Perpetual Chess Podcast

• EP 429- Omar Mills: Chess and Life Lessons Learned from Not Improving as Much as He Expected

  The Adult Improver series returns to Perpetual Chess to welcome Omar Mills (aka ChessvonDoom) to the podcast. Omar fell in love with chess during the pandemic and has learned some unexpected lessons through the thousands of games he has played in subsequent years. He learned that chess improvement and maintaining a disciplined study routine  is much harder than he ever could have guessed, but that you can learn a lot about yourself through the game nonetheless. In a new Chessable course, Chess Destiny: Lessons from an Adult Improver and his Coach, Omar collaborates with popular YouTuber NM Robert Ramirez to share some of these unexpected chess and life lessons. These lessons include: What does Omar call “the rule of three?”  What has playing the bass taught Omar about chess improvement? What one piece of advice would he give his “new to chess” self of 5 years ago?  Plus lots  more, its always insightful and entertaining to hear from Omar!  Adult Improver Series webpage: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=2a3f9cee77b948f1 Adult Improver Series Spotify playlist: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover 0:00- Information about the Chess in the Schools chess/poker fundraiser, hosted by GM Robert Hess on May 1, is here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-2nd-annual-charity-poker-tournament 0:02- What is the story behind Omar, an average club player,  making a Chessable course?  Mentioned: NM Robert Ramirez, Bruna Tuzi, NM Ian Harris, IM Miodrag Peruvunic (Milo the Butcher)  You can hear Omar on How to Chess, Season 2, Episode 4- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4x3gO38SDRut2lJZdCLPeh?si=53a28262690c4297 0:15- What is “the rule of three”?  0:21- What has playing the bass taught Omar about playing chess/ Mentioned: Victor Wooten  43:00- What is Omar’s daily chess routine?  Mentioned: Kamryn Hellman, Nick Visel  48:00- NM Robert Ramirez’s recommended study plan  YouTube series with Omar, Roberto and NM Robert Ramirez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soFjWrTVYKU 52:00- What would Omar tell his new to chess self, from a few years ago?  53:00- Does Omar have any tournaments on this horizon? 55:00- Thanks to Omar of joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: Twitter/X: https://x.com/ChessVonDoom?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/chessvondoom His Chessable Course: https://www.chessable.com/chess-destiny-lessons-from-an-adult-improver-and-his-coach/course/266890/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• EP 428- IM Danny Rensch of Chess.com: Combating Cheats and Charting Chess's Future

  IM Danny Rensch is a former child prodigy turned Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, the largest chess website in the world. Danny rejoined me 8 years after his first visit to the podcast (Episode 18) to discuss all that is new with Chess.com. Inevitably, this means a detailed discussion of online cheat detection, and whether Chess.com thinks that their increased deterrence methods are working. But there is a lot more to discuss including: What goes into decisions of choosing commentators for an event? Lessons learned from some P.R. missteps related to the closing of Chess24, and changes to the Chessable product offerings.  Upcoming TV shows and documentaries related to chess. Why are so many of these shows related to cheating? Danny’s forthcoming memoir about growing up in a cult It is always fun to get a glimpse behind the curtain at the world’s biggest chess company, and you are sure to learn something about “chess business” in this conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  0:00- We discuss cheat detection. Is publicly disclosing cheaters deterring other from potential cheaters? What about their new proprietary browser, Proctor?  The two interviews/videos we reference are here: Greg Mustreader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4fGt3MbF0I State of Chess.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lQ47SuBLU8&t=8428s 15:00- Is OTB cheating as common as online cheating?  21:00- What was the story behind future GM Alireza Firouzja’s account being erroneously closed due to fair play some years ago? Mentioned: GM Lenier Dominguez  28:00- We briefly discuss Danny’s forthcoming memoir, Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Squares-Chess-Saved-Life/dp/1541703286 31:00- How can the chess world move away from predominantly cheating-based mainstream coverage? Mentioned:  Netflix documentary: https://www.chess.com/news/view/netflix-unveils-carlsen-niemann-documentary-for-2025 Forthcoming Movie: https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64565309/ BBC’s Chess Masters: The Endgame: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028x4d 37:00- Are there too many professional chess tournaments with too little differentiation between events?  Mentioned: Coachchamps Improver Challenge: https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-coachchamps-2025 Also mentioned: Caitlin Clark, Judit Polgar 48:00- How does Chess.com decide which commentators to feature in which events? Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Robert Hess 51:00- What lessons were learned from backlash against the Chess24 closure and recent changes to access to Short and Sweet courses on Chessable? Mentioned: Info on Chessable’s 2025 changes to Chessable Short and Sweet Access: https://www.chessable.com/blog/new-year-big-changes-to-chessable-pro/ 1:00:00- What 2025 events is Danny excited for? Mentioned: Pogchamps https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-pogchamps-6-field Speed Chess Championships, ESports World Cup  1:03:00- Is Chess.com still thinking of becoming publicly traded at some point? Would Danny retire in the near future?  If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• EP 427- Key Chess Improvement Principles with GM Noël Studer: The Fallacy of Accuracy Scores, Leaky Roofs & Information Overload

