

Perpetual Chess Podcast
Ben Johnson
Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 27, 2025 • 57min
EP 462- FIDE World Cup Reflections with GM Felix Blohberger: Blunders, Bouncebacks, Tiebreaks and The New Candidates Field
As a fascinating and upset-laden FIDE World Cup comes to an end, 2022 Austrian National Champion GM Felix Blohberger joins me to break down the key moments, share stories from his own World Cup experience, and reflect on his chess career. GM Blohberger has been offering insightful commentary on his YouTube channel where he has been sharing his thoughts on the FIDE World Cup, and was able to elaborate on many themes from his channel in our interview. In our conversation we discuss:
The new Candidates qualifiers: GM Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko plus who Felix now sees as the favorite to win the Candidates.
The pressure of tiebreaks including Felix’s take on GM Esipenko’s heartbreaking blunder against Wei Yi, plus what it’s actually like inside the venue between games.
Felix’s chess career: including his favorite books, his rating goals, and reflections on the viral video that helped grow his channel. .
This was another entertaining and surprising World Cup, and I am already excited for the FIDE Candidates next year. Timestamps are below.
0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
01:30 Introduction
05:00- GM Felix Blohberger joins me
Sub to his YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/@febloh
Felix’s video about the challenges of life as a chess pro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8DW6XShofQ&t=0
Esipenko’s blunder-
https://x.com/GMJuditPolgar/status/1992651679108616301?s=20
07:00 The FIDE World Cup Experience-
10:00 Tiebreaker Tensions and Player Dynamics
14:00 Youth vs. Experience in Chess
15:30- Patreon mailbag question:
Why does Felix think so many players were content to go to tiebreaks?
18:00- Felix’s thought on GM Sindarov
Sindarov’s 2700chess.com rating graph-
https://2700chess.com/players/sindarov_javokhir
22:00 Wei Yi's Comeback Story
24:00 Felix’s big picture conclusions from the World Cup
29:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences
31:00 The Pros and Cons of Making Predictions
33:00 Experiences in the Croatian Chess League
35:00 Confidence Boost from Recent Performances
36:30 Balancing Chess and Content Creation
Felix Rook Endgame Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEESoSw164w
39:00 Resources and Training Techniques
Mentioned: Yusopov’s Build Up Your Chess Series
42:00 Working as a Second for GM Harikrishna
Mentioned: The Anand Files by FM Michael Abeln
49:00 Career Highlights and Favorite Games
Mentioned:
Blohberger-Svane 2023
https://www.chess.com/events/2023-2024-austrian-chess-bundesliga/04/Blohberger_Felix-Svane_Frederik
52:00 Future Plans and Interests Outside Chess
55:00- An update on how he is enjoying life as a chess professional
56:00- Thanks to GM Blohberger for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@febloh
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/felixblohberger/?hl=en
Website:
https://www.felixblohberger.com/
If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess
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Nov 25, 2025 • 58min
EP 461- IM John Bartholomew on Chess Improvement Lessons, The Scandinavian Defense & His New Business Venture
IM John Bartholomew, a renowned chess YouTuber and co-founder of Chessable, shares invaluable insights on chess improvement drawn from his experiences in the LiChess Lone Wolf League. He emphasizes the importance of self-talk and time management in decision-making. John introduces Chessiverse, featuring over 600 human-like bots that aid practice and strategy development, and discusses his exhaustive effort in creating a comprehensive Scandinavian course. He also shares amusing anecdotes about his talented friend, GM Daniel Naroditsky, highlighting their unique camaraderie.

Nov 22, 2025 • 1h 7min
EP 460- FM Peter Giannatos on GM Daniel Naroditsky’s Life, His Last Days & How We Can Honor Danya’s Legacy
FM Peter Giannatos, founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, was a close friend of GM Daniel Naroditsky and played a pivotal role in encouraging Daniel to build his post-collegiate life in Charlotte. Peter and the tight-knit Charlotte community spent significant time with Danya, including in the days leading up to his tragic passing. In this conversation, Peter reflects on their friendship, shares what he feels is appropriate about Danya’s final days, and highlights a new fundraiser created to honor Daniel’s legacy. I’m grateful for the clarity and courage Peter brought to this deeply emotional discussion as the chess world begins to process and heal from this immense loss.
0:00- Intro-
Support the fundraiser here:
https://givebutter.com/naroditsky
0:02- FM PeterGiannatos joins the podcast and begins with the story of how he met Danya.
Read Peter’s Eulogy here:
https://x.com/PeterGiannatos/status/1981875015030079553?s=20
IM John Bartholomew’s tribute to Danya:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kclevjiPK5I&t=2s
0:09- Getting Danya to move to Charlotte
19:00- Clarifying the timeline around Daniel’s death
32:00- The weight of the allegations on Daniel
Mentioned: Daniel explains a Bc8 move that some found suspicious
https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1g7la27/daniel_narodistky_full_analysis_of_the_move_bc8/
43:00- How to honor Daniel’s legacy
57:00- One last Danya story -
check out the games from "The Meatball Match" here:
https://www.chess.com/c/2PprrfhA6
1:02:00- Thanks to Peter for sharing so many personal stories during a difficult time. Here is how to support Danya's legacy if you are so inclined:
https://givebutter.com/naroditsky
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Nov 18, 2025 • 57min
EP 459- GM Maurice Ashley on Pursuing Excellence, Seeking Novelties, and His Extraordinary Chess Journey
This week’s guest is U.S. Chess Hall of Famer GM Maurice Ashley. Maurice will forever be known as the first African American to earn the Grandmaster title, yet he has gone on to build a varied and distinguished career across all facets of the game. He is a popular author and highly regarded Chessable creator, a teacher, an organizer, and a frequent commentator for major chess events, often from the St. Louis Chess Club. Maurice and I discussed:
His perspective on chess improvement, as a rare late-starter who began tournament play at fourteen and still reached the Grandmaster level
What we can learn from the ascent of GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the second African American GM at age fifteen
The difference between being competitive and striving for excellence
We also touched on the lessons Maurice learned from organizing the “Millionaire Chess” tournaments, his passion for salsa dancing and puzzle composition, and whether he has experienced any “pinch me” moments on his journey from “walking barefoot to school in Jamaica” to giving TED Talks and teaching chess to Will Smith. I have long looked forward to interviewing Maurice, and the conversation did not disappoint.
