EP 462- FIDE World Cup Reflections with GM Felix Blohberger: Blunders, Bouncebacks, Tiebreaks and The New Candidates Field

As a fascinating and upset-ridden 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/

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

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

03:00 IM John Bartholomew joins. We start with 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

06:00- Self-Talk and Thought Process in Chess

09:00- The Importance of Time Management

John’s Using the Clock as a Weapon Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MD7go55KaMPOGKSHxXhWED_&si=e34rgZ05auwzOauQ

12:00 The Importance of Opening Variety

14:30 The Value of Longer Time Controls

17:30 Introduction to John’s new venture-  Chessiverse

21:30 Patreon mailbag questions: 

How does Chessiverse compare to other online products? What ratings is it best suited for?

23:30 Comparing Chessiverse to Other Platforms

25:45 Chessiverse's Business Model and Future Plans

29:00 John’s Scandinavian course 

33:00 The Evolution of Scandinavian Theory

Mentioned:

Ponomariov-Papaioannou 2003

https://lichess.org/q55Y75PQ#15

39:00 Navigating Course Design Challenges

45:00- The Vision for Chessiverse and Bot Experience

48:30 John’s memories of GM Daniel Naroditsky

Mentioned: John’s tribute- 

https://youtu.be/kclevjiPK5I?si=7CO6ydPqkyFNKBjy

Fundraiser for Danya- 

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

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 

check out the games from "The Meatball Match" here:

⁠https://www.chess.com/c/2PprrfhA6⁠

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

EP 459- 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.

0:00- Check out Maurice’s popular and highly reviewed courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/

0:03- 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

10:30- 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

17:00- Patreon mailbag question:

Maurice’s siblings are kickboxing and boxing champions. What did they do to cultivate such achievement? 

20:00- Which chess player got GM Maurice Ashley into salsa dancing? 

23:00- Patreon mailbag question: ‘What are Maurice’s reflections on the Millionare Chess tournaments that he founded?” 

28:30- What is the vision for Maurice’s “Clutch Chess,”  which took place recently  at the St. Louis Chess Club? 

32:00- Is commentating still Maurice’s favorite professional activity?

36:00- 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

42:00- Has Maurice ever had a “pinch me” moment? 

45:00- Maurice’s struggles after earning the GM title

49:00- The origins of Maurice’s communication skills 

52:00- What does Maurice want his chess legacy to be? 

54:00- Maurice’s next projects

59:00- 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

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  Pawel's Journey into Chess and Programming

10:30 Evolution of Chessvision.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 Chessvision.ai:

Email- Pawel at ⁠Chessvision.ai⁠

Twitter/X- 

⁠https://twitter.com/ChessvisionAI⁠

Discord- 

⁠https://discord.gg/zkcBPhWhme⁠

Bonus Pod- After Plenty of Upsets- 32 Players Remain in the FIDE World Cup (with IM Michael Rahal from Goa)

The 2025 FIDE World Cup has been as dramatic as ever. Top seeds like GM Gukesh D, Ian Nepomniatchtchi, and Anish Giri have been eliminated, but we still have some top 10 stalwarts remaining, as well as many surprise advancers to the Round of 32.

Joining from Goa, FIDE Press Officer IM Michael Rahal helps break it all down. We discuss:

• Should we be surprised by the number of upsets?

• The performances of veterans like GM Peter Leko (still in) and GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (eliminated)

• Whether the reports of poor playing conditions in Goa are well-founded

• Key matchups to watch when play resumes tomorrow,  and who might clinch a FIDE Candidates spot

Timestamps for topics discussed are below.

00:00 Introduction and Overview of the World Cup

02:00-  IM Michael Rahal joins 

04:32 Patreon mailbag question- Does the number of upsets suggest that the top players are protected? 

Mentioned: Chessnumbers-data

https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1986634183415111831?s=20

Peter Leko interview with Chessbase India-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Fh1lQBmGI&t=3s

07:18  Notable Matches

10:15 The Impact of Player Preparation and Conditions

13:17 Match Predictions and Player Insights

16:05 Reflections on Chess Legends and Their Influence

21:19 Reflections on Ivanchuk’s Press Conference 

23:05 Reflections on Daniel Naroditsky

25:06 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences

Tweet from GM Neiksans:

https://x.com/GMNeiksans/status/1986117054911684978?s=20

34:17 Upcoming FIDE Candidates in Cyprus

36:00- Breaking down the brackets

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1osncpq/world_cup_2025_pairings_for_final_32/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

42:53 Rest Day Activities and Team Spirit

44:00- Thanks to IM Michael Rahal for joining me! 

Here is how to keep up with him:

X:

https://x.com/Rahal_Michael

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/michaelanthony.rahal/

FIDE YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

EP 457- IM Carissa Yip: Her Memories of Danya, Pursuing Chess Professionally and Reflecting on her 4th US Women’s Championship

Fresh off her third consecutive (and fourth overall) U.S. Women’s Championship title, I was honored to catch up with 22-year-old IM Carissa Yip. Carissa has taken a gap year from Stanford University and is immersed in a demanding schedule of training and competition. She’s had some excellent results this year and is now ranked #21 among women in the world.

Despite her success, Carissa has also experienced the emotional ups and downs that every serious chess player can relate to. In our conversation, she discusses:

• Her personal recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky, including how he once went out of his way to help her prepare during a major tournament.
  
  
  

• The helpful opening advice recently shared with her by her friend and coach, GM Awonder Liang.
  
  
  

• How she overcame sluggish starts to win both the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and the Cairns Cup.
  
  
  

Carissa shared a mix of funny stories and thoughtful reflections on her training regimen, the gender gap in chess, and her advice for improvement. She even recommended a novel to read and touched on her passion for writing. I really enjoyed catching up with Carissa and am excited to see her bright future continue to unfold. 

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/

0:02- Carissa joins the pod. She begins by sharing her recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky 

Mentioned: Zatonskih-Yip 2020

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2011266

0:05- Carissa had slow starts at both Cairns Cup and this US Champs- Why? 

0:07- Carissa’s training regimen

Mentioned: Killer Chess Training

0:09- Carissa’s Opening Approach

Mentioned: GM Awonder Liang

Check out Carissa’s US Championship Games here:

https://lichess.org/study/etqoyX0E/QRi8cCdw

17:00- How to approach a new opening

19:00- Carissa’s approach to training games

22:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Would Carissa prefer a corporate career or to pursue chess professionally?” 

24:30- Carissa retells the story of a funny bet between GM Awonder Liang and GM Sam Shankland

Mentioned: February 2025 Chess Life Magazine

https://new.uschess.org/magazine/feb-25-chess-life

28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How can I overcome a slow start, as Carissa has done repeatedly?” 

36:00- Carissa’s fiction recommendation:

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

38:00- Carissa’ passion for writing 

40:00- How does Carissa describe the  e-sports experience of the recent USA vs. India match? l 

48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Why does Carissa think no female player subsequent to Judit has reached her level of dominance?” 

54:00- Patreon mailbag question: “If Carissa could ask men in chess to do one thing differently, what would it be?” 

57:00- Carissa discusses her friendship with rising American star, IM Alice Lee

59:00- Carissa’s upcoming tournaments

1:01- Carissa’ chess improvement advice!

Thanks to Carissa for joining me again! Be sure to follow her on X and Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/carissayip/

https://x.com/carissayipchess?lang=en

Image in thumbnail by Lennart Ootes via St. Louis Chess Club

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stlchessclub/54876804247/in/album-72177720329882462

EP 456- GM Andy Soltis on Plateaus, Dual Careers, and his Many Brushes with Chess Legends

GM Andy Soltis is a U.S. Chess Hall of Famer, prolific author, and longtime Chess Life columnist who has left a lasting mark on American chess while balancing a decades-long career as an editor at the New York Post. His recent memoir, Deadline Grandmaster, retraces those parallel paths and shares remarkable stories such as playing a 16-year-old Vishy Anand, meeting Mikhail Tal, corresponding with Irving Chernev, and unknowingly crossing paths with Bobby Fischer. In our conversation, Andy revisits several of these moments and reflects on the challenges of chess improvement. We explore why players plateau, how to identify their own chess styles, and what today’s players can learn from history’s greats. Toward the end, Andy mulls his next project and discusses how chess publishing has evolved through the decades. It’s always a privilege to hear Andy’s stories, and I highly recommend Deadline Grandmaster for many more of them. 

This episode was recorded on October 16, 2025  and thus does not discuss the tragic news of GM Daniel Naroditsky’s passing. 

To download the episode, click the “share” button and select download above

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- 

Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible!

https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

0:02- GM Andy Soltis joins! He begins by sharing his thought on rating plateaus. 

Mentioned:

Note on FM Nate Solon’s unusual rating gains:

https://substack.com/@zwischenzug/note/c-166416052?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1juy4

11:00- We discuss Andy’s excellent memoir Deadline Grandmaster- did Andy ever seriously consider becoming a chess professional?

Mentioned: 

14:00- How did Andy earn the Grandmaster title? 

Mentioned: IM Norman Weinstein, IM Sal Matera, IM Jack Peters

16:00- Vishy Anand stories 

Mentioned: More on Andy’s early encounter with Vishy in Calcutta here:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/vishy-anand-a-passionate-portrait-part-three

20:00- Mikhail Tal stories

22:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is a good first book about Soviet Chess history? 

Mentioned: 

Soviet Chess: 1917-1991  by GM Andy Soltis 

24:00- Andy’s recollections of the famed Lone Pine tournament

30:00- GM Walter Browne stories

35:00- Patreon mailbag questions: a) Why didn’t Alekhine play a rematch with Capablanca? b) Can Andy recommend an Alekhine biography?

Mentioned: Alexander Alekhine- THe Russian Sphinx: Volume 1

The Real Paul Morphy 

38:00- Patreon mailbag question: Are there any plans to do an updated edition on Andy’s  US Championship? 

https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Chess-Championship-1845-1996/dp/0786402482/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DC5Q7FF5MKY6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IYZoPqWvJ0bdS3_2d3Qewg.tinoi7uw9EjPATAcLC1Pqdxp0hjkvFqcFvkoPdUzENc&dib_tag=se&keywords=soltis+us+championship&qid=1760732231&s=books&sprefix=soltis+us+championship%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1

40:00- Bobby Fischer stories 

Mentioned: GM Peter Biayasis, IM Anthony Saidy 

42:00- Andy’s interactions with legendary author Irving Chernev, also mentioned Fred Reinfeld 

50:00- What can we learn from figuring out our chess styles?

Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style

Reveal Your Chess Style: Soltis, Andrew: 9781849949965: Amazon.com: Books

57:00- The state of chess book publishing

Mentioned: GM James Tarjan

If you are interested in joining the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can find out more information here:

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout

The Adult Improver Series⁠ returns with a fascinating story that highlights the broad appeal of chess. Marcos Patricio Macedo is a Brasília-based forensic detective, dad, and chess enthusiast who rediscovered the game in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since. Chess has become a welcome escape from the pressures of his homicide-investigation work, and he’s helped build community both locally and among fellow officers.

Marcos believes in the game’s value so deeply that he helped restore chess as an event in the World Police & Fire Games, an international gathering for first responders. In our conversation, he shares:

• What it took to bring chess back to the games

• How it was received and what might come next

• His mixed feelings about balancing chess with family, work, and improvement

• Lessons from coaches, online study, and his first major OTB tournament

Marcos’ relatable story reveals both the rewards and the potential pitfalls of dedicating a lot of time to chess as a hobby. 

