about how Pawel’s side project grew into a full-time business, what it takes to build tech tools for chess players, and what Pawel has planned next for his growing platform.Pawel also discusses his enthusiasm for following professional chess, and his own approach to chess improvement. I have become a big fan of Pawel’s product, and I enjoyed chatting with him. Thanks to our sponsor Chessable.com, check out their Black Friday sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/?utm_source=chessable&utm_medium=shop_hero_banner&utm_campaign=enblackfriday2_2025 0:02- Pawel Kacprzak joins me! Mentioned: NM Han Schut’s video overviews of Chessvision AI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwK8Q1NEjg 03:00 The Impact of Daniel Naroditsky 06:00 Pavel's Journey into Chess and Programming 10:30 Evolution of Chess Vision AI 17:00 Patreon mailbag question: Can one use chessvision ai to scan diagrams from physical chess boards? 19:00 Patreon mailbag question: What features will Pawel work on developing next? 23:00 Subscription Models and Accessibility 28:00 Community Engagement and Support 29:30- Patreon mailbag question: Does Pawel consider himself an adult improver? 33:30 Chess Resources and Learning 35:30 Closing Thoughts and Advice Thanks to Pawel for joining me! Here is how to reach him, as well as how to find out more about ChessvisionAI: Email- Pawel at chessvision.ai Twitter/X- https://twitter.com/ChessvisionAI Discord- https://discord.gg/zkcBPhWhme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices