In this week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam talks to Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely. Loek is a good friend of the NIC podcast and he returns to talk about the chess event that is keeping us glued to our screens these days, the World Cup in Goa, India.

The World Cup started almost two weeks ago and will end on 27 November. There’s a lot at stake in Goa, as the top three finishers will qualify for the Candidates tournament in Cyprus next year (28 March-15 April).

There’s also an attractive prize-fund, with the winner taking home $120,000.

Loek had just returned from Goa, where he was the coach of Dutch GM Max Warmerdam and there was a lot to talk about. For instance, about the brutality of the knock-out system. After 4 rounds no fewer than 8(!) of the top 10 seeds have been eliminated, including the top-seed, World Champion Gukesh.

Was it wise for Gukesh to take part? And how regrettable is the elimination of Vincent Keymer, who has been playing such great chess this year? And what about Ian Nepomniachtchi, seeded 12th? Did he have a point when he complained that the conditions in Goa were not as they should have been?

If you want to hear Loek’s thoughts, you should not miss this episode of the New In Chess Podcast.

Or if you’d like to hear his views on a couple of other issues. Such as FIDE’s belated action against Vladimir Kramnik because of the pain and damage his obsessive ‘anti-cheating’ crusade has caused.

Or Loek’s role in the upcoming Global Chess League in Mumbai, where he will once again captain the defending champions’ team, the Triveni Continental Kings.

0:00 - Intro

2:05 - Coaching max Warmerdam at the World Cup 

7:36 - Nepo’s early knockout from the tournament and subsequent complaints about the accommodations

12:55 - Why have so many top seeds been knocked out of the World Cup already?

19:00 - Gukesh partaking in the World Cup despite not playing for a Candidates’ spot

24:54 - AD BREAK 

25:26 - Anish Giri's performance 

28:10 - Bluebaum, Donchenko and other German players 

32:00 - Nodirbek’s performance 

34:29 - Hans Niemann’s defeat against Lorenzo Lodici

40:06 - Jose Martinez 

43:05 - AD BREAK

44:08 - At this point, who does Loek think is the favourite to win the tournament?

47:55 - FIDE’s much belated action against Vladimir Kramnik 

50:46 - Working for Kramnik 

54:48 - AD BREAK

55:28 - Loek’s involvement in the Global Chess League