Click here to Download the Episode

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/⁠

Try ⁠Chess.com⁠ (try for free):

⁠http://go.chess.com/Perpetual⁠

If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy.. 

⁠chessacademy.com/online ⁠

Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month. 

0:00- You can join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here:

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠⁠

02:00- What got Marcos back into chess in 2018? 

07:00- Similarities and differences between chess analysis and forensic analysis

10:00- Marcos’ approach to improving at chess

Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitão, Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, GM Daniel Naroditsky 

15:00- Chess as a stress reliever for a first responder 

20:00- Marcos tells the story of his successful advocacy to get chess included in the recent World Police & Fire Games 

30:00- Why does Marcos think his interest in chess waned when he returned from the World Police & Fire Games ?

Mentioned: Silman’s The Amateur’s Mind, Coach ⁠FM Juan Cruz Arias ⁠

40:00- Marcos’ previous OTB experiences

43:00- The chess scene in Brazil

44:00- Marcos’ next move 

49:00- Closing thoughts

Mentioned: EP 429 with Omar Mills

⁠https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/4/8/ep-429-omar-mills-chess-and-life-lessons-learned-from-not-improving-as-much-as-he-expected⁠

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠).

EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project

Stjepan Tomić has built a sizable following through his beloved Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, but good old-fashioned chess books remain his true passion. That passion has led to his ambitious new project, ChessReads.com, a free platform designed to help players of all levels find the right book for their needs through crowdsourced reviews. The project already features its own YouTube channel, Discord server, and a growing website filled with helpful writeups.

To celebrate the site’s launch, Stjepan joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about the enduring value of chess literature. We answered listener questions about whether books are still as vital as ever, how Stjepan chooses what to read next, and we shared recommendations across nearly every rating band. Stjepan also updated us on his own chess improvement goals and upcoming tournaments.

As a fellow chess bibliophile, I’m excited about the ChessReads project and enjoyed catching up with Stjepan. Timestamps for all topics and rating ranges are below, along with Amazon affiliate links to the books mentioned.

Click here to Download the Episode

If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy.. 

chessacademy.com/online 

Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month. 

0:03- Stjepan joins the pod! What is the chessreads.com origin story? 

Mentioned  Episode 117 with Stjepan: 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2019/3/12/episode-117-stjepan-tomi-adult-improver-series

The Perpetual Chess Recommended Books List is here:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations

Also mentioned:

Chessreads Discord-

https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4

0:05- Patreon mailbag question: “1) Are chessbooks useful/optimal as chess improvement tools in the modern digital era? 2) Are modern books and older classics equally useful?” 

Mentioned: Simple Chess by Michael Stean, My 60 Memorable Games, Irving Chernev’s Book

15:00- Patreon mailbag question:

“Could Stjepan recommend a few books that can be read without a chessboard?” 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box 

In Black and White, GM Jan Timman’s Books, Profile of a Prodigy, Endgame

Check out Stjepan’s interview with GM Aagaard here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvjkECy9o8A&t=2s

19:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How does Stjepan select which chess book to read next?” 

Mentioned: Life and Games of Mikhail Tal , Timman’s Art of the Endgame

21:00-  Patreon mailbag question: “What recommendations does Stjepan have for books about thinking processes?”

Mentioned: Think Like a Super Grandmaster, Tournament Battle Plan, Applying Logic in Chess 

Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box, How to Study Chess on Your Own

Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Chess for Zebras, Game Changer, Under The Surface, Improve Your Chess Now, Dan Heisman’s Guide to Chess Improvement

Also Mentioned: 

Dr. Can Kabadayi’s Chessable Courses:

https://www.chessable.com/author/Can_Kabadayi/

26:00- Book Recommendations by rating range, starting with under 1000

Mentioned: Chess Pattern Recognition for Beginners 

1001 Chess Endgame Exercises

Everyone’s First Chess Workbook 

Also on Chessable:

https://www.chessable.com/everyones-first-chess-workbook/course/71738/

32:00- Recommendations for the 1000-1200 level

Mentioned: Winning Chess Series by Seirawan 

Instructive Chess Miniatures 

33:00- - Recommendations for the 1200-1400 level

Mentioned: 

Silman’s Endgame Course 

Learn Chess Tactics by GM John Nunn

Understanding Chess Middlegames by GM John Nunn

Lessons with a Grandmaster by GM Boris Gulko and Dr. Joel Sneed

My Best Games Smyslov

My Best Games Alekhine 

Capablanca’s Best Chess Endings

37:00- Recommendations for the 1400-1600 level

Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating by GM Axel Smith

Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

Fire on Board by GM Alexei Shirov

41:00- Recommendations for the 1600-1800 level

Chess Tactics From Scratch

The Exchange Sacrifice According to Tigran Petrosian

Chess Structures

From Amateur to IM

44:00- Recommendations for the 1800-2000 level

Mammoth Book of World’s Greatest Chess Games 

Think Like a 

Aagaard’s GM Preparation 

Secrets of Endgame Strategy

Learn from the Legends 

47:00- Recommendations for the above 2000 level

Positional Decision Making in Chess 

Supreme Chess Understanding

Lessons on Uncompromising Play 

Technique in Chess 

56:00-

Chess improvement update from Stjepan

1:00:00- Impromptu discussion- what makes some countries better at chess (and other competitive endeavors)  than others? 

Mentioned: Grandmasters per capita per Chess Stack Exchange:

https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/34893/which-countries-have-the-most-gms-per-capita

1:00:00- 

Check out Stjepan’s interview with me about my book on the Chessreads channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMpTaO3Z2Y

Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible!

https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

1:10:00- Thanks to Stjepan for joining me again. Here is how to keep up with him and the ChessReads project. 

Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@HangingPawns

Chessreads YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ChessReadsCom

Chessreads Discord-

https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4

Chessreads

chessreads.com

X

x.com/chessreads

Instagram

instagram.com/chessreads

EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title.

 Despite an impressive chess résumé as one of the U.S.’s top women players, Tatev Abrahamyan has had moments when she questioned whether or not it was all worth it. After a prolonged slump, she not only considered giving up on ever earning the International Master title, but she nearly quit competitive chess altogether. Fortunately, Tatev persevered. Earlier this year, she unexpectedly finished second in the Woman’s American Cup, and then in August, she delivered a standout result that earned her the International Master title at age 37 — more than 10 years after achieving her final required norm!  Remarkably, Tatev’s performance was so strong that she also secured her first GM norm.

In our conversation, Tatev reflects on:

• Why a timely vote of confidence from a mentor propelled her toward a $30,000 prize
  
  
  

• Opening advice and the enduring value of endgame studies
  
  
  

• What she has learned from this roller-coaster journey — and what she advises others facing slumps
  
  
  

Tatev’s story is both candid and inspiring, and I look forward to following her next chapter at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and beyond.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com:

Check out Tatev’s courses here-  and if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:02- Late last year, after a slump, Tatev was “despondent” with her chess? Did she seriously consider quitting? 

0:05- Once she didn’t quit, how did she prepare for the American Cup? 

0:08- Tatev’s tournament routine and mindset

Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy, GM Josh Friedel, Endgame Labaratory by GM Jacob Aagaard

0:11- Why does Tatev think her results turned around at the American Cup?

Mentioned: GM Yasser Quesada Perez

0:15- Tatev’s next tournaments in Spain and Budapest 

0:18- Tatev’s approach to openings

0:20- When did Tatev start to think that earning the IM title was becoming realistic? 

0:24- Patreon mailbag question: “Was there any change to Tatev’s mindset leading up to this breakthrough?”

Mentioned: You can check out Tatev’s games from the tournament here:

https://www.chess.com/events/budapest-one-week-budapest-one-week-gm

FM Mike Klein’s article about Tatev’s title:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/abrahamyan-plays-best-tournament-of-career-earns-im-title-gm-norm

26:00- Meeting up with Judit after the tournament! 

34:00- More reflections on Tatev’s tournament

Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s blog post about analyzing with Ivanchuk

https://hellokostya.substack.com/p/2025-spring-eurotrip

40:00- The US Women’s Championship 

41:00- Tatev discusses her Chessable course and her fondness for endgame studies.

Mentioned:

Chess Studies: Solve to Evolve 

https://www.chessable.com/chess-studies-solve-to-evolve/course/300770/

49:00 Tatev’s next projects

51:00- Will Tatev pursue the GM title?

Mentioned: Jeanne Sinquefeld prize for a woman earning the GM title 

https://www.chess.com/news/view/jeanne-cairns-sinquefield-award-us-female-grandmasters

Also mentioned: GM Felix Blohberger

https://www.chess.com/news/view/being-a-chess-professional-in-europe-sucks-blohberger

55:00- Thanks to Tatev for joining us! 

You can reach her via the Lichess coaches page:

EP 452: GM Daniel King — The Grand Swiss, Candidates Spots, and What It Takes to Win High-Stakes Swiss Tournaments

The FIDE Grand Swiss always seems to deliver drama, and this year’s edition was no exception. To help break it all down, I am joined by popular commentator, Chessable author, and host of the Power Play Chess YouTube channel, GM Daniel King.

In our conversation, Daniel shares his takeaways on:
• The common thread that fueled the successes of GMs Anish Giri and Matthias Blübaum
• Standout performances from young stars like GMs Erdogmus, Mishra, and Woodward
• Why the Women’s Grand Swiss produced fewer surprise qualifiers
• A look ahead to the FIDE World Cup and the fight for the remaining Candidates spots

We also touch on tournament formats, opening preparation, and Daniel’s current projects. This was a fascinating event to follow and an equally fun one to recap with GM King.

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors, Silver Knights Chess Academy. If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check them out. 

chessacademy.com/online 

Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month. 

0:00- Intro

0:03- Whose play impressed Daniel?

Mentioned:

Pragganandhaa-Mishra 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Praggnanandhaa_R-Mishra_Abhimanyu

Keymer-Bluebahm 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/10/Keymer_Vincent-Bluebaum_Matthias

IM Greg Shahade’s tweet-

https://x.com/GregShahade/status/1967742931122724924

 10:00- How will Bluebahm fare in the Candidates?

13:00- 

Mentioned: Colin McGourty’s great tournament recap is here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-fide-grand-swiss-13-conclusions#giri-1

15:00- Does the FIDE Grand Swiss format  make it too likely that non-elite players will qualify for the Candidates? 

Mentioned: Peter Heine Nielsen’s Tweet

https://x.com/PHChess/status/1967494651566588023

Leonard Barden’s column for The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/12/chess-erdogmus-14-wins-immortal-game-on-silk-road-as-grand-swiss-nears-climax

17:00- Daniel’’s thoughts on the new FIDE Women’s Candidates

20:00- Who would Daniel like to see earn one of the last Candidate spots? 

Mentioned: 

Chess Reddit post on players not yet in the Candidates:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1nig9bx/10_strong_players_but_only_3_available_slots/

Giri-Niemann 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Giri_Anish-Niemann_Hans_Moke

25:00- Should there be a tiebreak playoff at the Grand Swiss? 

Browne-Petrosian 1982

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1035512

29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Should FIDE use a different pairing algorithm in order to limit color imbalances?”

The two papers (via Dr. Benjamin Portheault) that describe the pairing system are here:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2112.10522

 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.19333

32:00- Patreon mailbag question: “At what stage are players leaving their opening prep at the professional level?”

37:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Where can a player find good model games in the Kalashnikov Sicilian?” 

Mentioned: Cuenca, Moisenko, SL Narayanyan, Maghsoodloo, Bulmaga 

39:00- What is Daniel’s process for following tournaments and picking games to show on his channel?