0:00- Check out Maurice’s popular and highly reviewed courses here:
https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/
0:03- Maurice’s chess improvement advice- why people shouldn’t focus on doing things “quickly.”
Mentioned: New York Times article about the Raging Rooks
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/26/nyregion/harlem-teen-agers-checkmate-a-stereotype.html
Maurice’s Chessable Q & A-
https://www.chessable.com/discussion/thread/1187730/ask-maurice-ashley-anything-special-qa-/
Cover Stories with Chess Life Interview:
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sskej-f237dc?download=1
10:30- Maurice’s observations about young GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the 2nd ever African American GM, at age 15.
Mentioned: You can read Maurice’s article about GM Hardaway here:
https://new.uschess.org/news/inside-story-long-time-coming
17:00- Patreon mailbag question:
Maurice’s siblings are kickboxing and boxing champions. What did they do to cultivate such achievement?
20:00- Which chess player got GM Maurice Ashley into salsa dancing?
23:00- Patreon mailbag question: ‘What are Maurice’s reflections on the Millionare Chess tournaments that he founded?”
28:30- What is the vision for Maurice’s “Clutch Chess,” which took place recently at the St. Louis Chess Club?
32:00- Is commentating still Maurice’s favorite professional activity?
36:00- Maurice’s passion for designing chess puzzles and courses
Mentioned: The puzzle that (temporarily) stumped MVL is here:
https://x.com/MauriceAshley/status/1609261621247086592?s=20
42:00- Has Maurice ever had a “pinch me” moment?
45:00- Maurice’s struggles after earning the GM title
49:00- The origins of Maurice’s communication skills
52:00- What does Maurice want his chess legacy to be?
54:00- Maurice’s next projects
59:00- Thanks to Maurice for joining me! Here is how to keep up with his many activities:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mauriceashleychess/?hl=en
Chessable:
https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/
X/Twitter:
https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en
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Nov 11, 2025 • 43min
EP 458: Pawel Kacprzak: The Founder of Chessvision.ai on Scanning Chess Diagrams, Digital Flashcards, and Building a Chess Business
Polish programmer and chess enthusiast Pawel Kacprzak joins me to share the story behind Chessvision.ai. Chessvision.ai is a helpful app and browser extension that can scan chess diagrams and connect them to related YouTube videos and chess books, and allows you to easily turn these positions into digital flashcards. We talk about how Pawel’s side project grew into a full-time business, what it takes to build tech tools for chess players, and what Pawel has planned next for his growing platform.Pawel also discusses his enthusiasm for following professional chess, and his own approach to chess improvement. I have become a big fan of Pawel’s product, and I enjoyed chatting with him.
Thanks to our sponsor Chessable.com, check out their Black Friday sale here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/?utm_source=chessable&utm_medium=shop_hero_banner&utm_campaign=enblackfriday2_2025
0:02- Pawel Kacprzak joins me!
Mentioned: NM Han Schut’s video overviews of Chessvision.ai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwK8Q1NEjg
03:00 The Impact of Daniel Naroditsky
06:00 Pawel's Journey into Chess and Programming
10:30 Evolution of Chessvision.ai
17:00 Patreon mailbag question: Can one use Chessvision.ai to scan diagrams from physical chess boards?
19:00 Patreon mailbag question: What features will Pawel work on developing next?
23:00 Subscription Models and Accessibility
28:00 Community Engagement and Support
29:30- Patreon mailbag question: Does Pawel consider himself an adult improver?
33:30 Chess Resources and Learning
35:30 Closing Thoughts and Advice
Thanks to Pawel for joining me! Here is how to reach him, as well as how to find out more about Chessvision.ai:
Email- Pawel at Chessvision.ai
Twitter/X-
https://twitter.com/ChessvisionAI
Discord-
https://discord.gg/zkcBPhWhme
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Nov 10, 2025 • 46min
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
04:00- IM Michael Rahal joins
06:32 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
09:00 Notable Matches
11:30 The Impact of Player Preparation and Conditions
15:30 Match Predictions and Player Insights
18:00 Reflections on Chess Legends and Their Influence
23:00 Reflections on Ivanchuk’s Press Conference
25:00 Reflections on Daniel Naroditsky
28:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences
Tweet from GM Neiksans:
https://x.com/GMNeiksans/status/1986117054911684978?s=20
37:00 Upcoming FIDE Candidates in Cyprus
39:00- 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
46:00 Rest Day Activities and Team Spirit
48:00- 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
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Nov 4, 2025 • 1h 8min
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 for the St. Louis Chess Club
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stlchessclub/54876804247/in/album-72177720329882462
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Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 10min
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.
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
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Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 23min
[Replay] GM Daniel Naroditsky's 2020 Perpetual Chess Interview
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
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Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 2min
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.
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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


