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).

EP 443- GM Jan Gustafsson on Building Opening Repertoires, Freestyle Chess, Father Time, and the Usual Array of Nonsense

Opening expert, Twitch streamer, former Team Magnus member, and longtime friend of the pod, GM Jan Gustafsson is back for another fun and far-reaching interview! We talk about the origins of his new Chessable course on the Austrian Defense, how his approach to repertoire building has evolved, and we get his take on the recent Freestyle Chess drama in Vegas. Jan also reflects on the legacy of GM Boris Spassky, laments his struggles with memory and motivation, and mourns the end (for now) of FM Donny Ariel’s quest for online stardom. Per tradition, we also touch on non-chess subjects such as parenting, basketball, and TV shows. Jan’s appearance is as entertaining as ever! 

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- Brief parenting discussion

0:04- How does Jan go about learning an opening? How did he choose the lines for a course on The Austrian attack?

0:11- The time Jan had to join the Chess.com anti-cheating Zoom call during Titled Tuesday

0:15- How was Jan’s most recent tournament, the Thailand Open? 

0:18- What did Jan think of the first day of the Las Vegas Freestyle Tournament? 

0:19- What will Jan be doing at the E-Sports World Cup? (plus a little chess Bundesliga talk)

Mentioned:

GM Peter Heine Nielsen-Gustafsson 2025-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2833767

22:00- Back to discussion of the Freestyle Tournament

Mentioned: Clip of GM Hans Niemann celebrating Aronian’s upset of Carlsen

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1m1xeex/hans_claps_and_bows_down_to_levon_aronian/

25:00- Should spectators at major chess events be allowed to bring phones?

28:00- Brief basketball talk- When will The Rights to Ricky Sanchez Podcast have GM Jan Gustafsson on their podcast?

31:00- FIDE Women’s World Cup- Who is Jan rooting for?

32:00- Did Jan ever meet the recently deceased Former World Champion Boris Spassky? 

35:00- What happened to FM Donny Ariel’s quest for the grandmaster title?

Mentioned: EP 421 with GM Jan Gustafsson and FM Donny Ariel

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/2/11/ep-421-gm-jan-gustafsson-and-fm-donny-ariel-discussion-can-a-mid-40s-working-dad-make-grandmaster-without-doing-any-worknbsp

43:00- I asked Chat GPT to come up with 20 questions for Jan Gustafsson. Jan answers about 18 of them! We discuss the nature of chess talent, what makes Magnus special, Jan’s favorite chess job, and more. 

Mentioned: Jan and GM Peter Heine Nielsen’s Top 50 Players Series:

https://www.chess.com/lessons/hall-of-fame-the-50-greatest-chess-players-of-all-time

1:07:00- Thanks as always to GM Jan Gustafsson for joining! Here is how to keep up with him:

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/janistantv

Chessable courses:

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

EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve At It

GM Johan Hellsten returns to Perpetual Chess for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential chess skills: defense. Johan is the 2006 Swedish National Champion, and a renowned author and coach, best known for his Mastering Chess series. In this interview, he shares insights from his latest book and Chessable course, Mastering Chess Defense (also available in print,) reflecting on why defending is often harder than attacking, which players are best to study to improve your defensive play, and key concepts like “the lifeline.” Johan is a true professional, and always a pleasure to talk chess with. 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

0:00- We begin with an impromptu discussion of obscure chess opening names including the Austrian Defense, the Tartakower Caro Kann, The Fegatello Italian, and the Polerio Italian Defense

10:00- Why is it harder for people to spot defensive resources than tactics? 

15:00- How did Johan find so many good defensive examples? 

Check out Johan’s separate course on defense for Chessmood members:

https://chessmood.com/course/chess-defense

 21:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How should amateur players incorporate chess defense into their thinking processes?”

29:00- What is the definition of defense? 

31:00- Did Johan ever meet legendary GM Miguel Najdorf? 

Mentioned:

El Viejo by GM Zenon Franco

Najdorf X Najdorf by Liliana Najdorf 

Kasparov vs. Najdorf Bugojno 1982

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069983

36:00- If choosing between Kasparov, Karpov, Korchnoi, Spassky, whose games were the most instructive? 

Mentioned: GM Emmanuel Berg

Check out Johan’s Youtube videos about Petrosian and Ulf Andersson here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAkeoP9TTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDo--EPHnfc

42:00- More book recs from Johan!

