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Perpetual Chess Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by 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.
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- 3 days ago57 min
EP 485: GM Simon Williams on Mistakes, Revival, and the Future of Chesspublishing
GM Simon Williams returns to Perpetual Chess for the first time in several years. Simon is one of chess's most recognizable personalities, known as the Ginger GM through his work as a streamer, commentator, author and Chessable creator. He is also an accomplished tournament player, having shared first in the 2010 London Chess Classic and finished second in the 2004 British Championship. Simon joined me for a wide-ranging conversation covering both chess and life. We discussed: • His candid reflections on becoming involved with a pension company that later collapsed, the mistakes he made, and how he has worked to move forward • His new role helping revitalize Chesspublishing.com, and why he believes its archive of opening analysis remains an underappreciated resource • How modern opening preparation has changed, and why Simon increasingly relies on offbeat ideas to avoid preparation battles • His love of creative, attacking chess and the memorable games he has played at the Reykjavik Open We also discussed the Stonewall Dutch, rising British star Bodhana Sivanandan, the losses of IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins, and even Simon's thoughts on Las Vegas. As always, it was great catching up with Simon, and I am glad to see him creating chess content again. 00:00 The 2026 Reykjavik Open and Simon’s flair for the dramatic chess game Check out Simon’s epic queen sacrifice in this article by NM Anthony Levin: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-reykjavik-open-williams-sacrifices-queen#:~:text=Williams%27%20Brilliancy,he%20played%20the%20interesting%205. 04:45 How Simon has adapted his approach to openings in the engine age Mentioned: Simon’s game vs. Bodhana Sivanadan https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=3124933 07:35 Playing Against Younger Opponents 10:38 The State of British Chess 13:32 Exploring the Stonewall Dutch Mentioned: Bronstein’s famous blunder- https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/the-1951-world-chess-championship 16:32 The Impact of Computer Analysis 19:39 Experiences playing against legends at the 2025 European Club Cup 22:26 Simon’s Involvement with Chess Publishing More background info here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/simon-williams-ordered-to-pay-back-900-000-to-pension-scheme 26:30 Innovative Chess Solutions 28:11 Lessons learned from working for a pension firm that went bankrupt. 35:42 Navigating Financial Mistakes 40:17 The Importance of Chess in Life 44:48 Content Creation and Future Projects Keep an eye out for The Ginger and The Bear podcast! 48:54 Remembering IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins 50:00- How to keep up with GM Simon Williams Suggestions for Chesspublishing.com https://www.chesspublishing.com/contact X: https://x.com/ginger_gm?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gingergm Disclosure: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Perpetual Chess may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago43 min
EP 484: Jordan Himelfarb on Interregnum and the Drama of the 2024 Candidates Cycle
Jordan Himelfarb is an award-winning editor for the Toronto Star and an avid games player who became fascinated by elite chess during the pandemic. That fascination eventually led to his excellent new book, Interregnum : Inside the Grueling and Glamourous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, a detailed and highly readable chronicle of the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle. Jordan traveled to events including the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Candidates Tournament and World Championship match, gathering revealing first-hand reflections from many of the game’s top players along the way. We discuss: Why the Candidates cycle makes for such compelling sports drama The emotional and physical toll of professional chess Which players and personal stories resonated with him most Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh and the shifting generational landscape in chess The controversies, chaos and unforgettable moments of the 2024 cycle I recommend Jordan’s book to anyone looking for “bedtime chess reading”, and this was a really fun conversation. 00:00 Project Origins, Jordan’s Chess and Games Background 03:48 The Structure and Narrative of the Book 07:01 Experiences at Major Chess Events 09:54 Challenges and Insights in Reporting 12:46 The Physical and Mental Toll of Chess 15:58 Gender Dynamics in Chess 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Which Candidates’ story resonated with Jordan the most? 22:16 The Weight of the Crown: Mental Health in Chess 23:40 Compelling Stories of Chess Players 25:30 The Agony and Ecstasy of Chess 30:07 The Relentless Grind of Chess Tournaments 31:09 Drama and Controversy in the Chess World 36:20 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates Cycle 38:13 The Future of Young Chess Players 39:54 Personal Reflections on Chess 40:00- Thanks to Jordan for joining me, here is where to get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/1639369910 Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/B0GCPR89VZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago1h 9m
EP 483- Paulo SantAnna: What Happens When a Retired Adult Treats Chess Like a Full-Time Job?
Paulo SantAnna is living the dream of many adult chess improvers. The retired software engineer has spent the past several years devoting serious time and energy to improving his game, and the results have been impressive. When Paulo rekindled his interest in tournament chess, his FIDE rating had fallen to a recent low of 1850. Through years of hard study, travel, disciplined training, and resilience, he recently reached a new high over 2100 FIDE in his mid-50s! We discuss: The moment Paulo decided to get serious about improvement The mistakes he made early in his comeback How he structures his training Study recommendations and practical advice for adult improvers Physical fitness, tournament selection, and maintaining motivation I found Paulo’s story inspiring, and it offers hope for the rest of us, if we only could get rid of these pesky jobs. 0:00 Intro More on the Adult Improver series here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Thanks to those who keep the show running! Patreon Check out Chessiverse.com (discount code- ‘Perpetual30’) 4:00 Paulo’s chess comeback story begins Check out Paulo’s FIDE history here: https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2027402 6:00 Why his rating rebounded after moving to Europe 8:00 Retirement, Spain trips, and dedicating serious time to chess 11:00 Studying 35 hours a week 13:00 The dangers of doing too much More about the Chessdojo here (use code “Ben” at checkout to save 10%) : https://www.chessdojo.club/signup 17:00 Calculation training and daily routines 20:00 Openings, Chessable streaks, and training structure 23:00 Online blitz, model games, and coaching 25:00 How much he studies versus other adult improvers 27:00 Avoiding burnout and keeping motivation 29:00 Brazilian chess streamers and coaches Paulo has worked with: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Andres Rodriguez,GM Diego Flores, GM Lenderman, GM Izoria, GM Eugene Perelshteyn,GM Raven Sturt, IM Jorge Bobadilla 31:00 Working with top trainers like Eugene Perelshteyn and Axel Bachmann 33:00 Blindfold training with GM Roven Vogel 36:00 What mattered most for improvement 38:00 Hiding online repertoires and preparation 40:00 Sparring games and training partners 41:00 His breakthrough tournaments 42:00 Tournament prep philosophy 46:00 Fitness, stamina, and nutrition for chess 49:00 Chess scenes in New York and California 52:00 Senior tournaments and future plans 54:00 Favorite chess books and resources Mentioned: Postional Play by GM Jacob Aagaard, Endgame Strategy by Shereshevsky 57:00 Advice for busy adult improvers 58:00 Rating goals and pursuit of FM 1:00:00 Why adults struggle to improve 1:03:00 Final thoughts 1:04:00- Thanks to Paulo for sharing his story! You can reach him at: psantann at gmail.dot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago54 min
EP 482- GM Ivan Sokolov on Talent, Training and Modern Chess
GM Ivan Sokolov is a former top-15 player who won major tournaments across multiple decades and became national champion of both Yugoslavia and the Netherlands. In classical chess, he scored memorable wins against Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand. In recent years, Ivan has become equally respected as a trainer and author. Most notably, he worked with the gold medal-winning Uzbek team at the 2022 Chess Olympiad, including GMs Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Given Sindarov’s recent success, Ivan reflects on how his game has evolved and why it was clear to him that Sindarov was both supremely talented and, at the time, somewhat unprofessional in his approach. Ivan recently released a new Chessable course, Self-Improvement for Advanced Players. We discuss chess improvement for professionals and amateurs alike, the proper role of a trainer in a player’s development, preparation in the Kasparov era versus today, and memories from his legendary career. This includes reflections on his close friendship with the late GM Jan Timman. It is always an honor to hear GM Sokolov’s stories and perspectives. 00:00 Introduction to Ivan Sokolov Prior interview with GM Ivan Sokolov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2slrqqW7s&t=209s 02:21 Insights on the Uzbek National Team Interview with Chessbase India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnN00uNrBEQ&t=588s 09:10 Assessing Grandmaster Sinderov's Potential 12:57 The Importance of Chess History 15:56 The Role of a Trainer 19:28 Experiences Against Chess Legends 22:09 Preparing for Kasparov vs. Modern Players 28:18 The Future of Chess: Classical vs. Chess 960 32:10 Insights from Ivan’s course. 36:22 Memories of the 2012 World Open and other tournaments in the US Mentioned: Sokolov vs. Shirov 1999 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1010044 40:05 Talent vs. Hard Work in Chess 42:06 Remembering Grandmaster Yantum 46:40 Current Projects and Future Plans 50:00- Thanks to GM Sokolov for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: X: https://x.com/GMSokolovIvan Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/IvanSokolov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- May 5, 20261h 20m
EP 481- IM Greg Shahade: Inside His Incredible Jeopardy Run
IM Greg Shahade has long been well known in the chess world as a three-time national scholastic champion and the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School. Recently, however, he reached a much broader audience with an impressive run on the syndicated trivia show Jeopardy!. Greg amassed over $75,000 in winnings, dethroning 31-time champion Jamie Ding along the way. He joined me after what he described as “the craziest week of his life” to discuss: The approach to adult learning that helped him go from trivia novice to Jeopardy! champion in just a few years Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, plus his reflections on his controversial on-stage mannerisms How his background in chess (and poker) shaped his strategy and decision-making under pressure There isn’t a ton of chess discussion in this episode, but Greg’s approach to learning and performance has clear applications across many domains. 00:00 Introduction 03:00- Greg Shahade joins the show, we begin by discussing adult learning and Greg’s late start to trivia. Mentioned: Learned League Thinking Sideways by Jennifer Shahade Ducksters 07:43 Building Knowledge Structures 10:03 The Role of Intense Study 12:54 Flashcards and Review Techniques 15:43 Betting Strategies on Jeopardy 18:45 Reflections on the Jeopardy Experience You can review questions Greg faced here: https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42 25:00- Patreon mailbag question- Why does Greg know so little about current events? What is his approach to daily double hunting? 30:44 Daily Double Strategies and Insights 36:57 Patreon mailbag question- Why is Greg so expressive when playing Jeopardy? 42:16 Physicality and Focus in Jeopardy 49:25 Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy 52:40 Facing the Champion: Mental Strategies 55:11 The Weight of Anticipation: Media and Public Perception 57:02 Navigating Fame: Love, Hate, and Public Reaction 59:50 Preparing for the Tournament of Champions 01:03:51 Chess and Jeopardy: Cross-Disciplinary Insights 01:07:20 Reflections on Study Techniques and Memory 01:11:20 Final Thoughts: The Game and Its Emotional Toll Thanks to Greg for joining me at a busy time. Follow him here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregshahade/?hl=en X: https://x.com/GregShahade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Apr 28, 202652 min
EP 480- GM Eugene Perelshteyn & NM Mike Mahoney: Chess Rocky-Taking on Nakamura & Niemann at the Naroditsky Memorial
When I read on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog that his amateur friend had signed up to compete against players like Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann in the Naroditsky Memorial, I knew I had to hear this story. That friend is NM Mike Mahoney. Mike is a pharmacist by day and a devoted online blitz player by night. For Mike, chess is usually a way to unwind, not something he takes too seriously. But he couldn’t pass up the chance to test himself in one of the strongest blitz tournaments the U.S. has ever seen. Eugene will be mentoring Mike and traveling with him to Charlotte, and they both joined me to discuss: Why Mike decided to jump into such a stacked field How Eugene is preparing him for the challenge How Mike defines “success” in a tournament like this We also talk about Mike’s unconventional path to becoming a National Master, starting relatively late, as well as some great stories from the Boston blitz scene. I’m excited to follow how this unfolds, and Eugene and Mike will be back after the tournament for a trip report. In the meantime, you can follow Mike’s journey on Eugene’s blog. Be sure to check out the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel where Eugene goes over one of Mike’s model games against the Caro-Kann. (The video will be out later this week) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcudElmRsQYTwULtd_gnFw 00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Journey 02:50 Mike's Decision to Compete in the Naroditsky Memorial 05:41 Eugene's Support and Coaching Role 08:41 Mike's Past Experiences with Top Players 11:35 Analyzing Mike's Strengths and Weaknesses 14:37 Training and Preparation for the Tournament 17:31 Opening Strategies and Game Analysis Mentioned: The Hungarian Dragon The Dragodorf 20:32 Eugene’s Philosophy on Gimmicky Openings 23:21 Defining Success in the Tournament Mentioned: IM Marc Esserman 27:04 Excitement in Facing Strong Opponents 31:35 Setting Performance Goals as a Coach 34:02 The Importance of Blitz Clock Management 35:33 The Origin Story of a Late Chess Starter Mentioned: Ilya Koyfman 36:39 Factors Contributing to Success in Chess 39:16 The Value of Community in Chess 40:56 The Evolution of Chess Accessibility 43:25 The Importance of a Fun and Relaxed Approach 43:37 Learning from Losses and Honest Reflection 46:02 Stories about legendary GM Roman Dzindziashvilli and Bobby Fischer Mentioned: Dzindzi-Jansa move 25 https://lichess.org/study/Th7i9fr2/kxMPOEjA 49:00 Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors 50:00- Thanks to Eugene and Mike for joining me! You can follow Mike’s training and progress on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog. https://eugeneperel.substack.com/ If you would like to help support Mike’s dream trip you can do so via this Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/send-chess-rocky-to-fight-supergms-in-charlotte?lid=nlkk8jxujhda&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TXN_User_Messaging_Thank_You_Option_A&utm_content=internal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Apr 20, 20261h 1m