Mentioned: Mittai-Erdogmus 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Aditya_Mittal-Erdogmus_Yagiz_Kaan

42:00- Daniel’s current projects:

Join his Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/posts

50:00- Check out Daniel’s book reviews on his channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhyM8toCZs_oHwQr_PTveXDkbnbq2Z4HO

53:00- Before we go, we make incorrect predictions of who will win the FIDE World Cup!! 

56:00- Thanks as always to Daniel for joining me. Here is how to keep up with him:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA

His Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/

His Chessable Courses:

https://www.chessable.com/author/DanielKing/

EP 451: GM Elshan Moradiabadi on Intuition, Coaching, and Why Fun Is Vital for Chess Improvement

North Carolina–based trainer and author GM Elshan Moradiabadi has won over 25 tournaments and was the 2001 National Champion of his native Iran. Despite his many accomplishments, Elshan is deeply reflective about the proper role chess should play in one’s life. While he has no regrets about the sacrifices he made, his experiences have given him valuable lessons to share, including:

• Why you should keep chess enjoyment as your North Star

• The importance of intuition, and the nine cues for evaluating a position 

• The tradeoffs that come with pursuing excellence

• How chess parenting has changed since his own youth

We also touch on the professional chess landscape, and make a few predictions about the FIDE Grand Swiss (a tournament which is now over, but hadn’t started when we recorded on September 1).  Whether you’re a chess hobbyist, parent, or coach, you’ll find plenty of wisdom and inspiration in this wide-ranging conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

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/

0:02- Welcome Elshan to the pod- we begin by discussing a poignant post Elshan wrote about what chess has given him, and what is has taken away:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EExhz3qbC/

Prior interview with Elshan, Episode 58- 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/2/6/episode-58-gm-elshan-moradiabadi

0:09- Why Elshan, as a non-native speaker,  has grown to love the English language Mentioned: Cover Stories with Chess Life Episodes #44 and #48

https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-44-gm-elshan-moradiabadi

https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-48-gm-elshan-moradiabadi

0:11- Elshan’s typical day of coaching

0:13- The challenge of improving chess intuition 

Read more about Elshan’s 9 cues for evaluating a position here:

https://gmelshan.com/how-to-master-chess-the-9-imbalances/

19:00- Elshan’s approach to helping new students

27:00- Elshan’s reflections on his OTB chess game 

30:00- Reflections on a poor performance in the 2022 US Championship 

Mentioned: So-Moradiabadi 2022

https://www.chess.com/events/2022-us-chess-championship/11/So_Wesley-Moradiabadi_Elshan

33:00- Does Elshan follow top chess tournaments?

Mentioned: Quantbox Chennai Invitational

https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters

37:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What did Elshan like about the Chicken Chess Club Podcast/” (May it rest in peace) 

Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson

39:00- Elshan’s plans for the rest of 2025

Mentioned: USA vs. India match in Dallas, Texas, October 2025

https://www.texaschesscenter.com/usa-vs-india?srsltid=AfmBOooUe_kOJfuugQMW1JtCezBWX7DPRYRK05I6w2LQ4Bzb6H9Pc9Lq

41:00- Elshan’s favorite players

Mentioned: GM Mikhail Tal, Capablanca, Fischer, Positional Decision-Making in Chess by GM Boris Gelfand 

45:00- Elshan’s big picture chess advice

Mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer 

51:00- Last minute FIDE Grand Swiss predictions (This was recorded before it started) 

55:00- Thanks so much to Elshan for joining me again! You can reach him via his website:

https://gmelshan.com/contact/

EP 450 – Hikaru in Louisiana: Stories from His Surprise Appearance in the Louisiana State Championship

As you may have heard, GM Hikaru Nakamura made a surprise appearance at the Louisiana State Championship, as part of fulfilling FIDE’s World Championship qualification criteria. In return, the players he encountered gained memories and stories they’ll never forget. In this multi-guest special episode, I speak with several of Hikaru’s opponents, as well as the tournament’s organizer, to hear their firsthand accounts:

• Senior Tournament Director Richard Campbell (9:00) – on why he and his team initially thought Hikaru’s registration was a prank, and how they realized it was real.
  
  
  

• 20-year-old college student Harry James (26:00) – on how being paired with Hikaru in Round 1 unexpectedly cured his hangover.
  
  
  

• Tulane graduate student Nahum Villamil Garces (41:00) – on the lifetime memories he made after facing Hikaru in Round 3.
  
  
  

• Five-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta (59:00) – on how he forced himself to play Hikaru with no fear, and how the opportunity to play him re-energized his passion for chess. 

• Baton Rouge-based NM Charles Campbell (1:25:00) – on the mixed feelings he had before his last-round showdown with Hikaru, as he vied for the state champion title. 

It was so much fun hearing the stories of our guests, and I was touched by the galvanizing effect Hikaru’s visit had on the Louisiana chess community

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/

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-Introduction

8:00-  If you know a scholastic player looking for high-level interactive online instruction, check out the Silver Knights Chess Academy: 

chessacademy.com/online

Use code “pod” to save 50% on the first month 

0:9:00- The first guest is Richard Campbell, the tournament organizer. How did he find out Hikaru was registered, did he think it was real? What did they do about security and cheat detection?

Mentioned: NM Jude Acers 

26:00- Harry James joins me, he is a 20 year old Tulane University student who was Hikaru’s first round opponent. It is not often a 1563 USCF player gets to play a super GM! 

Mentioned: Watch Hikaru’s recaps of his games vs. Harry and Nahum here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCsHU4NVh8

41:00- Nahum Villamil Garces, Hikaru’s 3rd round opponent, joins me. Nahum is graduate student at Tulane University who was playing his first tournament in the U.S.

Mentioned: Gelfand-Nakamura 2010

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1567841

59:00- 5-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta joined me to reflect on an instructive loss, and to compare the experience of playing Hikaru to his clashes against IM Levy Rozman and GM Hans Niemann. 

