Legendary chess author IM Jeremy Silman valued his chess friendships highly, and referred to his inner circle as his chess ‘“posse.” This week, two members of that posse, IMsJohn Donaldson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala join me to share stories and biographical details about their friend. As one might expect from Silman’s books, they recall a friend who was funny, empathetic, extremely strong as a chess player, and a brilliant writer and gifted public speaker. John and Cyrus both begin with their first recollections of meeting Jeremy in 1981, and they take us through his chess life and his journey from a chess nomad to a devoted husband, cat dad, and one of the most successful chess authors of all time. Thanks to John and Cyrus for helping us all learn more about Jeremy’s life. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. .
Obits-
https://new.uschess.org/news/im-jeremy-silman-1954-2023
https://www.chess.com/news/view/jeremy-silman-1954-2023
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/books/jeremy-silman-dead.html
Fred Wilson’s old interviews with IM Jeremy Silman will be posted to the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel by the end of the week.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcudElmRsQYTwULtd_gnFw
01:30- John and Cyrus share their first memories of meeting IM Jeremy Silman, both in 1981.
Mentioned; Chuck Johnson
07:00- John and Cyrus describe Silman’s “hippie days.”
12;00- How did Jeremy get his start in chess?
Mentioned: IM John Grefe, Dennis Waterman, IM Jack Peters, Bob Long, and
Silman’s article describing his ‘posse’-
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-books-and-youth-vs-old-age
Silman’s Chess Odyssey
22;00- Cyrus discusses the legacy of How to Reassess Your Chess, as well as Jeremy’s unique insight into a need for literature addressing club players.
26;00- Why did The Complete Book of Chess Strategy sell so well? How did his other books do?
33;00- John and Cyrus discuss Jeremy’s abilities as a speaker, and the success of the series he did for “Great Courses”
Mentioned: https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-play-chess-lessons-from-an-international-master
38;00- Did financial success change Jeremy? John also discusses some of Jeremy’s students.
Mentioned: von Frankenstein, Allan Horn, Brady Anderson, NM Vanessa West
43;00- Could Jeremy have been a GM?
Mentioned: Ken West?, IM Jack Peters, IM Douglas Root
50:00- John and Cyrus discuss the challenges of fe as a chess author and how chess content has changed.
1:13:00- John discusses the health challenges Jeremy faced late in life.
1:16:00- What jobs did Jeremy have outside of chess?
1:21:00- John discusses Jeremy’s love for chess books, and for Japan!
Mentioned: The Games of Tigran Petrosian by Shekhtman
1:26:00- Should we care about analytical mistakes?
Mentioned: Vitiugov vs. Robson 2013
1:31:00- Favorite Silman stories
Thanks so much to John and Cyrus for sharing their memories of IM Silman
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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
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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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