This week we are joined by a legend of Norwegian Chess, GM Simen Agdestein. GM was the first Norwegian Grandmaster, a childhood trainer of Magnus Carlsen, and is a nine-time champion of Norway, who holds the record of being both the country’s youngest and oldest national champion, after winning the title again this year at age 56. As if these feats weren’t impressive enough, at the time Simen was around his chess peak (#16 in the world) he was also a star football/soccer player, who played striker on Norway’s national team! With such an accomplished resume, one might think things have been easy for Simen, but that has been far from the case. As he discusses in our interview, injuries derailed his chess and football careers simultaneously, and SImen was forced to reassess everything. In our conversation, Simen shares what his vast life experience has taught him about life and chess improvement. Simen also discusses the current chess scene in Norway, and of course, tells plenty of stories about what it was like to coach a young Magnus Carlsen.
Thanks to our Presenting Chess Education Sponsors, Chessable.com Here are a few of their Magnus related courses:
Fight Like Magnus
Grind Like a GM
Magnus Carlsen: Endgame Virtuoso
You can check out my favorite courses here:
You can check out some of my recommended courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/
0:02- GM Agdestein reflects on his recent, record-setting National Championship. How does the feeling of this one compare to prior championship wins? How did he prepare for this one?
Mentioned: GM Judit Polgar’s Interview with GM Judit Polgar, IM Elham Abdrlauf, GM Jonathan Speelman’s Chessbase column about Simen’s recent win, SImen’s book
15:00- How does Simen structure the chess study time at his famed chess institute for talented chess players?
Mentioned: GM Aryan Tari, GM Magnus Carlsen, Magnus Carlsen on The Lex Fridman Podcast
22:00- What stood out about Magnus in his early years?
Mentioned: GM Torbjorn Ringdal Hansen
27:30- Patreon mailbag question: “Are the live TV broadcasts attracting new tournament players?”
31:30- How did Simen become a GM with so little chess infrastructure in Norway at the time?
35:00- Does Simen think he was more talented in chess or in football?
37:00- Simen tells how injuries derailed his football and chess careers simultaneously.
Mentioned: Chess.com’s Tarjei Svensen
44:00- Why did Simen turn down a lucrative professional football offer from the Turkish club Besiktas?
45:30- How did Simen recover from the physical and mental setbacks in his mid 20s?
49:00- When Simen reflects on his 20s does he think of chess or soccer first?
52:00- Why did Simen turn down a lucrative football contract with a Turkish pro club in his 20s?
55:00- What does SImen remember about a young Alexei Shirov coming to visit his house?
57:00- What was it like facing Kasparov?
1:00:00- What are Simen’s memories of Kasparov’s visit to Norway to work with Magnus at age 14?
1:04:00- More Magnus stories!
1:07:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is the proper way to determine a world champion in chess?”
1:12:00- Why does Simen advise to “always take pieces?”
1:16:00- Thanks so much to Simen for joining the pod! You can learn more about his experience coaching Magnus in his book:
https://www.amazon.com/Magnus-Carlsen-Became-Youngest-Grandmaster/dp/9056914375
And keep an eye out for the forthcoming book, The Chess That Was
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 369- NM Robert Ramirez on the difference between Adult and Youth Chess Students, Chess in Cuba, and Why He Loves the Pirc Defense
EP 368- Erik Allebest (Chess.com CEO)- Online Cheating, The Magnus-Hikaru match that fell through, the Chess24 closure & more
Book Recap #35- Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning- What should chess players know about how to learn and retain information? (with Dr. Nick Vasquez)
EP 367- Adult Improver Julio Calcina: A Chess and MMA Enthusiast on the Life Lessons that Each Can Provide.
EP 366- GM Raven Sturt: Chess Improvement Deep Dive with a Self-Taught Grandmaster. Board Visualization Tips, Book Recs & Lots more.
EP 365- GM Abihimanyu Mishra: The Young Phenom on his Chess Improvement Regimen, His Next Goals, and his 2024 Plans
EP 364- GM Patrick Wolff: Recent Chess News Breakdown: Prearranged Draws, Bizarre Dress Codes, the Candidates Cycle- Is it time to Replace FIDE? Plus, a Chess and AI update
EP-363 Jennifer Shahade on Playing Like a Champion, Building Confidence, and what "Zapping" is in Chess.
EP 362- IM Jeremy Silman tribute: IM John Donaldson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala look back on their friend's life and legacy
Book Recap #34- IM Jeremy Silman's The Amateurs Mind (with David Hamm)
EP 361- Professor/ GM David Smerdon: Renewed Chess Cheating Allegations and the new “Gender Equality in Chess Index.”
EP 360- Adult Improver Ben Hodgkiss just quit his job to pursue chess full-time. Here is his story.
EP 359- Davaun Williams (aka Chess Knowledge with H1) on Chess TikTok Stardom, Opening Traps, and Improvement Recs
EP 358- GM Robert Hungaski on Teaching Chess Teachers, Nakamura, Shirov, Niemann The Indian Chess Boom & more
EP 357- Adult Improver Denis Markov on How a Calm and Consistent Approach has Elevated his Chess Game
EP 356- FIDE Grand Swiss Recap/FIDE Candidates Lookahead plus LiChess Catchup with Community Manager Chris Callahan
EP 355- Cecilia Albertini and Chandler Toffa- Two filmmakers discuss their touching new chess documentary, The City of Human Chess
EP 354- Perpetual Chess Improvement Book Discussion with Dr. Christopher Chabris
EP 353- GM Davorin Kuljasevic: Chess Improvement Q & A (plus discussion of his great new book on GM Ding Liren)
EP 352- Emilia Castelao and Craig Dubose: Two Chess Enthusiasts on their Chess Passion Projects
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