Going Pro at 57: `GM Alex Fishbein on How New and Challenging Training Methods Fueled an Upset win at the US Senior Invitational 

At 57 years old, Tennessee-based Grandmaster and Author, Alex Fishbein, has built an impressive chess résumé, with 12 state-championship titles across four states and multiple appearances in U.S. Championship events. But until recently, his chess had always been balanced with a demanding finance career. Last year, for the first time since age 24, Alex stepped away from Wall Street to devote himself fully to chess—an experiment that paid off quickly. 

Through a rigorous and unconventional study routine—including his unique “post-postmortem” method—Alex pulled off a surprise victory at the 2025 U.S. Senior Invitational, despite entering as the second-lowest rated player. In our conversation, he reflects on:

The training methods that fueled his breakthrough

His advice for caring less about ratings

The outsized role of age and stamina in senior chess

Lessons learned from legends like Korchnoi and Keres

Alex’s story shows the power of playing actively against all comers, staying curious, and embracing new challenges, and he provides inspiration for chess players of all levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

02:30- GM Fishbein joins the podcast! We begin by discussing his recent tournaments 

Mentioned:

Episode 291 with GM Alex Fishbein:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2022/8/9/ep-291-gm-alex-fishbein-on-maintaining-a-passion-for-chess-into-ones-50s-plus-great-korchnoi-and-tal-stories

My System Fast Track Book Recap #37 with GM Alex Fishbein

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/6/21/book-recap-37-my-system-fast-track-edition-with-gm-alex-fishbeinnbsp

Also mentioned: Dan Joelson, IM Stuart Rachels 

08:00- What changes did Alex recently make to his training regimen?

Mentioned:

Interview with Nazi Paikidze and GM Yasser Seirawan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG156yEThSQ

15:00- Patreon mailbag question:

How are Alex’s preparation methods different as a professional vs.as an amateur? 

Mentioned: Solitaire Chess 

More on Solitaire Chess from FM Nate Solon here:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/solitaire-chess

25:00- How and why did Alex begin to study the games and annotations of GM Paul Keres?

35:00- What was Alex’s approach to openings in the US Senior Closed? Did he try to surprise his opponents? 

Mentioned:

You can play through the games and openings mentioned from the tournament here:

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-us-national=championships-seniors/01/Fishbein_Alexander-Novikov_Igor

38:00- What separates the strength of GM Vladimir Akopian from the rest of the field? 

39:00- Why does GM Alex Fishbein think that the three youngest players were the ones to make the playoffs? 

Mentioned: Chess is My Life by GM Viktor Korchnoi

40:00- Why ratings are a mirage for the Senior Closed

45:00- Alex’s advice for caring less about one’s rating

Mentioned: Claud Bloodgood:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Bloodgood

53:00- Recent chess books Alex has read

Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Phillip Hurtado 

55:00- Alex’s training tips for lower-rated players

1:00- Thanks to Alex for joining me again! You can reach him via email at:

Afish at panix.com 

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

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IM Greg Shahade was the very first guest of Perpetual Chess and has remained a frequent and insightful contributor  ever since. A former youth national champion, Greg has subsequently  been involved in the chess world in an array of capacities —founder of the US Chess School (which provides free training to top American juniors), creator of the now-defunct Pro Chess League, and a near-2800-rated blitz player on Chess.com who has maintained his level well into his 40s. A former poker pro, Greg has more recently become a trivia whiz to boot. But which is harder to improve at—trivia or chess? In this wide-ranging conversation, we catch up on Greg’s many interests, get his take on events like the E-Sports World Cup and Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, and hear his thoughts on the  continued ascension of the next chess generation. It’s always a treat to hear Greg’s takes on the ever-evolving chess landscape. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

0:00- Will Greg learn GM Jan Gustafsson’s Chessable course?

0:05- Patreon mailbag question: Greg followed the E-sports World Cup (EWC) closely- what were his impressions of it? 

