Chess with Mustreader

Try ChessReps and start learning chess openings from the best: https://chessreps.com/mustreader

Today I'm joined by GM Oleksandr Bortnyk, one of the world's strongest speed chess players. He shares practical advice on improving at blitz and bullet, explains why even bad openings can work, and discusses why some strong players struggle with faster time controls. We also talk about the best blitz and bullet players in the world, including his views on Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Oleksandr shares the harder side of a chess career: the financial challenges of competing below 2700, his difficult childhood, and collecting scrap metal to afford trips to tournaments. We discuss what he wants to achieve next and what he thinks is wrong with the Esports World Cup qualification system. And of course, we finish with a blitz game: I get three minutes, while Oleksandr gets just 30 seconds — the same time odds Daniel Naroditsky gave me when he was on the podcast. Don't miss it!

Oleksandr's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BortnykChess96
Oleksandr's X: https://x.com/BortnykChess
Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
Collabs: [email protected]

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro
01:52 — Getting better at speed chess
03:46 — Does Puzzle Rush help?
06:42 — Is speed chess just tactics?
09:14 — Why some struggle at blitz
11:38 — Why ratings can mislead
13:21 — The best blitz players
18:18 — The best bullet players
21:08 — Bullet, blitz, rapid: different styles?
24:06 — Garbage openings work!
25:47 — Arjun's wild opening ideas
27:03 — Magnus's opening experiments
28:15 — Bortnyk's next steps in chess
29:17 — Bortnyk's last project with Naroditsky
32:27 — The best blitz time control
34:08 — Bortnyk's difficult childhood
40:24 — Why Bortnyk chose speed chess
47:14 — Classical chess doesn't pay
49:01 — Would Bortnyk return to classical?
51:45 — Playing for NAVI
52:42 — Chess salaries in esports
57:00 — What's wrong with EWC qualification?
01:02:36 — Blitz vs Bortnyk
01:07:19 — Game analysis

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 33 years old, I’m married, and I have three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#oleksandrbortnyk #magnuscarlsen #blitzchess #bulletchess #grandmaster #chesspodcast #esportsworldcup #chesswithmustreader #chess

Try ChessReps and start learning chess openings from the best: https://chessreps.com/mustreader

Today I'm joined by GM RB Ramesh, one of India's leading chess coaches and the longtime coach of Pragg, Vaishali, Aravindh, and many other GMs. Can any dedicated young player go from 1700 to 2700? Ramesh believes it's possible — but what are you willing to sacrifice to get there? He explains what it takes to reach the top, why training 6-8 hours a day is only part of the commitment, and the habits and values he helps his students develop. We discuss his approach to coaching, how to become a more independent player, and why you need to work on the parts of chess you don't enjoy. Ramesh also shares advice on concentration, confidence, and recovering from losses. And of course, we finish with a blitz game. If you want to improve your chess, don't miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub
Collabs: [email protected]
Ramesh's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RameshRB
Ramesh's X: https://x.com/Rameshchess

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro
01:07 — Can anyone reach 2700?
04:14 — Why so few 2700+ players?
09:27 — Can adult improvers hit 2700?
11:59 — The price of elite chess
17:20 — Sindarov and Counter-Strike
18:12 — Should chess be your life?
22:45 — How Ramesh trains his students
30:49 — How to recover from losses
35:04 — Many GMs are unhappy
37:46 — How to unlock your potential
39:34 — Underrated exercises
45:01 — I’ve meditated all my life
46:33 — How to ignore distractions
49:40 — Building confidence
54:04 — Blitz vs Ramesh
58:09 — Game analysis

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 33 years old, I’m married, and I have three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#rbramesh #praggnanandhaa #vaishali #aravindhchithambaram #chesstraining #chessimprovement #chesspsychology #indianchess #chesspodcast #mustreaderchess

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBulletGrandpa

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thebulletgrandpa

Daniil Dubov, one of the strongest speed chess players in the world and a former World Rapid Champion, is about to play 100 games of 1+0 bullet against amateur Josh Smith, aka BulletGrandpa. The match is part of the 100-0 Project and takes place on November 7 at 12:00 p.m. Arizona time. If Dubov wins all 100 games, he gets $20,000, but if Josh scores even half a point, that drops to $10,000. In this interview, Daniil explains why he accepted the challenge, how he rates his chances of going 100-0, and what he likes about handicap matches. Do you think Josh can score even half a point?

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

My previous podcast with Dubov: https://youtu.be/rimjT4Pj3jY

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

00:50 — Can Dubov win 100-0?

03:36 — Josh needs to wait for...

05:20 — Why Dubov respects Josh

06:10 — Could Magnus or Nihal win 100-0?

07:01 — Nihal’s extreme bullet preparation

07:38 — Esports generation in chess

08:51 — Nihal’s streak gives Dubov hope

09:29 — Guess the exact score for a reward

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. 

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). 

