Perpetual Chess Podcast Ben Johnson

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/

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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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For this week’s (non-Candidates) podcast I am honored to be joined by Lou Hays. Lou Hays is a businessman, accomplished chess author, and the founder of Hays Publishing, which published many popular books beginning in the 1990s. Lou also is an accomplished amateur player, who began tournament chess in his 20s and made it up to near master level. Lou has had the opportunity to meet some of the true legends of the game, and shares some amazing stories about his time spent with Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky and David Bronstein. We also discuss how chess improvement has, and has not changed over the decades, as well as Hays Publishing’s most successful books, and how the chess publishing industry has changed. I greatly enjoyed hearing Lou’s stories, and I am confident that you will as well. 

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include GM Romain Eduoard’s Lifetime Repertoires: King’s Indian Attack. 
 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

Mentioned:
Winning Chess for Juniors 
 https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Tactics-Juniors-Hays/dp/1880673932

0:03- In 1992, Lou got to spend the weekend with Bobby Fischer. How did that come about, and what was the experience like?
Mentioned: Bobby Fischer, Complete Games of the World Champion, Zita Rajcsanyi, Ken Smith (founder of Chess Digest and the Smith-Morra Gambit), Fischer voicemail is on YouTube here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/CCa15k61MLY?si=igrs2WYVuyYHbltj


25:00- Lou shares his own chess story, including how chess improvement has, and has not changed 
Mentioned: Hastings 1895 (Out of print), NM John Jacobs, Hal Bogner, IM Anatoly Lein 


37:00- What was it like to spend a weekend with Boris Spassky?


46:00- Lou tells the story of playing legendary blitz player Israel Zelber. 


49:00- How did Lou get into the chess publishing business? 
Mentioned: My System: 21st Century Edition, Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Stuart Margulies, Yasser Seirawan 

55:30- Patreon mailbag question: Would Lou consider putting Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors on Chessable? 
Mentioned: James Stallings 

1:00:00- Lou is also an accomplished improver at golf! Are there any parallels to chess improvement?
Mentioned:Lou’s book Make Your Golf Dream a Reality , 

1:01:00- What was it like to spend time with legendary GM David Bronstein?
Mentioned: The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein by Genna Sosonko, Mikanes Bronstein 1965 

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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Heading into the penultimate rest day, I provide a quick rundown of the standings and key stories of a closely contested and entertaining FIDE Candidates. Plus I briefly share my thoughts on the drama surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's noisy shoes.
Watch this feed for part 2, which will feature an interview about the Candidates with legendary former Dutch Champion, GM Jan Timman.
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We are back for with an in-depth breakdown of the first half of the FIDE Candidates. I am honored to be joined by commentator, author, Chessable author and Excellent YouTuber, GM Daniel King to discuss all that has transpired so far. What makes Nepo so good in these tournaments? Does Fabi have another gear? What has surprised Daniel the most? Tune in for this, plus player-by-player analysis. Timestamps of topics discussed below as always! 
0:00- Brief big picture thoughts on the tournament
0:05- Nepo! What stands out about his performance?
Mentioned: The Chess Mind’s Blog Post:
https://thechessmind.substack.com/p/candidates-round-7
22:00- Fabiano 
Mentioned: Anthony Levin’s Round 7 Recap:
https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-7
30:00- Gukesh
Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/
37:00- Firouzja 
41:00- Pragganandha
48:00- Nakamura 
53:00- Vidit
57:00- Abasov 
59:00- Final thoughts on Open Section 
1:00:00- Women’s sections 
1:05:00- Viewer Q & A- Daniel’s next projects, Genna Sosonko, Collusion 
Mentioned: Daniel’s Anti-Sicilian Chessable Course (forthcoming to New in Chess as a book) , The Essential Sosonko
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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