Perpetual Chess Podcast

We are back for one more 2024 FIDE Candidates reflection as we start to take stock of a historic tournament. Joining me (again) to discuss it is renowned trainer, opening theoretician, Chessable author, and 2022 Dutch National Champion, GM Erwin Lami. Erwin has frequently collaborated with GM Anish Giri, and he was on the World Championship preparation team for GM Veselin Toplov. Erwin shares his thoughts on GM Gukesh’s impressive ascendance, Fabiano and Nepo’s disappointment, and what this result does and does not mean for the trajectory of professional chess. We also discuss the performance of the other players, the Women’s Candidates, and Erwin’s plans for 2024. I always love to hear Erwin’s perspective, and discussing this tournament was not an exception. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com! Check out what they have to offer, and if you sign up for Chessable Pro (as you should), use this link to help support Perpeutal Chess:https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro0;00- Upcoming events and info:Chess in the Schools Poker Fundraiser;https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-poker-night-fundraiserNational Open/Las Vegas Chess Festival Info:https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/4:30- GM Erwin L’Ami joins me! What does he think made this tournament was so compelling? 10:00- How surprised was Erwin by Gukesh’s performance? What should we expect from him from here? 18;30- Patreon mailbag quesiton: “How can Caruana recover from his devastaiting loss to Nepo? “ .27:00- What did Erwin think of Nepo's performance?29:30- Where does Nakamura go from here? Will this be his last Candidates? 38:00- What went wrong for GM Alireza Firouzja? 43:00 What are Erwin’s thoughts on Pragganandhaa’s performance? 46:00- What were Erwin’s thoughts on the Women’s Candidates? 49:00- Where might the World Championship be held? Would it help or hurt Gukesh if it were in India? 53:00- Who does Erwin think would be the favorite in Gukesh vs. Ding?Mentioned: Gotham City Podcast with GM Gukesh 57:00 Does the format for the Candidates or Candidates qualification need to be changed? Mentioned: IM Greg Shahade’s blog post 1:08:00- What are Erwin’s remaining 2024 plans? Thanks as always to GM Erwin L’ami for providing his perspective! If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Renier Castellanos, convinced by friends Jacob Aagaard and Kallia Kleisarchaki, earned the GM title at age 41. He reflects on lessons learned, gives chess improvement advice, recommends books, and shares observations facing Super GMs like Vladimir Fedoseev. Also discusses his Candidates prediction. This inspiring journey highlights the importance of perseverance, support, and continuous improvement in achieving grandmaster status.

For the final FIDE Candidates bonus pod, award-winning Chess.com journalist, FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. We cover topics including the atmosphere in the playing hall, the presence of seconds and family members of the players, what to expect in rounds 13 and 14, and Mike provides his perspective on the controversy surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's father. Thanks, as always, to Mike for providing so many behind-the-scenes details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we enter the final rest day, The FIDE Candidates tournament is set up for maximum drama with a three-way tie for first place and two rounds remaining. Joining me from Toronto to discuss it is FM Dalton Perrine. We highlight the continued trend of surprising opening choices and results, as well as the increased tension in the room as the tournament builds to a climax. In the women's section, we are down to two contenders for the Candidates title, as Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie are separated by a half a point.Dalton and I discuss all of the key matchups and surprises we have seen, as we look forward to the final chapter of an entertaining tournament. I will be back with one more bonus pod later on Friday, as Chess.com’s FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. Mentioned in pod:@ponysunrise photos:https://twitter.com/sunrise_pony@chessnumbers tweet -https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1781113720212742568Calib Wetheralll's Tournament Simulations-https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c7iy1g/fide_candidates_tournament_updated_predictions/Thanks to FM Dalton Perrine for joining me! Here is how to reach him: Chessable Author page:https://www.chessable.com/author/mattydperrine/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzuOx_63p9AIVkElyCh0z-A53EAAYASAAEgJY5vD_BwEChess.comhttps://www.chess.com/member/mattydperrine His Coaching Services:https://nextlevelchesscoaching.com/fm-dalton-perrine/If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/PerpetualChess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is always an honor to hear 9-time Dutch Champion and former “best of the west” standout, GM Jan Timman discuss elite chess. In this interview he shares his thoughts on the 2024 FIDE Candidates. Topics include:  Who he favored going in Who he favors now Why the opening surprises?  His thoughts on Firouzja’s disappointing performance His next book 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Oliksiyenko’s course for Chessable pro members on the Candidates here:https://www.chessable.com/chess-candidates-2024/course/243222/ If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=proIts always a pleasure to speak with GM Timman!0:03- GM Timman joins me! If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Businessman and chess author Lou Hays shares fascinating stories of spending time with chess legends Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. He discusses his chess improvement journey, Hays Publishing's successful books, and changes in the chess publishing industry over the years.