EP 479 – GM Rafael Leitão on Sindarov’s Historic Candidates Win, His Training Methods & What Comes Next
With the FIDE Candidates now in the rearview mirror, 7-time Brazilian Champion and Chess.com “Game of the Day” columnist GM Rafael Leitão joins me to help break it all down. We discuss: Sindarov’s incredible performance and the training methods that helped him ascend to the top Vaishali’s strong finish and her chances against Ju Wenjun Rafael’s take on opening trends, and which players might be most disappointed with their performance GM Leitão also shares his thoughts on the Judit Polgar documentary on Netflix, along with his story of getting to play Judit. Thanks to Rafael for sharing his insights. I’m excited to see the two new World Championship challengers fight for the title later this year. 00:00 Introduction to the Candidates Tournament 02:04 Training Methods and Classical Chess Education Mentioned: IM Roman Vidonyik interview with Charlize van Zyl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TJMiHqiwc 04:50 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates 07:43 Analysis of Player Performances 10:56 Sindarov's Unique Play Style 13:51 Reflections on Historical Performances 16:54 Opening Trends in High-Level Chess 19:52 The Future of Chess Openings 30:09 Concurrent Tournaments: A New Perspective 31:41 Vaishali's Resilience and Performance 35:00 Sindarov vs. Gukesh: The Rising Stars Mentioned: Chess.com article touching on Sindarov’s trainer IM Roman Vidonyak https://www.chess.com/news/view/2026-fide-candidates-tournament-round-14 Interviews with IM Roman Vidonyok: Chessbase India- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VDTVVXMZU&t=442s FIDE- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TJMiHqiwc&t=1s Chessbase article about the support Erdogmus receives: https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-billionaire-supports-chess-talents 38:40 Ambitious Goals: The Future of Sindarov 42:04 Support Systems in Chess: A Double-Edged Sword 44:20 The Candidates Tournament: Format and Future 48:01 Memorable Encounters: Rafael's Game with Judit Polgar Mentioned: Rafael’s YouTube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKvQuSfNd6A 50:20 Analyzing Chess.com’s “Game of the Day”: Rafael's Approach Mentioned: Praggnandhaa vs. Rapport 2025- https://www.chess.com/events/2025-uzchess-cup-masters/06/Praggnanandhaa_R-Rapport_Richard 54:15 The Future of Chess: New Generations and Trends 56:00- Thanks to GM Leitao for rejoining me! You can reach him via his website, and follow him via the following methods: Website: https://rafaelleitao.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCistQmaDouEpKROBZBkQQ9A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmrafaelleitao/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
- Apr 14, 202654 min
EP 478 – GM Ben Finegold on the Candidates, the Hans–Magnus Netflix Documentary, and TakeTakeTake’s Bold Business Move
It has been a busy time in the chess world, as dramas new and old bubble to the surface. GM Javokhir Sindarov is on the verge of winning the FIDE Candidates. A highly anticipated Netflix documentary has just been released about the Hans–Magnus controversy, and there is even some business intrigue, as an app co-founded by GM Magnus Carlsen is set to compete directly with Chess.com. Joining me to discuss it all is the popular and entertaining YouTuber and commentator, GM Ben Finegold. Questions answered include: Is the early Kalshi market correct to make Sindarov a 66% favorite over Gukesh in a World Championship match? Will the Netflix documentary change anyone’s mind about Chess.com, Magnus Carlsen, or Hans Niemann? Is Magnus likely to be directly involved in Take Take Take’s new direction? We also discuss Ben’s recent health struggles, the state of his OTB game, and his upcoming plans. It’s always worthwhile to hear Ben’s unvarnished opinions! 0:00 – Intro + GM Ben Finegold returns 0:40 – FIDE Candidates Discussion (Sindarov’s dominance, Gukesh, Women’s section, format talk) 7:30 – Netflix “Chessmates” Documentary (Niemann–Carlsen) (Impressions, cheating debate, Magnus/Chess.com dynamics, Hans’ future) Mentioned: Untold: Chess Mates 31:00 – TakeTakeTake vs Chess.com + Chess Business Drama (Magnus, Lichess partnership, Hikaru’s reaction) Mentioned: Hikaru discusses the TakeTakeTake/LiChess partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFdWHX8oHuE&t=1534s Theo Wait of Lichess interview with Chessbase India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8nm-RPZzsM Poker scandal- https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/104pwwx/poker_the_infamous_j4_hand_that_nearly_tore_the/ 42:30 – Ben Finegold on His Chess + Future Plans (Retirement from OTB, health, streaming, poker, travel) Find Ben at the 2026 National Open: https://new.uschess.org/2026-national-open 50:00- Thanks as always to Ben for coming on the podcast. Here is how to keep up with him: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/itsbenandkaren/videos?filter=highlights&sort=time YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EnFbK-P5q0zeaqI5yobKg X: https://x.com/ben_finegold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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