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 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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