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 33 years old, I’m married, and I have three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#daniildubov #bulletgrandpa #bulletchess #100zeroproject #chessinterview #chess

An 1800-rated club player challenged Daniil Dubov to a 100-game 1+0 bullet match — and Dubov accepted. Today I’m joined by Josh Smith — a 47-year-old businessman from Arizona who is completely addicted to bullet chess and came up with the fascinating 100–0 Project. The rules are simple: if Daniil wins all 100 games, he takes home $20,000; but if Josh manages even a single draw or win, Dubov gets only $10,000. What are Josh’s chances? We discuss how this unlikely match came together, what inspired Josh to put so much money on the line, why he chose Dubov, and how an 1800-rated club player reached 2500 in online bullet. Josh also shares his remarkable personal transformation: losing 147 pounds in six months and rebuilding his life after spending years thinking about his goals without actually pursuing them. It’s a story I think many people will find genuinely inspiring — and one that makes the upcoming Dubov match even more compelling. And of course, we finish with a wild 1+0 bullet game. Don’t miss it!

Links and resources mentioned in the podcast:

100–0 Project on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBulletGrandpa

100–0 Project on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thebulletgrandpa

FIDE rating converter for Chess.com and Lichess: https://chessgoals.com/rating-comparison/#lichesschesscom

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

My previous podcast with Dubov: https://youtu.be/rimjT4Pj3jY

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

00:50 — The Josh vs Dubov match

04:27 — Why 100 games at 1+0?

09:08 — Beating Naroditsky and other GMs

12:36 — Josh’s 2500 bullet rating

14:43 — FIDE vs Chess.com ratings

16:28 — Mustreader vs Josh: 50-game match

17:06 — Why Josh is better at bullet

19:47 — Chess.com vs Lichess premoves

20:50 — Josh’s “bullet bunker” strategy

22:45 — How Josh lost 147 pounds

26:57 — Balance and good habits

29:32 — Years of wasted time

31:06 — The 100–0 Project

33:38 — Is the Dubov match worth $20,000?

35:12 — Chess.com and ASUS sponsor the match

37:39 — What is Josh trying to prove?

39:04 — Why Daniil Dubov?

41:13 — Bullet vs Josh

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. 

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). 

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 33 years old, I’m married, and I have three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#daniildubov #joshsmith #chess #100zeroproject #thebulletgrandpa #bulletchess #chesschallenge #chesspodcast #chesscom #mustreaderchess

Today I’m joined by an absolute legend of the game — five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. We discuss where chess fits into Vishy’s life today, how he continues to compete with the new generation, and how both his own game and chess itself have evolved over the years. Could his younger self beat him today? Could the Candidates tempt him into one more World Championship run? Will the classical World Championship remain chess’s ultimate prize, or could the Esports World Cup — or even Freestyle Chess — eventually overtake it? We also talk about the upcoming FIDE presidential election and why Vishy decided to run alongside Timur Turlov. And of course, we finish with a blitz game — don’t miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

Vishy's X: https://x.com/vishy64theking

Vishy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vishy.mindmaster/

My podcast with Vidit: https://youtu.be/JPQ99az19og

My interview with Nihal Sarin: https://youtu.be/gxTx2Oaii6s

My podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs

My podcast with Sagar Shah: https://youtu.be/XzCD_ghaALs

My podcast with Arjun Erigaisi: https://youtu.be/3Nvfuk70v6g

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

01:00 — Who is Vishy Anand today?

05:01 — Competing with younger players

10:00 — How much does Vishy train?

11:48 — How Vishy’s game evolved

13:19 — Chess is different now

15:35 — Prime Vishy vs today’s Vishy

16:57 — Vishy back in the Candidates?

20:31 — Classical world title losing relevance?

25:01 — Esports World Cup vs classical chess

27:23 — A faster World Championship?

29:11 — Chess960 replacing classical chess?

32:25 — A day in Vishy’s life

35:05 — Why Vishy nearly left FIDE

36:41 — Vishy’s role in the FIDE election

38:53 — Why Vishy chose Timur Turlov

41:00 — How Vishy wants to be remembered

42:47 — Blitz vs Vishy Anand

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. 

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). 

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#vishyanand #viswanathananand #chess #indianchess #candidates #worldchesschampionship #fide #freestylechess #chess960 #chesspodcast #chesswithmustreader

Today’s guest is Jan Henric Buettner — a candidate for FIDE President and co-founder of Freestyle Chess. Jan shares the story behind his unexpected presidential run: why he decided to enter the race after stepping back from running Freestyle Chess, and how Javokhir Sindarov and Bibisara Assaubayeva helped spark the idea. We discuss whether he could bring Magnus Carlsen back into the classical World Championship cycle, why he questions the transparency and fairness of the FIDE election, and what he plans to change if he becomes president. Jan also shares his vision for the future of classical chess, how to make chess more popular, and discusses his position on Russia and Belarus in FIDE events. This one got pretty heated — don’t miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

Jan's X: https://x.com/JanHBuettner

Jan’s campaign website: https://janhenricbuettner.com

Links and resources mentioned in the podcast:

FIDE Budget: https://doc.fide.com/docs/DOC/2025_GA_online/GA-202509.pdf

Jan’s Chess Manifesto Summary: https://onecdn.io/media/4chessmanifestosummary-ce195d9b-272c-4eca-9af2-ea9cb9036ac6.pdf

My previous podcast with Jan: https://youtu.be/4qLJHs2J-KY

My podcast with Magnus’s coach, Peter Heine Nielsen: https://youtu.be/bXQAvKUiA7A

My podcast with Nodirbek: https://youtu.be/IIQ3eguWJdY

My podcast with Boris Gelfand: https://youtu.be/fj5BmOc6Rrk?si=aEkzLvPMmkbdSLZl

My podcast with Levon Aronian: https://youtu.be/3EuVAo74L4U

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro  

01:11 — Why run for FIDE President?  

08:51 — Preparing for the election  

10:11 — Weren’t you leaving chess?  

12:44 — Who runs Freestyle Chess now?  

14:38 — A conflict of interest?  

17:02 — Why Freestyle’s model failed  

23:01 — What’s going on with Magnus?  

24:42 — Can Jan bring Magnus back?  

28:43 — Jan’s campaign platform  

32:14 — How to make chess more popular?

34:32 — The future of classical chess  

38:15 — Russia and Belarus at FIDE events  

43:24 — Is FIDE favoring one candidate?

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. 

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). 

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#janhenricbuettner #fide #fideelection #magnuscarlsen #freestylechess #chesspolitics #chesspodcast #chess #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

Today I’m joined by Vidit Gujrathi — one of India’s strongest grandmasters, a Chess Olympiad winner, and a Candidates Tournament participant. We haven’t seen Vidit at many major classical events lately, so we talked about where he’s been, why he decided to step back, and what his future in chess might look like. We also discussed Sindarov and the new generation, why Gukesh is struggling, and the upcoming 2026 Olympiad. And as always, we finished with a blitz game. Don’t miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

Vidit's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@viditchess

Vidit's X: https://x.com/viditchess

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chess-with-mustreader/id1745521337

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mU5WbBXgDklyN3jm6GMSN

All platforms: https://mustreaderchess.mave.digital

My podcast with Nepo: https://youtu.be/sW-i4CPCa_w

My podcast with Daniil Dubov: https://youtu.be/rimjT4Pj3jY

My podcast with Arjun Erigaisi: https://youtu.be/3Nvfuk70v6g

My podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs

My podcast with Anish Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

00:57 — All world champions in 60 seconds

03:02 — Chess openings in 60 seconds

04:35 — Why Vidit took a break

07:42 — Two years all-in on chess

12:01 — The cost of going all-in

14:31 — How much did Vidit train?

15:22 — Building a team

17:55 — The shower test

19:06 — 1,830 days of meditation

21:26 — Vidit’s chess training routine

23:02 — Vidit’s favorite chess legends

24:24 — Sindarov, Gukesh, and the new generation

27:36 — Why is Gukesh struggling?

30:46 — Vidit has no chess goal?

33:20 — Vidit at the UzChess Cup

36:33 — Vidit working with Anish?

37:09 — Vidit as a future coach?

38:33 — Vidit builds chess apps

44:47 — Will Vidit build a startup?

45:53 — Who wins the 2026 Olympiad?

47:55 — Blitz vs Vidit

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#viditgujrathi #gukeshdommaraju #indianchess #chessolympiad #javokhirsindarov #chesspodcast #chessinterview #mustreaderchess

Today I’m joined by a young super-GM Awonder Liang. We talked about his matches against Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann, the 2026 Candidates, and the discontinued Webster chess program. Awonder also shared his thoughts on chess mindset, playing under stress, what it takes to become great, and his own training routine and goals. And of course, we finished with a blitz game you don’t want to miss!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/QYX5VcpTBP

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

Awonder's X: https://x.com/awonder676

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chess-with-mustreader/id1745521337

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mU5WbBXgDklyN3jm6GMSN

All platforms: https://mustreaderchess.mave.digital

My podcast with Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q

My podcast with Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo

My podcast with Peter Svidler: https://youtu.be/qVpKE0mTVsI

My podcast with Erigaisi: https://youtu.be/3Nvfuk70v6g

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

01:11 — Match vs Hans Niemann

03:25 — Playing under stress

07:31 — The Chessreps discussion

11:12 — Awonder’s chess mindset

14:50 — Recent troubles in Awonder’s play

17:07 — Did beating Hikaru matter?

20:53 — Confidence in chess

24:42 — Sacrificing everything for chess?

29:01 — How much does Awonder train?

29:52 — What does Awonder train?

33:06 — Do chess books matter?

35:42 — Pattern recognition

38:49 — Plan to become World Champion

41:34 — Awonder’s chess goals

42:56 — Webster chess program discontinued

45:46 — Chess support in the U.S.

50:08 — Candidates 2026

53:06 — Blitz vs Awonder

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#awonderliang #hikarunakamura #hansniemann #uschess #candidates2026 #chesspodcast #chessinterview #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #cwm