Perpetual Chess is back with a banger of a double episode. First up is chess superstar, GM Levon Aronian! Levon joined me from Spain after returning from the first season of the Global Chess League in Dubai. Levon reflected on the success of his championship-winning team, and we discussed why he thinks initiatives like this league are vital to the future health of chess. We then broadened the scope of our conversation, and Levon shared memorable stories about his humble beginnings and Armenia, and the lessons he had to learn when he shot to chess stardom in the mid 2000s. Lastly, Levon discusses his move to the U.S., his 2023 plans, and why he is not playing in the ongoing FIDE World Cup.
Following Lev, we are joined by Jagdish Mitra. Jagdish is Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Growth at Tech Mahindra, and served as Chairman of the first season of The Global Chess League. Jagdish looked back on a successful first season, and discussed the ambitious plans and long term vision that the league has for upcoming years. Both interviews left me excited about the future of chess! You can find timestamps for all of the topics discussed below.
Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable. Here are some courses to check out:
Techniques of Positional Play with GM Peter Heine Nielsen
Lifetime Repertoires: Gawain Jones 1.e4 e5
100 Repertoires: Alekhine Defense by CM Vjekoslav Nemec
You can check out some of my recommended courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/
4:00- GM Levon Aronian joins me from a park in Spain! How was Levon added as a last-second replacement to the Global Chess League? What sort of things does he usually negotiate before signing a contract to participate in an event?
Mentioned: Chess.com’s Dog-Themed Bots including Levon’s Famous Dog, Ponchik
10:00- What was it like to be in Dubai for the Global Chess League?
15:30- How can new players be incorporated into future Global Chess Leagues?
17:30- What steps are necessary to continue to grow chess and attract corporate sponsors?
Mentioned: Indian Express article by Amit Kamath
25:00- Levon’s scouting reports on Hikaru and Gukesh
26:30- Which young star is most likely to emerge as a world champion?
30:00- What was it like to play games for money to support his family as a kid?
36:00- Levon tells an amazing story of how Boris Gelfand taught him to treat chess professionally.
40:00- Why does Levon think chess has become increasingly professionalized?
41:30- Is Chess960 the solution to the over-abundance of opening theory?
Mentioned: GM Vladimir Kramnik, GM Boris Gelfand, GM Jan Timman
49:00- Is it true that Levon traveled in the cargo department of a plane to get to tournaments?
Mentioned: Sean Williams’ 2017 New Yorker feature on Levon Aronian, GM Melik Khachiyan
55:30- Patreon mailbag question: “What obstacles did Lev encounter in moving to the US?”
1:03:00- Will Levon write a book some day?
Mentioned: GM Surya Ganguly’s “In Conversation with GM Levon Aronian”
1:08:30- What is Levon’s study routine?
1:09:00- Thanks to Levon for joining me!
1:11:00- Jagdish Mitra, the Chairman of the Global Chess League joins the podcast! We begin by discussing the origins of the Global Chess League.
1:25:00- How did they decide on the unique format?
1:30:00- How will they acquire new players? How can teams foster allegiance with chess fans?
1:41:00- Thanks so much to Jagdish for sharing the vision behind the Global Chess League. Here is how you can keep up with it:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/GCLlive?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
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EP 351- Steffen Nielsen: The author and award-winning endgame study composer on what makes a good chess puzzle, and whether endgame studies are good for your chess calculation.
EP.350- CM Can Kabadayi: A self-taught Candidate Master and Cognitive Scientist on Calculation, The Chess Aging Curve and his Favorite Chess Books
EP 349- Dr. Anique de Bruin: Deliberate Practice and the Science of Chess Learning
Book Recap #33- Think Like a Super GM and Strategic Chess Exercises: 2 Great Books for Intermediate Level and Up (with Dr. Michael Franco)
EP 348- ALTO Tournament Report- Two Participants on What they learned and Experienced at an Adult Only Weekend Tournament in Charlotte
EP 347- GM Gregory Kaidanov on The Return of Hans Niemann, FIDE World Cup Reflections & The Differences Between Adult and Youth Chess Students
EP 346- NM Todd Bryant Shares his Data on the Most Accomplished Adult Improvers in recent US Chess History, plus Discusses his Own Approach to Chess Enjoyment & Improvement
EP 345- WFM Maaike Keetman on The Best Open Tournaments in Europe, The Chess Steps Method & Chessable's Create Your Own Course Contest
EP 344- GM Melik Khachiyan on How Staying Active OTB and Emphasizing Physical Fitness helped him Finally win his First National Title!
Bonus Pod- FIDE World Cup Update- Magnus and Fabiano on a Collision Course? Featuring CM Vjekoslav Nemec and IM Michael Rahal reporting from the tournament in Baku.
EP 343- Rating Deflation Roundtable- Statistician Jeff Sonas and Data Scientist FM Nate Solon discuss FIDE’s Proposed Changes to their Rating System, Plus Historical Chess Nuggets from Jeff’s Grea
EP 342- GM Simen Agdestein: The Norwegian Chess Legend on Coaching Young Magnus, Life as a Pro Footballer, and What he Learned from Career-Altering Injuries
Book Recap #32- GM Rowson's Chess for Zebras a classic book that tackles the challenges of adult improvement, and the differences between playing White and Black (with guest co-host, Professor David
Bonus Pod- Jen Shahade joins for a FIDE Women's World Championship Wrap Up
EP 340- FIDE World Cup Preview with Mr. Dodgy- The Best Tournament of the Chess Year starts Sunday! Magnus looks for his first World Cup Win, and Hikaru, Fabiano, and a host of Challengers hope to Ear
EP 339- WGM Anna Zatonskih: The Four-Time US Women’s Champion Shares the Story Behind Earning Her First GM Norm at age 44!
Bonus Pod- The FIDE Women's World Championship is at the Halfway Point: American Chess Olympian WGM Begim Tokhirjonova joins to discuss it
EP 338- Dr. Daniel Simons and Dr. Christopher Chabris- Two Award Winning co-authors and Professors on Growth Mindset, Cheating in Chess, Chess Improvement & Much more!
EP 337- NM Nate Shuman- A Scholastic Champion on How Mindfulness Practices Helped Him & Can Help All Competitive Chess Players
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