Épisodes

  • [Replay] GM Daniel Naroditsky's 2020 Perpetual Chess Interview

    [Replay] GM Daniel Naroditsky's 2020 Perpetual Chess Interview
    Oct 21 2025
    As the chess world digests the devastating news of the passing of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, I found myself thinking back to our first interview in August of 2020 (Episode 191). At the time, as chess boomed during the pandemic, Danya was ascending from promising young American player to chess commentating superstar. In the interview Danya’s eloquence, empathy, and hilarious impersonations were on full display. It is among the most listened-to Perpetual Chess episodes in the podcast's 9 year history. Danya's loss is immense and I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and many fans. - Ben 00:00 – 03:15 Ben’s tribute and introduction following Danya’s passing (2025) 03:16 – 04:00 2020 Interview with Danya begins- Introduction to Danya’s chess background and early achievements 04:00 – 06:00 Danya on listening to Perpetual Chess and favorite episodes 06:00 – 10:00 Discussion of the Hikaru–Magnus finale and Armageddon tiebreaks 10:12 – 13:10 Early fascination with blitz and bullet chess; childhood training habits 13:10 – 16:00 Blitz addiction story and lessons from IM John Donaldson 16:00 – 21:40 Practical tips on blitz improvement — tactics, intuition, and time management 21:40 – 26:30 Deep dive into time management and “15-second rule” from Hikaru analysis 26:30 – 33:00 Stories of playing Magnus and Alireza online; Rebecca Harris account origin 33:00 – 36:15 Etiquette and psychology of elite bullet matches 36:15 – 38:10 What Danya works on to improve; paradox of bullet skill vs. classical weakness 38:10 – 40:10 Balancing streaming, teaching, and training during COVID 40:10 – 43:00 Untapped potential and thoughts on improvement as a 2600+ GM 43:00 – 45:30 The continuing value of classical chess in a fast-paced world 45:30 – 49:10 Teaching and streaming as dual passions; insights on Twitch culture 49:10 – 54:30 Streaming schedule, viewer expectations, and sustainability 54:30 – 56:30 The pressures and pitfalls of Twitch streaming; handling trolls 56:30 – 1:00:00 Patreon questions: notebooks, writing process, and early books 1:00:00 – 1:03:00 How Mastering Positional Chess came to be; influence of Russian literature 1:03:00 – 1:06:00 Formative chess books and lessons from Kasparov and Soviet literature 1:06:00 – 1:09:30 Advice for adult improvers: training priorities and tactical habits 1:09:30 – End Reflections on commentary, pedagogy, and love of teaching Photo in thumbnail via Charlotte Chess Center: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/staff/gm-daniel-naroditsky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 23 min
  • EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout

    EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout
    Oct 14 2025
    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 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. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Chess Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project

    EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Chess Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project
    Oct 7 2025
    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. 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. Below are shortened show notes, for more complete show notes with links for all of the book recs, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Io2RMjGWDpncNDRcUMOlNmYHKMvdxUP1TGmGJFtdB4/edit?tab=t.0 0:03- Stjepan joins the pod! What is the chessreads.com origin story? Mentioned: Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 0:07- 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? 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Could Stjepan recommend a few books that can be read without a chessboard? Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box 23:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Stjepan select which chess book to read next? 25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What recommendations does Stjepan have for books about thinking processes? 30:00- Book Recommendations by rating range, starting with under 1000 36:00- Recommendations for the 1000-1200 level 37:00- - Recommendations for the 1200-1400 level 41:00- Recommendations for the 1400-1600 level 45:00- Recommendations for the 1600-1800 level 49:00- Recommendations for the 1800-2000 level 52:00- Recommendations for the above 2000 level 1:01:00- Chess improvement update from Stjepan 1:06:00- Impromptu discussion- what makes some countries better at chess (and other competitive endeavors) than others? 1:11:00- 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 1:17:00- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 18 min
  • EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title.

    EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title.
    Sep 30 2025
    Despite an impressive chess résumé as one of the U.S.’s top women players, Tatev Abrahamyan has had moments when she questioned whether 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. 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: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • EP 452: GM Daniel King — The Grand Swiss, Candidates Spots, and What It Takes to Win High-Stakes Swiss Tournaments

    EP 452: GM Daniel King — The Grand Swiss, Candidates Spots, and What It Takes to Win High-Stakes Swiss Tournaments
    Sep 23 2025
    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. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h
  • EP 451: GM Elshan Moradiabadi on Intuition, Coaching, and Why Fun Is Vital for Chess Improvement

    EP 451: GM Elshan Moradiabadi on Intuition, Coaching, and Why Fun Is Vital for Chess Improvement
    Sep 16 2025
    North Carolina–based trainer and author 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. 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 has grown to love the English language as a non-native speaker 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h
  • EP 450 – Hikaru in Louisiana: Stories from His Surprise Appearance in the Louisiana State Championship

    EP 450 – Hikaru in Louisiana: Stories from His Surprise Appearance in the Louisiana State Championship
    Sep 9 2025
    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 (13:00) – 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 (32:00) – on how being paired with Hikaru in Round 1 unexpectedly cured his hangover. Tulane graduate student Nahum Villamil Garces (47:30) – on the lifetime memories he made after facing Hikaru in Round 3. Five-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta (1:06:00) – 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 (1:34:00) – 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/ 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 13:00- 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 32:00- 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 47:30- 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 1:06:00- 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 1:34:00- 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.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 52 min
  • EP 449- GM Jesse Kraai on Confronting Tournament Fears, Mental and Physical Fitness, and What’s Next for Him and ChessDojo

    EP 449- GM Jesse Kraai on Confronting Tournament Fears, Mental and Physical Fitness, and What’s Next for Him and ChessDojo
    Sep 2 2025
    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. 0:02- Does Jesse ever find it hard to stay motivated to keep studying and reading 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 https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Your-Chess-Ukrainian-Authors/dp/1915328063/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KXGHHH199SMQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XJTzNVQ4N6jtqAJlUh5KzvNBpaX4Cs6DkIe2E-15eIhEw6YsZYPA5HdNzRFsEzgzHHBYkJjSSdBddTS1PPcTP6iRXtOUrqULwf5Sc2JQUMHafGmhNIGcuYGQ8MyXxIkQhoxaHmbKuO0u94ls6vl8vhiehM-UnVvrZ17ce4FPjsd3ho3b08KJh-vPw89-SF0ccgo36HEXf7zwi__wKMmX8iO1_7DXOTHH5Pk9OgLrBUA.kPo0CC2fg8nMzpfrIKoCIvkTyNUwFvqAT7-k0iXzEmI&dib_tag=se&keywords=perfect+your+chess&qid=1756510333&sprefix=Perfect+Your+Chess%2Caps%2C267&sr=8-1 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 rest of 2026 tournaments 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min