Mentioned:

Timman’s Triumphs:

https://www.amazon.com/Timmans-Triumphs-100-Best-Games/dp/9056919172

Speed Demon:

https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Demon-Fascinating-Tragic-Vyzhmanavin/dp/9493257819

GM Judit Polgar’s Quality Chess Trilogy

46:00- What is the chess defensive resource that is sometimes referred to as “the lifeline?”

Mentioned:

GM Hellsten’s Chessmood article about it:

https://chessmood.com/blog/lifeline-chess-tactic

Or move 32 of this Korchnoi-Fisher 1962 Curaco game:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044560

49:00- What do the concepts of “Evolution and revolution” have to do with chess defense?

Mentioned: GM Josif Dorfman’s “The Method”

https://www.abebooks.com/Method-Chess-Dorfman-Iossif-Sarl-Game/31453994460/bd

52:00- More chess book talk!

Mentioned: Boris Spassky’s Best Games 

https://www.amazon.com/Boris-Spasskys-Best-Games-Rising/dp/1784832006

53:00- Check out the two defensive puzzles we discuss in this Lichess study:

https://lichess.org/study/1AlpJ6gn/3b3ZdebD

Spassky-Geller move 35-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049395

Carlsen-Duda 2025 is included and annotated by NM Anthony Levin for Chess.com here (as well as in the LiChess study):

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-cct-chesscom-classic-playoffs-day-1

Thanks to Johan for joining me again, you can reach him via his Chess.com page:

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

And check out his Chessable courses here:

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

And his books here

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here:

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

EP 441- WCM Hannah Sayce: The 24-year old Twitch Streamer on the Key Factors Behind Her Rapid Rise to the WCM Title

In just a few years, 24-year-old Australian Twitch streamer Hannah Sayce went from playing casual online games during lockdown, to earning the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title and competing in international tournaments. Her post-lockdown rise has taken her from below 1000 to a 2300 Chess.com blitz rating. In this conversation, Hannah shares the highs and lows of her chess journey and the strategies behind her rapid improvement. Key turning points included learning to slow down at the board and forcing herself to embrace endgame study despite her resistance. Hannah’s rapid progress is inspiring to young girls and adult improvers alike—and it was fun to hear her story. 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/

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- What is Hannah’s approach to streaming and prepping for Titled Tuesdays? 

Mentioned: 

7:00- Overcoming the Nerves of OTB chess 

12:00- We discuss Hannah’s chess- improvement philosophy as originally laid out in her popular YouTube video, How I Went from 700 to 2200 in 2 Years. 

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

Specifically she touched on these 7 themes:

1. Play longer time controls 

2. Develop calculating skills 

3. Journal decisions

4. Analyze your games 

5. Practice your tactics

6. Calculate before you move 

7. Study master games

18:00- How Hannah will work on her endgames 

Mentioned: Notjowol on Twitch

https://www.twitch.tv/notjowol

20:00- Why does Hannah stream the lessons that she gets? 

21:00- What are Hannah’s current chess goals?

22:00- How did Hannah get into chess? 

24:00- Hannah’s advice for girls getting into chess

28:00- Hannah’s favorite chess books and authors

Mentioned: Modern Chess Openings, IM Jeremy Silman, GM Yasser Seirawan 

30:00- Hannah’s favorite Chess Youtubers:

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Ben Finegold, Hanging Pawns 

32:00- What is the chess scene like in Melbourne?

33:00- Hannah’s favorite OTB tournament 

Mentioned: The Rilton Cup 

35:00- Hannah’s post-university plans and non-chess hobbies 

39:00- Thanks to Hannah for joining the show! Here is how to follow her continued progress:

 Hannah’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anichessgame/?hl=en

Hannah’s Twitch: 

https://www.twitch.tv/hannahsayce

Hannah’s Chess.com:

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

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@hannahsayce1

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here:

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

EP 440- GM Alexandr Fier: “I Blunder a Lot” – One of the World’s Most Active Grandmasters on Intuition, Endgame Studies, and Maintaining His Love For the Game

GM Alexandr Fier is five- time champion of Brazil and nine- time chess Olympian. He also recently qualified for the FIDE World Cup for the 8th time by finishing at tied for first at the American Continental Tournament. But aside from all of his impressive accomplishments, what interests me most about GM Fier is how frequently he competes.  Last year alone, he played nearly 200 classical games,  and he has now travelled to over 50 countries. In our conversation we discussed: 

• How he maintains his energy and positive outlook through a busy tournament calendar

• Why he thinks playing quickly gives him a competitive advantage. (Hence the nickname “No Fear”) 

• How he reacted to getting some harsh feedback from legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky at age 18. 