Mentioned:

You can see Hikaru’s recaps of his games against FM Nick Matta and NM Charles Campbell here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4

You can see Nick’s game with Hikaru in this chess.com article 

https://www.chess.com/news/view/nakamura-wins-louisiana-state-championship-candidates

Also Mentioned:Thinking Inside the Box by GM Jacob Aagaard 

You can reach FM Nick Matta via his Lichess coaches page:

https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster

1:25:00- NM Charles Campbell joins the podcast to discuss lessons from his 7th round showdown with Hikaru, and the chess scenes in Nigeria (his native country) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (where he lives). 

You can also see his game in the chess.com recap, or on Hikaru’s YouTube channel

https://www.chess.com/news/view/nakamura-wins-louisiana-state-championship-candidates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4

You can reach Charles Campbell via Chess.com or Lichess

https://www.chess.com/member/charlescandycampbell

https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

EP 449- GM Jesse Kraai on Confronting Tournament Fears, Mental and Physical Fitness, and What’s Next for Him and ChessDojo

ChessDojo’s GM Jesse Kraai is always one of my favorite people to talk chess with, yet somehow it had been five years since his last visit to the pod. Jesse returned at a great time, having been both studying and competing actively, and recently achieving his goal of qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Closed Championship. His recent over-the-board activity provided a springboard for us to discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• How he has learned to confront his fears in tough, “meat-grinder” weekend tournaments
  
  
  

• Why he believes weight training—and even certain health supplements—are important for older players, and may be the next frontier for professionals as well
  
  
  

• How the ChessDojo curriculum and philosophy have evolved in recent years

I am also a big fan of Jesse’s book reviews on the ChessDojo YouTube channel, so I couldn’t let him go without sharing a few recommendations. We even closed the conversation by discussing Intermezzo, a recent novel by award-winning Irish writer Sally Rooney. I always admire Jesse’s dedication to improvement, and it’s a pleasure to hear his thoughtful perspectives on chess and beyond. Approximate timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:02- Does Jesse ever find it hard to stay motivated to study and read chess books? 

0:03- Reflections on Jesse’s recent tournaments

0:05- What are the keys to GM Alex Fishbein’s recent success? 

0:09- What does Jesse do to work on his own chess?

Mentioned: Jesse’s review of the book TurboCharge Your Tactics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLBMmqk8an0

Also Mentioned: 

Perfect Your Chess

Perfect Your Chess (Chess Tactics): Volokitin, Andrei, Grabinsky, Vladimir: 9781915328069: Amazon.com: Books

12:00- ChessDojo and Jesse’s fitness regimen

Jesse’s IG post here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqT1jOuxcK/

Check out Dr. Nick Vasquez’s blog here:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/clearing-the-fog

17:00- Are elite chess players likely taking cognitive supplements or other drugs to help their performances? 

20:00- What have been the biggest lessons from co-founding the ChessDojo?

25:00- What has Jesse learned from reading the works of IM Willy Hendriks?

28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What non-chess books influenced Jesse’s philosophy of chess improvement?”

Mentioned: Mindset by Carol Dweck

Deep Work by Cal Newport 

30:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Are books as effective as modern digital tools for chess improvement?” 

32:00- Does Jesse have set hours for studying chess?

36:00- The strengths and weaknesses of Jesse’s competitors in next year’s US Senior Closed Championship. 

Mentioned: GM Larry Christiansen, GM Gregory Kaidanov, FM Doug Eckert 

38:00- New developments in the dojo

42:00- Jesse’s upcoming tournament plans

44:00- We share our thoughts on the chess-adjacent novel Intermezzo by popular author Sally Rooney

https://www.amazon.com/Intermezzo-Novel-Sally-Rooney/dp/0374602638

54:00- Parting book recs

Mentioned: Polgar Chess

Logical Chess Move by Move 

58:00- Thanks to Jesse, for rejoining me! You can find him at the ChessDojo. (use code "ben" at checkout to save 10%)

https://www.chessdojo.club/signup

EP 448- NM Max Farberov on Beating Plateaus, Springing Opening Surprises, and Why Speed Chess Matters

NM Max Farberov is a 27-year-old chess instructor, Chessable author, and online speed-chess specialist with a Chess.com blitz rating north of 2600. He joined me after a busy chess summer that included his first European open and one of his best OTB results to date: winning clear first in the Under-2300 section of the Washington International. As Max explains, this breakthrough came only after months of frustration and feeling that he had reached a plateau, making the success all the sweeter.

In our conversation, Max and I discussed:

• Why he stays motivated to pursue tournament chess at an age when many slow down
  
  
  

• How he built an opening repertoire around the offbeat 1…d6
  
  
  

• What he gains from following lesser-known professional tournaments
  
  
  

• Why speed chess is underrated as a tool for improvement
  
  
  

Max’s passion for chess is infectious, and our conversation is full of helpful chess improvement advice. Timestamps are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

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 for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com, via the link below:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- What led to Max’s recent tournament outcome, where he attained the best result of his life? 

10:00- What keeps Max going when many players in their 20s stop playing tournaments? 

12:00- The College Chess League

13:00- Congrats to IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan 

14:00- Was Max tempted to quit after earning the NM title? 

20:00- What was it like for Max to play in his first international tournament? 

Mentioned: More on the Vila de Sitges here:

https://open.penyaescacscp.com/

22:00- The dangers of overpreparing for an opponent 

24:00- Max’s approach to openings 

26:00- GMs and top engines don’t like openings like the Philidor and the Pirc due to the concession of space. Has this been an issue for Max in his games?

28:00- Does Max consider himself a speed chess specialist? How can one get better at speed chess?

33:00- How to combat the London

35:00- Back to speed chess advice- Max’s advice for clock management 

38:00 Opening prep war stories 

40:00- The benefits of following and playing through the games from  professional (non-elite) circuit tournaments. 

43:00- Max’s friendship with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez 

Mentioned: EP 409 with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/11/19/ep-409-gm-fidel-corrales-jimenez-a-tireless-tournament-circuit-grinder-on-overcoming-setbacks-managing-energy-the-risks-of-otb-cheating-amp-his-love-for-the-scotch-openingnbsp

46:00- How Max became a chess teacher and  advice for getting into chess teaching 

49:00- Max’s next chess goals

50:00- Is Max a regimented chess-studier?

52:00- Max’s chess improvement hot takes and book recs 

Mentioned: 

Practical Chess Exercises

Evaluate like a Grandmaster 

Attack with Mikhail Tal 

56:00- Thanks to Max for joining me! 

Here is how to reach him:

X:

https://x.com/chessgainz?lang=en

Chess.com:

https://www.chess.com/member/chess_gainz

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

EP 447- Going Pro at 57: `GM Alex Fishbein on How New and Challenging Training Methods Fueled an Upset win at the US Senior Invitational

At 57 years old, Tennessee-based Grandmaster and Author, Alex Fishbein, has built an impressive chess résumé, with 12 state-championship titles across four states and multiple appearances in U.S. Championship events. But until recently, his chess had always been balanced with a demanding finance career. Last year, for the first time since age 24, Alex stepped away from Wall Street to devote himself fully to chess—an experiment that paid off quickly. 

Through a rigorous and unconventional study routine—including his unique “post-postmortem” method—Alex pulled off a surprise victory at the 2025 U.S. Senior Invitational, despite entering as the second-lowest rated player. In our conversation, he reflects on:

• The training methods that fueled his breakthrough

• His advice for caring less about ratings

• The outsized role of age and stamina in senior chess

• Lessons learned from legends like Korchnoi and Keres
  
  
  

Alex’s story shows the power of playing actively against all comers, staying curious, and embracing new challenges, and he provides inspiration for chess players of all levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

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 for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

02:30- GM Fishbein joins the podcast! We begin by discussing his recent tournaments 

Mentioned:

Episode 291 with GM Alex Fishbein:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2022/8/9/ep-291-gm-alex-fishbein-on-maintaining-a-passion-for-chess-into-ones-50s-plus-great-korchnoi-and-tal-stories

My System Fast Track Book Recap #37 with GM Alex Fishbein

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/6/21/book-recap-37-my-system-fast-track-edition-with-gm-alex-fishbeinnbsp

Also mentioned: Dan Joelson, IM Stuart Rachels 

08:00- What changes did Alex recently make to his training regimen?

Mentioned:

Interview with Nazi Paikidze and GM Yasser Seirawan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG156yEThSQ

15:00- Patreon mailbag question:

How are Alex’s preparation methods different as a professional vs.as an amateur? 

Mentioned: Solitaire Chess 

More on Solitaire Chess from FM Nate Solon here:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/solitaire-chess

25:00- How and why did Alex begin to study the games and annotations of GM Paul Keres?

35:00- What was Alex’s approach to openings in the US Senior Closed? Did he try to surprise his opponents? 

Mentioned:

You can play through the games and openings mentioned from the tournament here:

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-us-national=championships-seniors/01/Fishbein_Alexander-Novikov_Igor

38:00- What separates the strength of GM Vladimir Akopian from the rest of the field? 

39:00- Why does GM Alex Fishbein think that the three youngest players were the ones to make the playoffs? 

Mentioned: Chess is My Life by GM Viktor Korchnoi

40:00- Why ratings are a mirage for the Senior Closed

45:00- Alex’s advice for caring less about one’s rating

Mentioned: Claud Bloodgood:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Bloodgood

53:00- Recent chess books Alex has read

Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Phillip Hurtado 

55:00- Alex’s training tips for lower-rated players

1:00- Thanks to Alex for joining me again! You can reach him via email at:

Afish at panix.com 

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

EP 446- IM Greg Shahade on The State of Professional Chess, Why He Loves the Daily and Classical Formats & Adult Improving at Trivia

IM Greg Shahade was the very first guest of Perpetual Chess and has remained a frequent and insightful contributor  ever since. A former youth national champion, Greg has subsequently  been involved in the chess world in an array of capacities —founder of the US Chess School (which provides free training to top American juniors), creator of the now-defunct Pro Chess League, and a near-2800-rated blitz player on Chess.com who has maintained his level well into his 40s. A former poker pro, Greg has more recently become a trivia whiz to boot. But which is harder to improve at—trivia or chess? In this wide-ranging conversation, we catch up on Greg’s many interests, get his take on events like the E-Sports World Cup and Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, and hear his thoughts on the  continued ascension of the next chess generation. It’s always a treat to hear Greg’s takes on the ever-evolving chess landscape. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

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- Will Greg learn GM Jan Gustafsson’s Chessable course?

0:05- Patreon mailbag question: Greg followed the E-sports World Cup (EWC) closely.   What were his impressions of it? 

0:09- Why Greg loves classical chess! 

0:12- Back to the EWC

0:16- What did Greg think of the recent Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas? 

21:00- The US Chess School- Are kids good at chess?

30:00- The benefits of the daily chess format 

36:00- Why did Greg decide to become good at trivia? Is it harder to improve at then chess?

https://gregshahade.wordpress.com/2023/01/31/1-5-years-of-trivia-total-n00b-to-learnedleague-group-a/

44:00- Patreon mailbag question: Greg seems like a happy and positive person- Has that come easy to him or has he had to work at it?

47:00- Patreon mailbag question: Will Greg sing a song for us?(briefly) 

48:00- As another friend of FM Donny Ariel’s, does Greg think Donny can make GM? Could Greg make GM? 

53:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Carlsen’s retirement from the World Championship title hurt his legacy as compared to Kasparov’s? 

