#14. Jacob Aagaard Discusses Mark Dvoretsky's Legacy a Chess Writer, Coach, and Human Being

This week’s episode of the New In Chess podcast features an interview with grandmaster Jacob Aagaard.

Jacob Aagaard is a GM - he was the British Champion in 2007 – but is best known as a prolific and award-winning chess writer, the founder of Quality Chess publishers, and a top coach who has worked with many big names we know and no doubt various that have remained a secret.

Interviewed by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, Jacob Aagaard shares memories of Mark Dvoretsky (1947-2016), the legendary coach and writer, who was a dear friend of his and a great inspiration.

The occasion is the publication of the book "Chess Coach, The profound and lasting Influence of Mark Dvoretsky by New In Chess", a tribute to Dvoretsky compiled by Vladimir Barsky that first appeared in Russian.

Aagaard has called Dvoretsky ‘the biggest authority in my adult life’ and considers Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manuel simply ‘the best chess book ever written’. In a one-hour interview he explains why that is and treats the listeners to many wonderful stories about one of the most influential writers and coaches chess has ever seen.

He also provides advice how to read Dvoretsky’s (and his close associate Jussupow’s) books, while also speaking about his own acclaimed books that would not have been written without the inspiration of a great example and their interaction.

"Chess Coach" is available for purchase on the New In Chess website: 

https://www.newinchess.com/chess-coach

0:00 – Intro

2:16 – What Mark Dvoretsky meant to Jacob during his adult life

4:30 – Jacob clarifies that two of his chess awards are now defunct and emphasizes Dvoretsky’s legacy

6:47 – Jacob’s first meeting with Dvoretsky, attending the Dvoretsky school as a kid

11:19 – How the relationship between Kasparov and Dvoretsky soured

15:51 – Life as a young Dvoretsky pupil

18:28 – Dvoretsky’s strong personal convictions

19:59 – Jacob recalls Mark Taimanov getting arrested in the Soviet Union after his loss to Fischer

21:20 – How wealth and fame affected Dvoretsky, him refusing to charge money from his strongest pupils

26:19 – Jacob rebuffing a request to coach a national team

27:50 – Why Jacob chose to end his coaching relationship with Nodirbek Abdusattorov

32:30 – The mental toughness required to become world champion

34:30 – The complex characters of Karpov and Kasparov

38:39 – Insights about Dvoretsky from his wife Inna

40:17 – Jacob shares a personal story about Dvoretsky

43:42 – AD BREAK

44:15 – Dvoretsky knowing even the most obscure books

44:55 – Why Dvoretsky’s “Endgame Manual” is the greatest chess book ever written

49:35 – Jacob’s book “Practical Chess Defence”

52:30 – Are Dvoretsky’s books accessible to beginners?

53:30 – Being proud to publish books containing Dvoretsky’s lessons

56:48 – Outro