We also talked about GM Fier’s recent qualification for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, his plans for the rest of 2025, and of course, chess books. It was a pleasure to chat with one of Brazil’s top players, and I look forward to following his nonstop tournament adventures in the years to come.

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/

You can also 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- Alexandr is one of the most active Grandmasters in the world.   How does he stay motivated?

0:06- How does Alexandr prepare for opponents? 

0:11- How did Alexandr begin to collaborate with Imperial sports? 

0:13- How did Alexandr qualify for the World Cup? 

Mentioned: Fier-Shankland 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-american-continental-chess-championship/05/Fier_Alexandrandr-Shankland_Sam

0:16- Why Alexandr plays quickly.

Mentioned: GM Giga Quparadze 

18:00- What makes the World Cup special to Alexandr? 

22:00- Alexandr’s early Chess Development and Influences

Mentioned:  Blokh’s Combination Art, Domination by Kasparian, Laszlo Polgar’s Chess: 5334 Combinations and Games 

Navara-Fier 2015

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1787858

GM Navara’s Blog Post:

https://lichess.org/@/RealDavidNavara/blog/because-we-care/fauAwr9r

26:00- Was it challenging to get chess books when you were a kid in Brazil? 

28:00- Is chess gaining popularity in Brazil? 

Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Henrique Mecking 

31:00- When did Alexandr decide to pursue chess professionally? 

33:00- What languages does GM Fier speak? 

35:00- Alex’s approach to following top games 

37:28- How he Studies Openings and Uses Engines

39:00- Alexandr’s favorite opening authors

Mentioned: GM Ivan Cheparinov, Nikolaos Ntirlis, GM Alexei Kornev 

Memories of Training with Dvoretsky

42:00- Alex’s favorite chess books

Mentioned: GM David Navara’s Best Games, Tal-Botvinnik 1960, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

44:00- Memories of a training camp with legendary trainer Mark Dvoretsky Influences and Inspirations in Chess

48:00- Why GM Fier loves endgame studies 

50:00- GM Fier’s fondest memories

Fier-Ryan 2009, Ireland

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601053

Fier-Akopian 2017-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1870136

54:00- Alex’s passion for music 

55:00- Upcoming tournaments and advice for Aspiring Chess Players

1:00:00- Thanks to Alex for joining!

Be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/alexandr.fier/

https://www.instagram.com/pontocego/?hl=en

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 439 — Samuel Sonning (Founder of NoctieAI): The Instructive Value of Memorizing Games, the Benefit of Losing Rating Points, and a Deep Dive on Chess and AI

This week’s guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him build intuition and visualization skills. A passionate player himself, many of Sam’s ideas have directly shaped NoctieAI, which offers immediate move feedback and personalized flashcards based on individual mistakes. We also explore the broader state of machine learning as it relates to chess. Samuel has been fascinated by this intersection since the days of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, but while he still sees great potential in AI-assisted chess learning, he no longer views chess as the leading edge of AI development. This was a fascinating conversation, and I’m excited to follow NoctieAI’s continued evolution.

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/

You can also 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

0:00- What has been Sam’s approach to chess improvement?

Mentioned: EP 383 with Dan Bock

08:00- Why did Sam decide to develop Noctie such that it gives immediate feedback on your moves, rather than after your games?  

12:00- When did Sam start playing tournament chess? 

15:00- Why did Sam choose memorizing master games as a favorit-  approach to chess improvement?

19:00- How to overcome rating anxiety 

Mentioned: Sam’s Blog post- 

https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/

24:00- Why does NoctieAI offer both rating level tests and non-numeric titles such as “Knight 3?” 

27:00- What does Sam do to make NoctieAI play in a more human-like fashion? 

31:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What new paradigms could still be coming from chess engines?” 

34:00- What sparked Samuel’s interest in computers and chess? 

37:00- Should chess still be considered an effective testing ground for AI development writ large, or has broader AI development caught up with the chess world? 

40:00- Why is ChatGPT terrible at games like poker and chess?

Mentioned: 

Nate Silver’s blog post:

https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker

Jen Shahade’s blog post:

https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess

47:00- How is the business of NoctieAI doing? 

52:00- Sam’s favorite chess books and content creators

Mentioned: Jeremy Silman, Shereshevsky’s Endgame Strategy, ChessNetwork 

Thanks to Samuel for joining us! The best way to reach him is via NoctieAI.

https://noctie.ai/

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

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

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