  EP 427- Key Chess Improvement Principles with GM Noël Studer: The Fallacy of Accuracy Scores, Leaky Roofs & Information Overload GM Noël Studer is a two time Swiss National Champion turned blogger, course creator and chess trainer. Noël is also a regular guest on the podcast, and as an avid reader of his blog, I always have plenty of questions for him. This particular interview tackles questions like the following: What has training for a marathon taught Noël about chess? Do Grandmasters like Noël make it sound easier than it is to “fix blunders?”  What are the traits of Noël’s most successful students?  We also discuss an update to one of Noël’s courses, his next projects, and why we both are a bit disillusioned with professional chess. There is always a lot to learn from GM Studer!  Check out Noël’s updated course on studying chess the right way here (https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0) Use the code perpetual20 to receive a 20% discount. By using that link, you'll also support Perpetual Chess. https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 Noël’s prior appearances were on the podcast were Episodes 248, 312 and 374  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Dtd4jQXwwJkfwOegqrGad?si=11a29a76268249b8 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0asMZuJZhbp6EnNUyUvzo4?si=9cc4a0c08d7b48e8 https://open.spotify.com/episode/39O0qNPy5mCDxSf96byIES?si=7a1e8a1e12bc4102 01:00- Chess Lessons from training for a marathon (From article From Thinking to Doing) Dr. Nick Vasquez’s post, Too Many Choices: https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/what-do-we-mean-improvement 13:00- Why does Noël call blundering “the leaking roof issue”? The leaking roof issue Steps method playlist from Chess Steps trainer NM Han Schut: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHJ-t45Y-c5SN7u7YSd-gj0vpyCgXv7lM 21:00- Do people overemphasize the importance of accuracy scores? https://nextlevelchess.com/accuracy-score/ 25:00- In his professional days, what was Noël’s approach to checking engines immediately after games?  28:00- Why do CEO’s have a hard time improving at chess?  https://nextlevelchess.com/study-chess-in-a-smarter-way/ 35:00- Which posts of Noël’ got the most feedback?  37:00- What is “the chess improvement equation?”  https://nextlevelchess.com/improvement-score/ 40:00- What other recent interests and daily practices has Noël implemented?  42:00-  Noël’ discusses his relaunched course, The Simplified Chess Improvement System https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 49::00- Noël’s next projects 52:00- Does Noël still follow professional chess closely?  Thanks to Noël for coming on! You can email him at Noël at nextlevelchess.blog Check out his courses. Remember to use perpetual20 for 20% off on either course. All in one beginner course (up to 1200 chesscom): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/beginner-chess-mastery?ref=bc4be0 His re-launched improvement system (previously Next Level Training): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 Subscribe to his newsletter here: https://nextlevelchess.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Book Recap #38- Discussing 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know with Kevin Scull