0:09- Why Greg loves classical chess! 

0:12- Back to the EWC

0:16- What did Greg think of the recent Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas? 

21:00- The US Chess School- are kids good at chess?

30:00- The benefits of the daily chess format 

36:00- Why did Greg decide to become good at trivia? Is it harder to improve at then chess?

https://gregshahade.wordpress.com/2023/01/31/1-5-years-of-trivia-total-n00b-to-learnedleague-group-a/

44:00- Patreon mailbag question: Greg seems like a happy and positive person- has that come easy to him or has he had to work at it?

47:00- Patreon mailbag question: Greg sings a song!(briefly) 

48:00- As another friend of FM Donny Ariel’s, does Greg think he can make GM? Could Greg make GM? 

53:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Carlsen’s retirement from the World Championship title hurt his legacy as compared to Kasparov? 

Mentioned: Kasparov-Polgar touch-move controversy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9UhaUIBCY

1:01- Greg discusses his enthusiasm for the Chess.com daily chess league 

https://www.chess.com/article/view/join-chess-league

Thanks to Greg for joining me again! You can reach/keep up with him via Chess.com or via X:

https://www.chess.com/member/gregshahade

https://x.com/GregShahade

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Nicholas Sloan is a Wisconsin-based Network Engineer, a dad of 4, and an extremely motivated chess improver. Usually. But after an incredible run of gaining 500+ rating points in two years, fueled by consistent hard work and a unique study approach, Nick hit a wall. He gave back 150 rating points, and lost his motivation to work hard on chess. That can happen when you are a family man who is working full-time,  studying for multiple hours a day, and creating chess content on top of that. Nick took time away to read some quality chess books, and to recalibrate his chess improvement plans. In our conversation Nick tells me: 

Why, after reflection,  he has decided that the lofty goal of earning the National Master title is still worth pursuing. 

How a few chess books opened his eyes to the work he still had to do 

What he intends to do next

As a longtime reader of Nick’s blog, I was excited to finally chat with him, and I look forward to following his continued success. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

02:00- Nicholas joins the show- check out his rating graph here:

https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12772484

05:00- What does Nick think contributed to his recent slump?

14:00- What effect did reading GM Jonathan Rowson’s books have on Nick?

Mentioned: Book Recap #14: Seven Deadly Chess Sins

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins

Book Recap #32: Chess for Zebras 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins

20:00- More book recs!

Mentioned: Road to Chess Improvement

Chess Improvement: It’s All in the Mindset

22:00- How did Nick adjust to being an emotional player?

24:00- How has Nick changed his approach?

Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating 

27:00- What thought process is Nick using over the board?

Mentioned: GM Alexander Goldin 

28:00- What did Nick learn from the book Rapid Chess Improvement ?

Mentioned: CT-Art , Chessking App

32:00- How Nick avoids burnout

Mentioned: Episode 173 with NM Philemon Thomas, GM Johan Hellsten’s Mastering Chess Strategy

35:00- Why does Nick focus on local club tournaments rather than big weekend ones? Mentioned: Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant 

40:00- Does Nick play a narrow or wide repertoire? 

44:00- How many tournament games does Nick aim to play per year? 

46:00- Nick’s approach to game analysis 

50:00- Thanks to Nick for joining! Here is his linktree that provides many ways to keep up with him:

https://linktr.ee/HighgroundChess

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Balas is an MIT-educated professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, where his research focuses on visual recognition. He’s also a passionate chess player who blogs frequently about the intersection of science and chess. On his popular LiChess blog, Ben (aka NDPatzer) has explored topics like whether streakiness exists in chess, the science of blunders, and how confirmation bias influences decision-making over the board. In our conversation, we touch on all of these topics and also delve into Ben’s personal chess journey. He shares the scientific studies he believes every chess player should know about — and, as with his writing, I learned alot from chatting with Ben. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- What got Ben back into chess during the pandemic after decades away?

