EP 409- GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez: A Tireless Tournament Circuit Grinder on Overcoming Setbacks, Managing Energy, the Risks of OTB Cheating & His Love for the Scotch Opening
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This week’s guest, GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez is an accomplished trainer, player, Chessable author and one of the busiest players on the US tournament circuit. As such a frequent competitor, Fidel has had more than his share of successes (including winning the 2023 World Open!), but I have nonetheless often wondered how he finds the time and energy to play at a high level so frequently and consistently. Hearing Fidel’s fascinating life story helped me untangle the mystery. Fidel and I covered a ton of topics, including:
- Why he quit his job as a computer programmer in 2023 to work full time in chess
- His long and winding path from Cuba to the United States
- Attending Webster University with GM Wesley So, IM Eric Rosen and others
- The most common mistakes he sees by his amateur students
- How much he worries about OTB cheating as a frequent competitor for the top prizes
- His deep love for the Scotch Opening
This nearly 90-minute conversation flew by, and I am confident that you will enjoy it, as I did. Timestamps for topics discussed are below.
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0:02- Fidel has a family and a busy work schedule but manages to play OTB quite frequently, how does he manage?
Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen
10:00- Fidel tells the story of how he first got a Visa in the US.
Mentioned: GM Susan Polgar
16:00- Why did Fidel quit his programming job to focus on chess in 2023?
27:00- Advice for getting over a tough loss.
30:00- As someone competing for top prizes, how worried is Fidel about OTB cheating? What about online cheating?
37:00- What are the biggest challenges Fidel sees in his under 1800 students?
40:00- Recommended chess books
Mentioned: Can You Be a Positional Chess Genius? , Magnus Carlsen: Endgame Virtuoso, Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM Ramesh
50:00- Has Fidel ever played with the Cuban legend, GM Leiner Dominguez?
52:00- How did Fidel and his sister, WIM Zenia Corrales Jimenez get into chess?
Mentioned: IM Joaquin Carlos Diaz
1:05:00- Fidel discusses his time at Webster University with stars like GM Wesley So, Ray Robson and Le Quang Liem.
1:10:00- What was it like to play GM Judit Polgar in the World Cup?
1:13:00- We discuss Fidel’s experience with the Scotch Opening
Mentioned:Mayhem in the Scotch: https://www.chessable.com/mayhem-in-the-scotch/course/259795/
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資訊
- 節目
- 頻率每週更新兩次
- 發佈時間2024年11月19日 上午9:00 [UTC]
- 長度1 小時 37 分鐘
- 集數409
- 年齡分級兒少適宜