  The Perpetual Chess Book Review series, Chess Books Recaptured is back, to discuss a new tactics primer that has been getting a lot of buzz, 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know by FM Frank Erwich. My guest co-host is Kevin Scull, the host of the Chess Journeys podcast, and a dedicated student of the game. Kevin wanted to discuss this book because he felt it filled a glaring void in the marketplace and that it helped his game a lot. Nonetheless, Kevin also had a few quibbles with the book, so he joined me to discuss the pros and cons of this book, which overall is quite a worthwhile addition to the libraries of intermediate players and chess trainers alike. Because this book is so visual by nature, we kept this conversation short, and also made a companion video showing a few positions. The link to that, as well as timestamps and topics mentioned are below.  Part 2 of this review, which looks at positions from the book, can be seen on The Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/vaQuEx2CBgQ Check out the archive of book review podcasts here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/recaptured And the Spotify Playlist here:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/33uvcg7rb09ETWIgeAUCIR?si=0c11cd72fba548fa 0:02- Why did we choose this book?  Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, Elizabeth Spiegel, Brooklyn Castle  0:06- Our quibbles with the book.  0:10- The structure of the book Mentioned:  IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-Up1teylU 0:17:00-  Kevin’s Chessable course https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ Thanks to Kevin for helping out! Be sure to check out the Chess Journeys podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=2c3d57c5c70349aa If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• EP 426- NM Oleksandr Prokhorov on Sustaining and Growing Ukrainian Chess During the War

  Oleksandr Prokhorov is a Lviv, Ukraine-based chess organizer, trainer, FIDE arbiter and Twitch streamer. Ukraine has a rich chess history and has a vibrant grass roots scene in addition to famous natives such as Vasyl Ivanchuk, the Muzychuk sisters, and GM Ruslan Ponomariov. In recent years, I have marvelled at the persistent passion for chess in Ukraine  as I follow Facebook groups like the Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group. Oleksandr and I discussed:  Is interest in Ukrainian chess as strong as ever despite the war? Is there still state funding for chess-related activities?  What challenges are presented by the fact that many of its top Ukrainian players are moving abroad in order to be able to compete internationally?  We also discussed a few notable Ukrainians who have been on the front lines, Oleksandr's favorite books and content creators, and what Oleksandr and his colleagues are doing to help the next generation of Ukrainian players. Hearing about the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and their continued passion for chess inspires admiration and respect. Thanks to Oleksandr for sharing a few of their stories!  0:02- What is the amateur chess scene like in Ukraine? Mentioned:  Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group 0:09- Is there still state support for chess during the war? 0:13- Does Oleksandr work full time in chess? How did he learn chess? 0:19- How has Ukrainian chess handled the exodus of many of its top players?  0:26- Why does Oleksandr think Ukraine has produced so many top female players? 0:33- Okelsandr discusses the many chess players who are currently in combat, including GM Igor Kovalenko.  Mentioned: GM Igor Kovalenko, GM Martin Kravtsiv https://www.chess.com/news/view/ukrainian-grandmaster-given-courage-award-by-zelenskyy 0:39- - Okelsandr discusses Artem Sachuk, a former vice-president of chess in Ukraine who was killed in combat in 2023.  https://www.chess.com/news/view/artem-sachuk-vp-ukrainian-chess-federation-killed-action 44:00- Oleksandr’s favorite chess book Mentioned: My System 46:00- Oleksandr’s favorite YouTubers Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, Dina Belenkaya, Anna Cramling  50:00- Thanks to Oleksandr for joining me. Here is how to reach him: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/OleksanderProkhorov Coaching- https://lichess.org/coach/Prohorov_Olexandr123 Email-  Prohorov at chessclub.lviv.ua Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2031039970525130 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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