Mentioned: Kasparov-Polgar touch-move controversy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9UhaUIBCY

1:01- Greg discusses his enthusiasm for the chess.com daily chess league 

https://www.chess.com/article/view/join-chess-league

Thanks to Greg for joining me again! You can reach/keep up with him via chess.com or via X:

https://www.chess.com/member/gregshahade

https://x.com/GregShahade

EP 445- “It Worked So Well That I Stopped Doing It”: Adult Improver Nicholas Sloan on Dealing with Burnout After a Rapid Rating Rise

Nicholas Sloan is a Wisconsin-based Network Engineer, a dad of 4, and an extremely motivated chess improver. Usually. But after an incredible run of gaining 500+ rating points in two years, fueled by consistent hard work and a unique study approach, Nick hit a wall. He gave back 150 rating points, and lost his motivation to work hard on chess. That can happen when you are a family man who is working full-time,  studying for multiple hours a day, and creating chess content on top of that. Nick took time away to read some quality chess books, and to recalibrate his chess improvement plans. In our conversation Nick tells me: 

• Why, after reflection,  he has decided that the lofty goal of earning the National Master title is still worth pursuing. 

• How a few chess books opened his eyes to the work he still had to do 

• What he intends to do next

As a longtime reader of Nick’s blog, I was excited to finally chat with him, and I look forward to following his continued success. 

Click here to Download the Episode

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 for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

02:00- Nicholas joins the show- check out his rating graph here:

https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12772484

05:00- What does Nick think contributed to his recent slump?

14:00- What effect did reading GM Jonathan Rowson’s books have on Nick?

Mentioned: Book Recap #14: Seven Deadly Chess Sins

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins

Book Recap #32: Chess for Zebras 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins

20:00- More book recs!

Mentioned: Road to Chess Improvement

Chess Improvement: It’s All in the Mindset

22:00- How did Nick adjust to being an emotional player?

24:00- How has Nick changed his approach?

Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating 

27:00- What thought process is Nick using over the board?

Mentioned: GM Alexander Goldin 

28:00- What did Nick learn from the book Rapid Chess Improvement ?

Mentioned: CT-Art , Chessking App

32:00- How Nick avoids burnout

Mentioned: Episode 173 with NM Philemon Thomas, GM Johan Hellsten’s Mastering Chess Strategy

35:00- Why does Nick focus on local club tournaments rather than big weekend ones? Mentioned: Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant 

40:00- Does Nick play a narrow or wide repertoire? 

44:00- How many tournament games does Nick aim to play per year? 

46:00- Nick’s approach to game analysis 

50:00- Thanks to Nick for joining! Here is his linktree that provides many ways to keep up with him:

https://linktr.ee/HighgroundChess

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

EP 444 – Dr. Benjamin Balas on Chess Streaks, Blunders, and Brain Science

Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Balas is an MIT-educated professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, where his research focuses on visual recognition. He’s also a passionate chess player who blogs frequently about the intersection of science and chess. On his popular LiChess blog, Ben (aka NDPatzer) has explored topics like whether streakiness exists in chess, the science of blunders, and how confirmation bias influences decision-making over the board. In our conversation, we touch on all of these topics and also delve into Ben’s personal chess journey. He shares the scientific studies he believes every chess player should know about — and, as with his writing, I learned a lot from chatting with Ben. 

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/

Click here to download the episode

Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- After decades away from it, what got Ben back into chess during the pandemic?

Mentioned: Ben’s interview with Dr. Can Kabadayi on the Chess Cognition podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzblptGNjw

0:07- What experience got Ben thinking about whether momentum exists in chess?

Mentioned: 

https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-winning-streaks-losing-streaks-and-skill/K4NmnE6b

Also mentioned, FM Nate Solon’s post:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/yes-theres-luck-in-chess

The Hot Hand by Benjamin Cohen:

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Hand-Mystery-Science-Streaks/dp/0062820729

17:00- What is Dr. Balas' approach to chess improvement? 

Mentioned: 

100 Endgames You Must Know, The Woodpecker Method, Dr. Katie Wissman 

19:00- What does Dr. Balas think of the Woodpecker Method as a study program?

21:00- 3 Scientific Studies Chess Players Should Know About, starting with “Chunking” 

Mentioned: IM Fernand Gobet 

24:00- Study #2- Stronger players are much better at avoiding confirmation bias 

29:00- Dr. Balas has played two OTB tournaments since regaining an interest in chess a few years ago. How were these experiences? 

31:00- Study #3- The importance of moving your eyes during a chess game! 

Mentioned: Preventing Blunders in Chess by Dr. Can Kabadayi 

https://www.chessable.com/preventing-blunders-in-chess/course/258968/

35:00- Why are chess professionals scientifically studied so much more often than amateurs? 

39:00- What is next for Ben’s chess?

42:00- If Dr. Balas received funding to do a  scientific study on chess, what would he research? 

44:00- Dr. Balas’ closing chess improvement advice.

Mentioned:

Blindfold Chess

https://www.amazon.com/Blindfold-Chess-Psychology-Techniques-Champions/dp/0786475269/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1FSJ92B6Q46H0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rrt6OpihMGjYaHTqvOcHzb6-vZpowdj6xWtFMGFyA6gRhFRzSVmJdBCFgP7UkFD4FUNk4TmKhse2uqjgQ7ZXcuEf5znf67nC8ENj73IDNspElRzfCfxGNYTtHoUUnJTzb_2oecXU8NIk7B4ZJj1mIw.uelpnrMJtCfCmpe6iIa0qWyDhlE32PRwGmXsv5_MeBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=blindfold+chess&qid=1753302264&s=books&sprefix=blindfold+ches%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-4

Book Recap Podcast discussing Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells

47:00- Thanks to Ben for joining, here is how to keep up with his work: 

Lichess:

https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog

Substack:

https://benbalas.substack.com/

And don’t forget to sub to the Perpetual Chess Linkfest:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).