Perpetual Chess Podcast

GM Alexandr Fier [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandr_Fier] is a 5 time champion of Brazil and 9 time chess Olympian. He also recently qualified for the FIDE World Cup for the 8th time by finishing tied for first at the American Continental tournament. But aside from all of his impressive accomplishments, what interests me most about GM Fier is how frequently he competes.  Last year alone, he played nearly 200 classical games,, and he has now travelled to over 50 countries. In our conversation we discussed:  * How he maintains his energy and positive outlook through a busy tournament calendar * Why he thinks playing quickly gives him a competitive advantage. (Hence the nickname “No Fear”)  * How he reacted to getting some harsh feedback from legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky at age 18.  We also talked about GM Fier’s recent qualification for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, his plans for the rest of 2025, and of course, chess books. It was a pleasure to chat with one of Brazil’s top players, and I look forward to following his nonstop tournament adventures in the years to come. 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 [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/ [https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/] https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners] 0:02- Alexandr is one of the most active Grandmasters in the world- how does he stay motivated? 0:06- How does Alexandr prepare for opponents?  0:11- How did Alexandr begin to collaborate with Imperial sports?  0:13- How Alexandr qualified for the World Cup?  Mentioned: Fier-Shankland 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-american-continental-chess-championship/05/Fier_Alexandrandr-Shankland_Sam [https://www.chess.com/events/2025-american-continental-chess-championship/05/Fier_Alexandr-Shankland_Sam] 0:16- Why Alexandr plays quickly Mentioned: GM Giga Quparadze  18:00- What makes the World Cup special to Alexandr?  22:00- Alexandr’s early Chess Development and Influences Mentioned:  Blokh’s Combination Art, Domination by Kasparian, Laszlo Polgar’s Chess: 5334 Combinations and Games  Navara-Fier 2015 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1787858 [https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1787858] GM Navara’s Blog Post: https://lichess.org/@/RealDavidNavara/blog/because-we-care/fauAwr9r [https://lichess.org/@/RealDavidNavara/blog/because-we-care/fauAwr9r] 26:00- Was it challenging to get chess books as a kid in Brazil?  28:00- Is chess gaining popularity in Brazil?  Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Henrique Mecking  31:00- When did Alexandr decide to pursue chess professionally?  33:00- What languages does GM Fier speak?  35:00- Alex’s approach to following top games  37:28- How he Studies Openings and Uses Engines 39:00- Alexandr’s favorite opening authors Mentioned: GM Ivan Cheparinov, Nikolaos Ntirlis, GM Alexei Kornev  Memories of Training with Dvoretsky 42:00- Alex’s favorite chess books Mentioned: GM David Navara’s Best Games, Tal-Botvinnik 1960, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal  44:00- Memories of a training camp with legendary trainer Mark Dvoretsky Influences and Inspirations in Chess 48:00- Why GM Fier loves endgame studies  50:00- GM Fier’s fondest memories Fier-Ryan 2009, Ireland https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601053 [https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601053] Fier-Akopian 2017- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1870136 [https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1870136] 54:00- Alex’s passion for music  55:00- Upcoming tournaments and advice for Aspiring Chess Players 1:00:00- Thanks to Alex for joining! Be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alexandr.fier/ [https://www.facebook.com/alexandr.fier/] https://www.instagram.com/pontocego/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/pontocego/?hl=en] If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess [https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

This week’s guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI [https://noctie.ai/]—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him build intuition and visualization skills. A passionate player himself, many of Sam’s ideas have directly shaped NoctieAI, which offers immediate move feedback and personalized flashcards based on individual mistakes. We also explore the broader state of machine learning as it relates to chess. Samuel has been fascinated by this intersection since the days of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, but while he still sees great potential in AI-assisted chess learning, he no longer views chess as the leading edge of AI development. This was a fascinating conversation, and I’m excited to follow NoctieAI’s continued evolution. 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 [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/ [https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/] You can also check out special offers from Chessmood, Chessdojo and Chess.com at the following page: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners] 0:00- What has been Sam’s approach to chess improvement? Mentioned: EP 383 with Dan Bock 08:00- Why did Sam decide to develop Noctie such that it gives immediate feedback on your moves, rather than after your games?   12:00- When did Sam start playing tournament chess?  15:00- Why did Sam choose memorizing master games as a favorit-  approach to chess improvement? 19:00- How to overcome rating anxiety  Mentioned: Sam’s Blog post-  https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/ [https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/] 24:00- Why does NoctieAI offer both rating level tests and non-numeric titles such as “Knight 3?”  27:00- What does Sam do to make NoctieAI play in a more human-like fashion?  31:00- Patreon mailbag question [https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess]: “What new paradigms could still be coming from chess engines?”  34:00- What sparked Samuel’s interest in computers and chess?  37:00- Should chess still be considered an effective testing ground for AI development writ large, or has broader AI development caught up with the chess world?  40:00- Why is ChatGPT terrible at games like poker and chess? Mentioned:  Nate Silver’s blog post: https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker [https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker] Jen Shahade’s blog post: https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess [https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess] 47:00- How is the business of NoctieAI doing?  52:00- Sam’s favorite chess books and content creators Mentioned: Jeremy Silman, Shereshevsky’s Endgame Strategy, ChessNetwork  Thanks to Samuel for joining us! The best way to reach him is via NoctieAI. https://noctie.ai/ [https://noctie.ai/] If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess [https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess] Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com [https://thepodcastconsultant.com/]). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

In this memorable episode of Perpetual Chess, we welcome back Tony Ballard, who spent 26 years incarcerated and credits chess with helping him change the course of his life. When we last spoke in Episode 289 (2022), Tony was still in a minimum-security facility. Now fully free, he’s making the most of his second chance. He’s working full-time at the Paul Mitchell Barber School, has founded a nonprofit—Masters and Mentors [https://mastersandmentors.org/]—to teach chess to at-risk youth, and has released a powerful memoir, Time Alone: From Isolation to Transformation [https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48]. The book doesn’t shy away from the trauma and darkness of his past, but ultimately it’s an inspiring story of growth and resilience. In our conversation, we discussed: – How chess fits into his daily routine – His chess improvement philosophy – The best things about life after prison – Tony’s advice for anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed Chatting with Tony is always uplifting—and this conversation is no exception. 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 [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/ [https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/] 02:00- Has Tony been playing any chess since getting out of prison?  Mentioned: Episode 390 with Russell Makofsky of The Gift of Chess  https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/7/9/ep-390-russ-makofsky-how-chess-can-change-lives-from-nyc-to-africanbsp [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/7/9/ep-390-russ-makofsky-how-chess-can-change-lives-from-nyc-to-africanbsp] Watch Tony’s interview with Devaughn Croxton of US Chess here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6OH3NvF6M [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6OH3NvF6M] 06:00- What is Tony’s online chess routine?  Mentioned: Chess Psychology: The Will to Win [https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Psychology-Will-Win-Everyman/dp/1781940274/ref=asc_df_1781940274?mcid=c424f511550835e0a6b8d812427aa686&hvocijid=27533209726870686-1781940274-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=27533209726870686&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003967&hvtargid=pla-2281435176658&psc=1] 15:00- What is Tony’s chess improvement philosophy?  20:00- We discuss chess notation and Tony’s approach to game analysis  22:00- What are Tony’s favorite non-chess books?  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Man’s Search for Meaning The 48 Laws of Power  29:00- How is chess perceived in prison? What is the chess scene like there? Mentioned: Agadmator  34:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “How can prisoners be encouraged to invest time and effort into activities like chess?” 39:00- What is the mission of Tony’s new non-profit, Masters and Mentors?  https://mastersandmentors.org/ [https://mastersandmentors.org/] You can support Masters and Mentors here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-masters-and-mentors-youth-enrichment-strategies [https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-masters-and-mentors-youth-enrichment-strategies] 45:00- How did Perpetual Chess help Tony win over his girlfriend? 46:00- How did Tony get interested in golf?  50:00- What is the best part of being free?  53:00- Is Tony ever tempted to return to his younger lifestyle?  58:00 Tony’s closing advice for those who feel like they are struggling. 1:00- THanks to Tony for sharing his inspiring story! Here is how to keep up with him Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/tony.ballard.900918 [https://www.facebook.com/tony.ballard.900918] Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/tonyballard1977/ [https://www.instagram.com/tonyballard1977/] Masters and Mentors- https://mastersandmentors.org/ [https://mastersandmentors.org/] His Book-  https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48 [https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48] His LiChess: https://lichess.org/@/TonyBallard77 [https://lichess.org/@/TonyBallard77] And Chess.com [http://chess.com] https://www.chess.com/member/tony_1b [https://www.chess.com/member/tony_1b] If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/notifications [https://www.patreon.com/notifications] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

This two-part episode of Perpetual Chess features two of the most impactful figures in American chess education: Coach Jay Stallings and Adam Weissbarth. First up, Coach Jay shares insights from his decades of experience teaching over 30,000 students,and also discusses his recent work consulting on the chess scenes in the new Hollywood blockbuster The Accountant 2. Additionally, Jay reviews some of the teaching tools he currently relies on—including a fun new one that he recently created himself. [https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/triple-check-the-chess-puzzle-game-that-needs-no-wifi] Following Jay is Adam Weissbarth, founder of Silver Knights Chess Academ [https://chessacademy.com/]y, one of the largest after-school chess programs in the country. Adam recounts the immense challenges his company faced during the pandemic, when it lost all of its revenue sources overnight. He explains how he rebuilt the organization and expanded into elite coaching with grandmasters. Together, these conversations offer a fascinating look at the state of chess instruction—from classrooms to Zoom screens to movie scenes. Timestamps of guests and topics are below.  Check out the special offers mentioned at the beginning of the show below:  Chessdojo- https://www.chessdojo.club/signup [https://www.chessdojo.club/signup] Chessmood- Free one Week Trial- Chessmood.com/Ben [http://chessmood.com/Ben] Chess.com-Free Premum One Week Trial- http://go.chess.com/Perpetual [http://go.chess.com/Perpetual] 0:02:00- Coach Jay joins the show! We begin by discussing chess and movies, Jay recently consulted on the chess scenes for The Accountant 2. Mentioned:  Check out my recommended books here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations] Order Coach Jay’s Books for Kids here: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/coach-jay-starter-packs [https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/coach-jay-starter-packs] Coach Jay’s prior interviews: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2017/9/12/episode-39-coach-jay-stallings [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2017/9/12/episode-39-coach-jay-stallings] https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/5/14/episode-72-coach-jay-stallings-returns [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/5/14/episode-72-coach-jay-stallings-returns] Also mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer  14:30- Why did Jay wind down his chess non-profit after the pandemic?  16:00- Jay’s report on Supernationals, the giant scholastic tournament where he coached?  25:00- Jay discusses his new chess educational kit for kids, “Triple Check” Get it here: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/triple-check-the-chess-puzzle-game-that-needs-no-wifi [https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/triple-check-the-chess-puzzle-game-that-needs-no-wifi] 37:00- Jay shares a few new teaching tools he has been using. Mentioned: Lichess studies, Chess.com [http://chess.com] Arena tournaments  40:00- Thanks to Coach Jay for joining, you can reach him via his website: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/ [https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/] 44:00- NM Adam Weissbarth joins the podcast! What was the biggest challenge his organization has faced?  Adam’s prior Perpetual Chess Interview: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/4/9/silver-knights-chess-founder-adam-weissbarth [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/4/9/silver-knights-chess-founder-adam-weissbarth] 58:00- What has Adam learned from working with GM coaches like GM Johan Hellsten and GM Lazaro Bruzon? Mentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy 1:02::00- Why has Silver Knights expanded its offering to stronger scholastic players?  1:06:00- Did Adam meet people from the US Chess Federation at the Nationals?  1:10:00- What resources does Silver Knights use for intermediate students?  1:14:00- Adam’s advice for growing a chess teaching business Thanks to Adam for joining, you can reach the Silver Knights academy via the following page: https://chessacademy.com/pages/contact-us [https://chessacademy.com/pages/contact-us] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

EP 436- Adult Improver Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde on How Workplace Trash Talk Sparked a Lifelong Passion for Chess  In this inspiring and relatable installment of the Adult Improver Series, we meet  Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde [https://ratings.fide.com/profile/1583360/chart], a 39-year-old father of two, from Norway who discovered competitive chess after a bit of playful banter with a workplace rival. That exchange sparked a fascination with the game—and when the pandemic hit shortly after, Torkil suddenly had the time to dive in. Five years later, he's a regular tournament competitor and recently completed an impressive FIDE rating jump from 1400 to 1800 in just one year. In our conversation, Torkil shares his favorite resources and offers thoughtful advice on how to make the most of limited chess time. He also reflects on how chess has influenced his off-the-board habits—from health and mindfulness to goal-setting—and why he hopes his chess journey is still just beginning. Spotify Adult Improver Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=29035838af4d4345] You can volunteer or suggest an adult improver guest here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult [https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult] Links to special offers and new courses: Chessdojo use- the code “Ben40” at checkout.  https://www.chessdojo.club/signup [https://www.chessdojo.club/signup] Chessmood Free one Week Trial- Chessmood.com/Ben [http://chessmood.com/Ben] Check out FM Nate Solon’s new Chessable course here [https://www.chessable.com/100-repertoires-semi-slav/course/285379/]:  0:00- Torkil’s unique chess origin story 12:00- What resources helped Torkil early in his pursuit of chess improvement? Mentioned: Hanging Pawns, Gotham Chess, Daniel Naroditsky, Anna Cramling, Anna-Maja Kazarian, Chessable Starter Pack 27:00- When did Torkil transition to tournament chess? What were the biggest adjustments? 40:00- What led to Torkil’s big rating jump? 49:00- Patreon mailbag question- “Where might the limit be for Torkil’s potential improvement?” Mentioned: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Sherevsky’s Endgame Strategy  59:00- More recommendations from Torkil ADD IMAGES Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Move First Think Later, Chess Principles Reloaded [https://www.chessable.com/chess-principles-reloaded-development/course/50567/], The Art of Attack in Chess  [https://www.chessable.com/the-art-of-attack-in-chess/course/24575/] 1:02:00- Torkil’s final reflections and advice  1:05:00- Thanks to Torkil for sharing his story! Here is his new, non-secret Lichess account where you can message him: https://lichess.org/@/TorkilJaraBard [https://lichess.org/@/TorkilJaraBard] If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess [https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]