EP 479 – GM Rafael Leitão on Sindarov’s Historic Candidates Win, His Training Methods & What Comes Next

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 [https://www.chessable.com/self-improvement-course-for-advanced-players/course/396597/]. 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 [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 [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 [https://x.com/GMSokolovIvan] Chessable Courses:  https://www.chessable.com/author/IvanSokolov/ [https://www.chessable.com/author/IvanSokolov/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

EP 481- IM Greg Shahade: Inside His Incredible Jeopardy Run

IM Greg Shahade [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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  Check out our sponsors, Chessiverse.com , and you can use code Perpetual30 to save 30% on premium feature and/or IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.  Chessiverse.com [http://chessiverse.com] 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  [https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Sideways-Think-Chess-Player/dp/B0FCDDB8XV] 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 [https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42] 25:00-  Patreon mailbag question [https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess]- 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 [https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess]- 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 [https://www.instagram.com/gregshahade/?hl=en] X:  https://x.com/GregShahade [https://x.com/GregShahade] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Perelshteyn]’s blog [https://eugeneperel.substack.com/p/the-chess-rocky-story] 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 [https://eugeneperel.substack.com/].  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 [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 [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/ [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 [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 [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Leit%C3%A3o]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 [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 [http://chess.com] article touching on Sindarov’s trainer IM Roman Vidonyak https://www.chess.com/news/view/2026-fide-candidates-tournament-round-14 [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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VDTVVXMZU&t=442s] FIDE-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TJMiHqiwc&t=1s [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 [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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKvQuSfNd6A] 50:20 Analyzing Chess.com [http://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 [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/ [https://rafaelleitao.com/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCistQmaDouEpKROBZBkQQ9A [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCistQmaDouEpKROBZBkQQ9A] Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/gmrafaelleitao/ [https://www.instagram.com/gmrafaelleitao/] https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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  [https://www.netflix.com/title/81582391] 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 [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 [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/ [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 [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 [https://www.twitch.tv/itsbenandkaren/videos?filter=highlights&sort=time] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EnFbK-P5q0zeaqI5yobKg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EnFbK-P5q0zeaqI5yobKg] X: https://x.com/ben_finegold [https://x.com/ben_finegold] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]