Perpetual Chess Podcast

FM Mike Klein of Chess.com  joins the show from Cyprus to give an on-the-ground look at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. We discuss the incredible start by GM Javokhir Sindarov, and what Mike has observed from his interactions with the rising star. Mike also describes the tournament atmosphere,shares  behind-the-scenes stories from the venue, and provides insights on the Women’s Candidates race. We also discuss what to expect in the critical rounds ahead including a huge round 8 battle. 

0:00 – Intro + Mike Klein joins (Candidates update)0:45 – Javokhir Sindarov’s historic start (6/7) + Anna Muzychuk leading women’s field

1:20 – Sindarov’s personality: “infectious,” approachable, media-friendly3:35 – Candidates trivia + chess culture vs performance debate

4:45 – Comparing Sindarov’s start to past Candidates performances6:18 – Mindset: why Sindarov isn’t satisfied (even after a draw)

7:50 – Will Sindarov keep pushing or coast to victory?9:27 – Tournament suspense vs runaway leader (Nepo comparison)

10:25 – Life in Cyprus: smaller scene vs Madrid/Toronto11:00 – Hotel stories + luxury setting + “White Lotus vibes”12:48 – Safety, isolation, and player accommodations

13:51 – Venue setup: viewing area, fan zones, and logistics15:30 – Rest day activities + paddle tournament

16:30 – Paddle tournament results + Caruana appearance17:50 – Chess + tennis crossover (Pavel Tregubov trivia)19:05 – What is paddle? (sport explanation + Magnus tie-in)

20:30 – Women’s Candidates overview: Muzychuk vs Vaishali + contenders22:48 – Seconds and prep teams (Caruana, Hikaru, etc.)

25:00 – Key matchup: Nakamura vs Caruana26:00 – What would Sindarov be like as World Champion?

28:30 – Mike’s YouTube channel + future content plans29:20 – “Weightless chess” goal (fun viral idea)30:40 – Wrap-up + sign-off

31:00- Thanks to Mike Klein for joining me! Be sure to sub to his YouTube channel here for additional on-site Candidates coverage:

https://www.youtube.com/@FunMasterMike

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It has been over two years since FIDE implemented major changes to its rating system aimed at combating rating deflation. But are those changes actually working?

My guest, Vlad Ghita, joins me to dig into the data. Vlad is a Romanian arbiter, instructor, and chess enthusiast with a master’s degree in physics. In his new e-book, The Rating Revolution, he takes a rigorous, data-driven look at how the global rating system is functioning—and where it may still be falling short.

We discuss:


What Vlad calls the “participation paradox”


Which countries may be the most underrated


How age impacts rating expectations


Why some players feel stuck despite improving


Is the US rating system functioning more effectively than FIDE?

As discussed in the episode, many of these issues stem from structural imbalances in the rating pool—something Vlad illustrates through extensive analysis of nearly one million games .

In our conversation (and in his book), Vlad not only identifies problems but also proposes thoughtful solutions. As a dedicated coach and adult improver himself, he also shares practical advice for chess improvement.

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0:00- Intro

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out their FIDE Candidates Sale here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/

Sign up for Chessable Pro here:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:02- Vlad’s joins the show, we being by diving into his chess  background

Mentioned: Michael Franco/NoseKnowsAll’s free Lichess materials-

https://lichess.org/study/by/NoseKnowsAll

0:10- How Vlad’s curiosity about ratings was piqued around the pandemic, what he learned about ratings

0:11- What is the cause of FIDE rating deflation?

Mentioned: Jeff Sonas, Dr. Mark Glickman

0:16-What is “the participation paradox?” 

0:21- Is the US rating system working better than FIDE’s?

29:00- Should FIDE institute adjustable rating floors? 

31:00- What solutions does Vlad propose to improve the rating system? 

42:00- Chess improvement lessons from Vlad’s playing and training experience 

Mentioned: Chess Structures, How to Study Chess on Your Own, Chessbook

50:00- The pros and cons of working full time in chess

52:00- Thanks to Vlad for coming on the pod and writing an insightful book. Vlad has offered a discount to Perpetual Chess Listeners if you use the code “perpetual” at checkout.

https://vladchess.com/rating-revolution

If you are interested in getting coaching from Vlad, you can reach him via his website:

https://vladchess.com/

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The Perpetual Chess book discussion series Chess Books Recaptured returns with a personal, funny, and heartfelt episode.

Gaurav Datta, a longtime student and close friend of IM Jeremy Silman, joins me to discuss Silman’s Chess Odyssey: Cracked Grandmaster Tales, Legendary Players, & Instructions and Musings. This memoir and collection of writing was Silman’s final work, and it beautifully captures his deep and enduring love for chess.

As Gaurav shares, he was an ordinary club player who repeatedly emailed Silman until Jeremy reluctantly agreed to take him on as a student in the late 1990s. What began as lessons soon turned into a decades-long friendship. Jeremy did not care much about Gaurav’s rating, but he appreciated his sense of humor and his ability to tell interesting stories.

Throughout the conversation, Gaurav interweaves touching and often hilarious personal memories with insights from the book, offering a glimpse  into Silman’s life and teaching philosophy. 

I greatly enjoyed reading Silman’s Chess Odyssey, and hearing Gaurav’s stories added a whole new dimension to understanding one of chess’s most beloved teachers.

0:00 Intro + overview of Silman’s Chess Odyssey

Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com. Check out IM Jeremy SIlman’s vast catalog of courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/author/Jeremy_Silman/5:48 Guest intro: Gaurav Datta (long-time student & friend of Jeremy Silman)

7:00 How Gaurav discovered Silman, early struggles, and first meeting12:30 What lessons with Silman were really like (stories, life, chess)

18:20 Chess as art: Silman’s core philosophy22:40 Training methods: studying master games & subtle ideas

Mentioned: IM Erik Kislik, NM Steve Brandwein

28:00 Gambling struggles, life setbacks, and returning to chess

33:00 Silman’s personality: stories, Japan, boxing & unique interests

38:40 Final years, illness, and completing his last book

Mentioned: Autobiography of a Goat 

51:30 Key lessons: play for beauty, not rating + lasting impact

1:15:00- Thanks so much to Gaurav for sharing his amazing stories! Here is how you can reach him:

Email- gdatta at gmail.com

Chess.com- 

https://www.chess.com/member/olddirtypatzer

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The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament is almost here, and GM Jan Gustafsson joins the podcast to break down the entire field. As a leading opening theoretician who has worked on GM Magnus Carlsen’s World Championship team, Jan brings unique insight into this high-stakes event. Jan will be on site in Cyprus providing commentary alongside his longtime friend GM Peter Svidler. In this episode we go player by player discussing the contenders’ chances, from rising stars like Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov to established veterans like Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura. Jan shares insights on preparation, momentum, and who is most likely to win the Candidates and earn the right to challenge for the World Championship. We also discuss the Women’s Candidates Tournament, pop culture, and Jan’s latest projects.

Episode Recorded on March 11, 2016

0:00 Intro – Candidates preview with GM Jan Gustafsson

You can buy tickets to the Chess in the Schools Poker/Chess Fundraiser here:

https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-3rd-annual-charity-poker-tournament

Check out Jan’s Chessable courses here:

Be sure to check out Chessiverse.com, and use code “Perpetual30” for a discount on premium features and IM John Bartholomew’s course. 

5:16 Jan Gustafsson joins the show

6:36 Patreon mailbag question: Strategy for the Candidates tournament

12:55 Matthias Bluebaum preview

Mentioned: Kalshi FIDE Candidate’s Odds:

https://kalshi.com/markets/kxchesscandidates/chess-candidates-champion/kxchesscandidates-26

17:18 Andrey Esipenko preview

22:39 Praggnanandhaa preview

26:35 Javokhir Sindarov preview

31:20 Anish Giri preview

33:52 Wei Yi preview

39:00 Fabiano Caruana preview

44:42 Hikaru Nakamura preview

49:57 Predictions for the winner

52:40 Women’s Candidates preview

57:00- Patreon mailbag question: What would Jan like to keep as is in the chess world, and what would he like to see changed?

1:00:05 Closing thoughts, tv shows, nonsense. 

Mentioned: Jeselnik book club:

https://anthonyjeselnik.com/the-jeselnik-book-club

1:06:00- Thanks to Jan for joining! Be sure to tune in to the FIDE YouTube channel for his Candidates coverage, sub to Janistan TV on Twitch, and check out his Chessable courses here. 

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This week’s guest on the Adult Improver Series is Matt Biancuzzo. Matt is a 31-year-old New York City consultant who is very active in both the local chess scene and on social media. He has taken full advantage of New York’s many chess opportunities, regularly attending chess gatherings and pub nights while also competing in tournaments locally. Over the past few years he has improved from below 1400 USCF to a peak of over 1800! Matt has worked with multiple coaches, grinded tactics, and consumed countless chess videos, but he credits the majority of his improvement to building a social network that made chess fun for him.

Speaking of fun, Matt has also built a large online following thanks to his hilarious short-form videos. Posting as “byredofantome” on Instagram and “fantomechess” on TikTok, Matt creates impressions and humorous shorts that lightly satirize chess culture. In the second half of our interview, we shift our focus from chess improvement to the story behind Matt’s videos. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the bonus video breaking down some of Matt’s best clips here.


Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here:

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon


Join the Perpetual Chess Discord here:

 https://discord.gg/gUPSsHMK


Check out Chessable’s Women’s Day sale here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/f/


Check out Chessiverse.com, use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings. 

00:00 Introduction to Chess Improvement and Content Creation

04:45- Matt Biancuzzo joins the show! We begin by discussing how he got into chess in college. 

13:29 The Role of Community in Chess Improvement

Mentioned: GM Robert Hungaski, IM Denys Shmelov, Alex Pickett,  IM Jan van der Mortaal, Jonathan Williams, Pobo Efikoro

18:03 Coaching and Learning Strategies

23:04 The Impact of Online Chess and Content Creation

Mentioned: MaddiePlaysChess, GambitMan

25:00- Getting a chess coach

Mentioned: IM Sam Khanin, IM VIktor Matviishen

28:00 Personal Growth Through Chess

33:14 Final Thoughts on Chess and Community

40:16 The language and habits of chess players 

48:55 Content Creation in Chess

Mentioned: Matt’s article about Where to Play Chess in NYC

https://www.chess.com/blog/byredofantome/where-to-play-chess-in-nyc-and-how-to-gauge-a-good-club

POV When you are Prepping for the 2002 World Under 12 Championship:

https://www.instagram.com/byredofantome/reel/DT6A_OHDqTi/

What I learned Playing 130 Chess Tournaments in 2 Years

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-fgbeDmHY/

POV You are Spassky in 1971

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTOntmlDlEM/

49:54 The Art of Subversive Commentary

52:06 Impressions and Mannerisms in Chess

Matt’s Yasser/magnus video is here:

https://www.tiktok.com/@byredofantome/video/7240979768525573418?_r=1&_t=ZP-94OfoAItpk7

53:50 Translating Chess for the Average Person

55:15 Inspiration from Online Trends

Mentioned: POV Chess Players Training at the Gym

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRqJ2x_jvKs/

01:03:19 Monetization and Content Creation Challenges

01:05:26 Entrepreneurial Ventures in Chess

01:09:05 Colliding Worlds: Chess and Consulting

01:12:26 The Nature of Content Creation and Recognition

Matt’s linktree is here:

https://linktr.ee/byredofantome?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnKZHTvXc3y6vDxPUApYvPDxbUFpbNtVLXr58nVATFdTyrdu7mR6xgzob8An4_aem_SjGs6svkY3aTt1lbEPnWOg

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