Heading into the penultimate rest day, I provide a quick rundown of the standings and key stories of a closely contested and entertaining FIDE Candidates. Plus I briefly share my thoughts on the drama surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's noisy shoes.Watch this feed for part 2, which will feature an interview about the Candidates with legendary former Dutch Champion, GM Jan Timman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are back for with an in-depth breakdown of the first half of the FIDE Candidates. I am honored to be joined by commentator, author, Chessable author and Excellent YouTuber, GM Daniel King to discuss all that has transpired so far. What makes Nepo so good in these tournaments? Does Fabi have another gear? What has surprised Daniel the most? Tune in for this, plus player-by-player analysis. Timestamps of topics discussed below as always! 0:00- Brief big picture thoughts on the tournament0:05- Nepo! What stands out about his performance?Mentioned: The Chess Mind’s Blog Post:https://thechessmind.substack.com/p/candidates-round-722:00- Fabiano Mentioned: Anthony Levin’s Round 7 Recap:https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-730:00- GukeshFinal moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/37:00- Firouzja 41:00- Pragganandha48:00- Nakamura 53:00- Vidit57:00- Abasov 59:00- Final thoughts on Open Section 1:00:00- Women’s sections 1:05:00- Viewer Q & A- Daniel’s next projects, Genna Sosonko, Collusion Mentioned: Daniel’s Anti-Sicilian Chessable Course (forthcoming to New in Chess as a book) , The Essential Sosonko If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are at the halfway point of a wildly entertaining 2024 FIDE Candidates! Ian Nepomniathchi continues to lead the Open Section, while Tan Zhongyi is in front in the Women’s Candidates This is the first part of what will be 2 podcasts discussing the tournament through 7 rounds. In this solo pod, I briefly run through the standings, upcoming pairings and share a few thoughts on the tournament. For part 2 (coming soon to this feed), I will be interviewing GM Daniel King of the Powerplay Chess YouTube Channel. Links Mentioned:Live stream of my chat with GM Daniel King Friday at 9AM EDT/1PM GMT on the Powerplay Chess YouTube Chess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiOR9OnXOEk(and later to this feed)Mentioned: Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/Be sure to tune in for tomorrow Candidates interview with GM Daniel King, as well as our regular Tuesday weekly pod. If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this week’s regular edition, (no FIDE Candidates talk) of Perpetual Chess, we are honored to be joined by two highly respected trainers and Chessable Authors. NM Dan Heisman is an engineer, turned author, YouTuber and trainer, who is particularly insightful regarding topics of adult chess improvement. I am a particular fan of his book, A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook. NM Laura Smith is a school teacher, chess trainer and former youth champion, who was the highest rated 13 year-old in the United States in 2002. Together, Laura and Dan have just collaborated on a new Chessable course, Can I Take It? A Beginner's Guide to Capturing Pieces. The course is geared toward beginner players and provides a comprehensive guide to an important tactical concept that Dan Heisman calls “counting.” In addition to discussing lessons from the course, we discuss some of the other original chess terms Dan has coined, Laura’s recent return to OTB chess, and upcoming projects for both authors. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below.0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black  If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=proPrior interviews with our guests:Episode 138 with NM Dan Heisman Laura Smith on How to Chess 0:01- How did Laura and Dan decide to collaborate? Back to Basics Chess Tactics by Dan Heisman 5:30- What does Dan mean by the term “counting”? Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Learn Chess Tactics 10:30- What is the genesis of the term “Reinfeld values”Mentioned: GM Larry Kaufman, The Evolution of Material Imbalances by IM Larry Kaufman, FM Charles Hertan 12:30- Dan and Laura on the differences between how adults and kids learnMentioned: NM Dan Benjamin, IM Josh Waitzkin, Everyone’s Second Chess Book by NM Dan Heisman 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Dan’s advice for improving visualization? Mentioned: Evaluate like a Grandmaster by FM Nate Solon and GM Eugene Perelshteyn Chessable’s Visualize Courses 25:00- Laura’s lessons learned from a recent OTB tournament, her first in years. 28:00- We discuss some of our favorite books.Mentioned: Dan’s recommended book page, My recommended book page, Chess Steps books, Interviews mentioned IM Jop de la Marre, NM Han Schut, Chess Steps Walk-Through with Han Schut, 30:00- Dan and Smith discuss forthcoming books and projects Mentioned: Laura Smith’s Forcing Moves for Beginners 39:00- What is a floobly? 46:00- Thanks to Dan and Laura for rejoining! Here is how you can reach them:https://www.danheisman.com/lessons.htmlhttps://www.chess.com/member/laura_smithGet their course here: https://www.chessable.com/can-i-take-it-a-beginners-guide-to-capturing-pieces/course/174891/ Sub to Dan's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/danheismanIf you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices