Perpetual Chess Podcast Ben Johnson

Azel Chua is a 21-year-old Singapore-based self-taught Candidate Master who has built his own chess skills from the ground up. As Azel explains, he began working on his visualization skills as he sought a way to study chess during high school classes that he did not find especially interesting. From there, Azel has developed a unique framework for calculating in chess that he calls “The Burger Technique,” as covered in his popular Chessable courses on Calculation.  In our interview, we discuss this technique, as well as hearing Azel’s thoughts and experiences on utilizing resources such as YouTube, and Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual. Azel also shares some helpful tips on how to improve your chess intuition and delves into his background, and the chess scene in Singapore. As always, timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

03:00- What did Azel learn from studying the classic book Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual during high school classes? 
Mentioned: Calculation Masterclass with Chessgoals

7:00- What was Azel’s approach to chess improvement? 

10:00- Why does Azel think that the common tactic-solving advice of looking for “checks, captures and threats?” might be bad advice? 

12:15- What is”the Burger technique?” 

17:30- Where did he come up with the name for “the Burger technique?” 

21:00- What was Azel’s mix of studying vs. competing as a tournament player? 

22:00- What is the chess culture like in Singapore?

25:00- What were the biggest contributors to Azel’s improvement?

27:30- What can we improve our chess intuition?

32:00- What was Azel’s approach to openings?

36:00- Does Azel follow professional chess? Or read about chess history?

37:00- How does Azel find teaching material? 

39:00- What is reciprocal thinking? 
Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew ‘s Video: The Power of Reciprocal Thinking 

45:00- Thanks to Azel Chua for joining me! You can check out his Chessable courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/author/AzelChua/





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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=pro

0;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-fundraiser

National 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
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41-year-old IM Renier Castellanos had all but given up on earning the Grandmaster title. His life was getting busier, and after 2 potential GM norms were not ratified by FIDE, he felt like it just wasn’t meant to be. But his friends and Killer Chess Training co-workers, GM Jacob Aagaard and Kallia Kleisarchaki, convinced him to keep trying. It turned out that was all it took! Two weeks ago, Renier got his final GM norm, to earn the title of Grandmaster at age 41. In our interview, Renier reflects on the lessons he has learned, and why he thinks he was still able to earn the title in this challenging era, despite not working on chess as much as he did in his 20s. Renier also shares his own advice on chess improvement, some book recommendations, and discusses what he observed from facing Super GM level players like GM Vladimir Fedoseev. This interview was conducted while the Candidates was still ongoing, but you can even hear Renier’s Candidates prediction to see how it played out. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 
0:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com 
New courses include - Michael Roiz’s Fighting the Grunfeld and King’s Indian 
 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=pro

0:01- Renier discusses why he had given up on the GM title 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard of Killer Chess Training, Killer Chess Training Review of Renier’s Game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeI0AazBw1I

0:08- What shortcoming in his game did Renier need to overcome in order to earn the title?

9:45- How did he think about the expense of pursuing the GM title?

16:00- What is Renier’s approach to the opening? What else did he do to train?
Mentioned; KillerChessTraining.com

22:00- How did Renier’s wife, WGM Raluca Sgircea, help him with his daily habits? 

25:00- Renier discusses his early years growing up in Cuba, moving to Chile and then to Spain in his teens and 20s 
Mentioned: GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Chess Reddit thread about Renier’s GM title  

31:00- We discuss the congratulatory notes Renier has gotten, including this tweet from GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 
Mentioned: Episode 184 with GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 

34:00- Did an emphasis on physical fitness help his chess? What about community?

43:00- What is the best way to spend one’s chess improvement time?

46:00- Renier’s recommended open tournaments, based on his time on as a traveling chess professional:
Mentioned: Benasque, Spain Chess Open, Menoraca, Sitges 

51:00- Renier’s favorite chess books
Mentioned: Perfect Your Chess, Dynamic Chess Strategy by GM Mihai Suba 

54:00- What did Renier learn from playing Fedoseev and other super GM-level players? 

1:03:00- Renier’s most memorable game
Mentioned: Video of his World Bitz victory vs. GM Peter Svidler 
1:10:00- Thanks to Renier for sharing his inspiring story! 
You can reach him via his Lichess coaches page or find his classes at KillerChessTraining:
https://lichess.org/coach/RenierChess
KillerChessTraining.com

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess


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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.
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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/1781113720212742568
Calib 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_BwE
Chess.com
https://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
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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=pro

Its 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

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