How to Train for the GM Title

This week’s guest is the four-time U.S. women's champion and perennial US National Team Member WGM Anna Zatonskih. Anna joined me the week after her inspiring victory at the 2023 Cairns Cup to reflect on her standout performance. As Anna recounts, as the second to lowest seed in the tournament, most people had modest expectations for her, but despite self-doubt and busy life,  she nonetheless decided to prepare rigorously for the tournament and hoped to put her best foot forward. As it turned out, Anna not only won the tournament but unexpectedly secured her first Grandmaster norm at 44 years of age! Anna shares the advice that helped motivate her to double down on her study, how she went about studying, and she discusses how she plans to spend the $45,000 she won. We also discuss Anna’s emigration to the U.S. in 2002, her study regimen as a top youth player in Ukraine, and how she approaches teaching chess to her kids as a mom. I was so inspired by Anna’s story and I think that you will be as well! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below: 

Recorded June 21, 2023

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01:00- What was Anna’s mindset going into the Cairn’s Cup? How did she work on her game? 

Mentioned: Vladmirov’s 1000 Chess Studies, GM Daniel Fridman 

28:00- Does Anna have family members in Ukraine? What rules should FIDE have place for Russian players competing from different countries? 

Mentioned: IM Irina Bulmaga’s Blog post 

35:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How does Anna approach teaching chess to her own kids?” 

38:00- How did Anna study chess as a child in the former Soviet Union? 

40:00- How does Anna describe her  first days in the US in 2002? 

45:00- Anna discusses her upcoming chess plans and life in Germany. 

47:00-  Patreon mailbag question: “Should the “WGM” title have a different name?”

Mentioned: Jen Shahade’s FAQ

52:00- What are Anna’s next chess plans? 

Mentioned: Recognizing Your Opponent’s Resources 

Thanks to Anna for sharing her story!

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