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
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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
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
EP 341-Double Episode! GM Levon Aronian on The Global Chess League, How to Better Promote Chess, and Reflections on his Bumpy Ride to the Chess Elite + Global Chess League Chairperson Jagdish Mitra on
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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