Jeff Sonas is Software engineer and database consultant who is also one of the world’s leading experts on chess ratings. As you may have read, FIDE recently proposed some changes to its rating system (partially due to Jeff’s advice). . In our conversation, Jeff explains the background of his work on ratings, and why he feels that changes to the system are necessary. Following a detailed and fascinating conversation about chess ratings, we discuss Jeff’s excellent historical chess site, Chessmetrics, which compares the relative strength of top chess players across eras. Due to his expertise on the topic, I also invited FM Nate Solon to guest co-host. Nate writes about chess and data on his excellent blog, Zwischenzug. As always, you can find timestamps of topics discussed below.
Sign up for my newsletter, The Perpetual Chess Linkfest here:
https://benjohnson.substack.com
FIDE Press release about Proposed Rating Changes- https://fide.com/news/2538
Jeff’s paper-
https://www.fide.com/docs/presentations/Sonas%20Proposal%20-%20Repairing%20the%20FIDE%20Standard%20Elo%20Rating%20System.pdf
Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable. Here are some courses to check out FM Nate Solon’s course here:
100 Repertoires: Reti (1.Nf3)
You can check out some of my recommended courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/
04:00- We welcome Jeff Sonas to the show!
04:30- He begins by discussing the history of his work in ratings, and specifically with FIDE. Jeff also discusses how he has gone from worrying about inflation to deflation?
Mentioned: Rating Inflation: Its causes and Its possible cures
26:00- Patreon mailbag question- Could Jeff put a number on the amount of deflation? Is there deflation on the chess playing websites?
36:00- More explanation of the causes of deflation
Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard’s Tweet, Article by Tarjei Svensen about Velpula Sarayu’s Record Performance
42:00- Does the deflation matter, other than for reasons of vanity?
48:00- What does Jeff think of the Glicko system?
Episode 249 with Dr. Mark Glickman, Jeff’s Archive of Chess Writing
53:00 Patreon mailbag question: How feasible is a universal rating system based on engine move matching?
Mentioned: Read Jeff’s paper here:
https://www.fide.com/docs/presentations/Sonas%20Proposal%20-%20Repairing%20the%20FIDE%20Standard%20Elo%20Rating%20System.pdf
59:00- Jeff discusses the history and methodology of his awesome chess history website, Chessmetrics
Mentioned: Jeff’s Series: Who is the Greatest Player of All Time
1:10:00- Where would Carlsen rank?
1:14:00- What would be the biggest challenge to creating a chess site similar to a basketball reference or ultimate tennis statistics?
1:16:00- Has Jeff ever gotten inquiries about his data from top players?
Mentioned: Chess24 top 50 of all time Series with GM Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Heine Nielsen
1:18:00- Which historical player is underrated?
1:25:00- What is Jeff’s own chess background?
1:28:00-
Thanks so much to Jeff for joining the podcast! You can reach him via the Chessmetrics website:
http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/Introduction.asp
And be sure to subscribe to FM Nate Solon’s free blog here:
https://zwischenzug.substack.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 281- Dr. Stuart Margulies tells the story behind the classic, best-selling book, Bobby Fischer Teacher Chess
Book Recap #26- Discussing Alexei Shirov's Fire on Board with Mitchell Fabian
EP 280- GM Ben Finegold on The FIDE Candidates, Recent Declines in Chess Twitch Viewership, and Why He Thinks he Doesn't Play as Well as he Used to.
EP 279- Derek Wilder (Adult Improver Series)- The key lessons that helped an 1800 break through to a USCF 2000 rating.
Ep 278- GM Jan Gustafsson- The Popular Chess24 Commentator discusses the World Championships, Chess Openings, The State of his Chess Game, and his new Chess Podcast
EP 277-GM Kirill Shevchenko and WFM Maria Emelianova, a Ukrainian GM and a Russian Chess Streamer, on How the Russian-Ukrainian War Impacts their lives, their Careers and the Chess World
EP 276- GM Michael Adams- Stories and Lessons from Mickey's decades Among the Chess Elite
EP 275- IM Ali Mortazavi- A CEO and Successful Stock Investor on how the Challenges of Chess Help Everything Else Seem Easier
EP 274- Paul Hedrick (Adult Improver Series) with guest co-host Han Schut
EP 273- GM Johan Hellsten on Chess Improvement, the Inspirations for his "Mastering Chess" Book Series, and his favorite OTB Memories
EP 272- "Positional Puzzle Book Championship" with Neal Bruce
Book Recap #25- Review and Discussion of The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games with NM Chrisopher Chabris and FM Graham Burgess
EP 271- GM Hans Niemann on his Rapid Climb up the Chess Rankings and What's Next for Him in 2022
EP 270- Cody Smith (Adult Improver Series)
EP 269- Jen Shahade on her New Book and Chess in the Queen's Gambit age
EP 268- GM Joel Benjamin and Harold Scott on How to Win the World Open
Book Recap #24- Discussing GM Jan Markos' Under the Surface with NM Gopal Menon and Matt Fletcher
EP 267- NM Nelson Lopez (of the ChessVibes YouTube Channel)
EP 266- NM Jeremy Kane (Adult Improver Series)
EP 265- GM Simon Williams- (aka The Ginger GM) returns
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
That Don‘t Sound Right
Adeptus Ridiculous
Gun Talk
Toy Geeks!
Good Job, Brain!