Perpetual Chess Podcast

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

The 2024 FIDE Candidates tournament is off and running with some entertaining chess and plenty of surprises. (Although perhaps the identities of the leaders in the Open and Women’s sections aren’t as surprising.) I have been riveted by this tournament and am hoping to provide audio analysis and perspective from different guests on each rest day. In today’s pod, I briefly share my early impressions, than welcome recent guest Denis Markov back to the podcast. Denis had just returned from attending Rounds 1 and 2 in Toronto and described what it was like to attend the event. We went into everything from FIDE’s cheat prevention methods, to what the viewing experience is like within the venue. Whether you are thinking of making a last minute trip to Toronto, or just want to live vicariously through Denis, I think you will enjoy his report of a trip that Denis says he definitely will not regret. We will be back with more coverage of this fantastic tournament on the next rest day, Friday April 12. 00:02 - Introduction and Plan for Perpetual Chess Coverage02:00- Tournament Standings and Ben’s early Impressions11:00 -Preview of Round Five Pairings13:30- Denis Markov joins for a trip report from Toronto (previously heard on Episode 359) 13:57- Buying Tickets and Ticket Options15:40- VIP Tickets and Balcony Experience17:32- What it is like watching the players 19:50- Player Interactions and Autographs23:00- The Fan Zone and Chess Personalities26:47 -Spotting Chess Personalities31:41-Meeting Gukesh and Viswanathan Anand33:57-- Comparing the Candidates Tournament with attending the 2016 World Championship Match36:57- Denis' Final Thoughts If 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

The Adult Improver Series returns this week, with a guest who has improved his chess rapidly. Jordan Groff is a 24 year old Connecticut-based chess instructor who was recommended as a guest to me by GM Eugene Perelshteyn. Jordan resumed chess in 2018 after some years away, and has gone from 1864 to more than 2260 in about the last few years. During  our interview, Jordan shares several ‘secrets” to his success. Aside from a lot of hard work and frequent competition, Jordan particularly credits a focus on the psychological aspects of OTB chess, and on opening preparation and tactics work. You can find out many more details in my interview with Jordan.  it is inspiring to see such fast progress! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found 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=pro0:00- You can find all of the information you need about the Las Vegas Chess Festival and the National Open here. I hope to see you there!https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/0:01- What got Jordan back into chess  in 2018, after some years away? Mentioned: Ginger GM, Chess Network 13:00- What is Jordan’s approach to the study of openings? Mentioned: GM Eugene Perelshteyn, FM Nate Solon20:00- Has Jordan studied a lot of tactics? 25:00- What made Jordan decide to “play up” and play in higher sections?32:00- What is Jordan’s approach to studying endgames?  37:00- What sort of stuff does Jordan do in his lessons with GM Eugene Perelshteyn? 43:00- Was it challenging for Jordan to earn the National Master title? What are his next goals? Mentioned: Here is Jordan’s LiChess coaches page:https://lichess.org/coach/jmwgroff48:30- What is Jordan’s best advice for people who are stuck?52:00- Jordan’s recommended chess resources:Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess, Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Under the Surface, Seven Deadly Chess Sins 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

The FIDE Candidates Tournament begins on April 4 in Toronto, Canada, and I could not be more excited to see who gets to challenge for the FIDE World Championship. As is tradition on Perpetual Chess, we have a few great guests joining to help discuss the action. First up is 7-time Brazilian champion & Correspondence GM, Rafael Leitão. In addition to a vast resume as a player, Rafael regularly annotates top-level games for Chess.com news coverage. Reviewing these games in detail on a daily basis gives Rafael unique insights into the tendencies of the world’s top players. Rafael and I discuss what to watch for in each player’s performance, fun facts, and what opening choices we might see from each player. Following Rafael, I am joined by Tai Pruce Zimmerman, a/k/a Chess by the Numbers. Tai shares and discusses the win probability of both the open and the women’s candidates, and we also compare the output of Tai’s probabilistic model to the betting markets. Last but not least, I am joined by “On the Queenside,” who has built a large following on Twitter and Lichess for covering Women’s Chess in detail. We discuss whether it is a good idea to run the Women’s Candidates concurrently with the open, and which players we are excited to watch. As always, the timestamps of the guests, as well as the topics and players discussed can be found 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=pro0:01- Format notes on the FIDE Candidates, including tournament schedule, tiebreak rules, and the Perpetual Chess’ plan for covering the event. Mentioned: More info on the Candidates here, including tiebreak info:More from Chess.com here09:30- GM Rafael Rafael Leitão joins me for a detailed Candidates discussion!Mentioned: Rafael’s prior interview was episode 147. 15:00- Can Ian Nepomniatchtchi “threepeat” at the Candidate? 21:50- GM Nijat Abasov.25:30- GM Fabiano CaruanaMentioned: Leitao-Caruana 2010 30:00- GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshababu32:30- Hikaru NakamuraMentioned: GM Daniel King’s YT Candidates Previews:Gelfand-Nakamura 2010 37:45- Alireza Firouzja44:00- GM Vidit Gujirathi47:00- GM Gukesh Dommaraju51:30- Who does Rafael predict will win? Mentioned: Bwin’s betting market on the Candidates:54:00- Rafael shares his thoughts on the Women’s Candidates. More info here: 59:00- Rafael discusses his own chess career, and what is new from our prior interview. This includes a compelling argument for Chess960. Mentioned:GM Luis Paolo Supi,  Supi-Carlsen 2020 1:09:00- Thanks to Rafael for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@rafaelleitaogmX/Twitter- https://twitter.com/rafpig?lang=enWebsite- https://rafaelleitao.com/articles/1:10:00- Tai Pruce Zimmerman aka Chess by the Numbers rejoins me to talk Candidates statistiics!  Mentioned: Betting market here1:31:00- What does Tai’s model say on who is most likely to win the Woman’s Candidates?1:41:00- Thanks to Tai for joining me! Follow him on X here:1:42;00- On the Queenside joins. Is it a good idea to have the Women’s Candidates run concurrently with the Open Candidates for the first time? Mentioned: On the Queenside’s preview of the Reykjavik Open1:50:00- Be sure to follow On the Queenside on Twitter/X and on Lichess!Twitter/XLiChess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices