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 305- WIM Andreea Navrotescu- The Latest on the FIDE Women's World Championship Cycle + Her Life as a Chess Professional in France
EP 304- Neal Bruce- What We Can Learn from the Studying Classic Game Compilation Books
EP 303- Adult Improver Kyle Boddy- A Pioneer in Sports Analytics and Peak Performance on His Approach to Chess Improvement
EP 302- Chess Improvement Q & A with IM Andras Toth- One of YouTube's Best Chess Teachers
Bonus Pod- GM Hans Niemann is suing Magnus, Chess.com and Hikaru Nakamura! Law Professor David Franklin joins to Assess What Might Happen From Here
EP 301- Computer Science Professor and IM, Dr. Kenneth Regan on the Carlsen/Niemann controversy and the Current State of Cheating in OTB Chess
EP 300- Swedish Chess Legend, GM Ulf Andersson on his Encounters with Kasparov, Karpov and Fischer and How he Keeps up With Chess Today.
Bonus Pod- FM Nate Solon joins to Discuss Chess.Com's Report about the Carlsen/Niemann Controversy
EP 299- Chess Blogger and Trainer FM Dennis Monokroussos on Lessons from Tal and Petrosian, how 'Toiletgate' compared to the Current Chess Scandal, and the Importance of Playing with Different Styles
Book Recap #29- Discussing The Longest Game by GM Jan Timman a Great Book which Tells the Story of the Kasparov-Karpov matches
Bonus Pod- GM Jonathan Rowson and GM David Smerdon discuss the Carlsen/Niemann Saga
EP 298- Adult Improver Hans Henning on Why he Loves Studying Openings, and How Chess Helps Give Him Purpose
Bonus Pod- GM Alex Fishbein and IM Greg Shahade share their thoughts on the latest developments in the Carlsen/Niemann Sinquefield Cup Controversy
EP 297- IM Carissa Yip on her love for the King’s Indian Defense, Why Levon Aronian is her favorite player and the ups and downs of her first Chess Olympiad.
Bonus Pod- GM Jacob Aagaard joins for an update on the Sinquefield Cup Controversy
EP 296- Award Winning Author/Trainer, GM Jacob Aagaard on Endgame "Rules of Thumb", the Wave of Young Phenoms, and the World Championship Format
Bonus Pod- Chess World in Turmoil as Magnus Carlsen Suddenly withdraws from Sinquefield Cup Amid Speculation that GM Hans Niemann used Engine Assistance
Episode 295- GM Gregory Kaidanov- One of the US’ top players and trainers on Maintaining Motivation, Imparting Lessons to Students, and his Long Journey from the USSR to the US.
Bonus Pod- How to Chess Podcast- GM Johan Hellsten on How to Analyze Your Own Chess Games
EP 294- GM Fabiano Caruana on Engines, The Evolution of Chess, the Candidates Tournament, and the World Championship Cycle.
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