Mentioned: Ben’s interview with Dr. Can Kabadayi on the Chess Cognition podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzblptGNjw

0:07- What experience got Ben thinking about whether momentum exists in chess?

Mentioned: 

https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-winning-streaks-losing-streaks-and-skill/K4NmnE6b

Also mentioned, FM Nate Solon’s post:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/yes-theres-luck-in-chess

The Hot Hand by Benjamin Cohen:

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Hand-Mystery-Science-Streaks/dp/0062820729

17:00- What is Dr. Balas' approach to chess improvement? 

Mentioned: 

100 Endgames You Must Know, The Woodpecker Method, Dr. Katie Wissman 

19:00- What does Dr. Balas think of the Woodpecker Method as a study program?

21:00- 3 Scientific Studies Chess Players Should Know About, starting with “Chunking” 

Mentioned: IM Fernand Gobet 

24:00- Study #2- Stronger players are much better at avoiding confirmation bias 

29:00- Dr. Balas has played two OTB tournaments since regaining an interest in chess a few years ago. How were these experiences? 

31:00- Study #3- The importance of moving your eyes during a chess game! 

Mentioned: Preventing Blunders in Chess by Dr. Can Kabadayi 

https://www.chessable.com/preventing-blunders-in-chess/course/258968/

35:00- Why are chess professionals scientifically studied so much more often than amateurs? 

39:00- What is next for Ben’s chess?

42:00- If Dr. Balas received funding to do a  scientific study on chess, what would he research? 

44:00- Dr. Balas’ closing chess improvement advice.

Mentioned:

Blindfold Chess

https://www.amazon.com/Blindfold-Chess-Psychology-Techniques-Champions/dp/0786475269/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1FSJ92B6Q46H0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rrt6OpihMGjYaHTqvOcHzb6-vZpowdj6xWtFMGFyA6gRhFRzSVmJdBCFgP7UkFD4FUNk4TmKhse2uqjgQ7ZXcuEf5znf67nC8ENj73IDNspElRzfCfxGNYTtHoUUnJTzb_2oecXU8NIk7B4ZJj1mIw.uelpnrMJtCfCmpe6iIa0qWyDhlE32PRwGmXsv5_MeBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=blindfold+chess&qid=1753302264&s=books&sprefix=blindfold+ches%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-4

Book Recap Podcast discussing Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells

47:00- Thanks to Ben for joining, here is how to keep up with his work: 

Lichess:

https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog

Substack:

https://benbalas.substack.com/

And don’t forget to sub the Perpetual Chess Linkfest:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Opening expert, Twitch streamer, former Team Magnus member, and longtime friend of the pod, GM Jan Gustafsson is back for another fun and far-reaching interview! We talk about the origins of his new Chessable course on the Austrian Defense, how his approach to repertoire building has evolved, and get his take on the recent Freestyle Chess drama in Vegas. Jan also reflects on the legacy of GM Boris Spassky, laments his struggles with memory and motivation, and mourns the end (for now) of FM Donny Ariel’s quest for online stardom. Per tradition, we also touch on non-chess subjects such as parenting, basketball, and TV shows and Jan’s appearance is as entertaining as ever. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- Brief parenting discussion

0:04- How does Jan go about learning an opening? How did he choose the lines for a course on The Austrian attack?

0:11- The time Jan had to join the Chess.com anti-cheating Zoom call during Titled Tuesday

0:15- How was Jan’s most recent tournament, the Thailand Open? 

0:18- What did Jan think of the first day of the Las Vegas Freestyle tournament? 

0:19- What will Jan be doing at the E-Sports World Cup? (plus a little chess Bundesliga talk)

Mentioned:

GM Peter Heine Nielsen-Gustafsson 2025-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2833767

22:00- Back to discussion of the freestyle tournament

Mentioned: Clip of GM Hans Niemann celebrating Aronian’s upset of Carlsen

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1m1xeex/hans_claps_and_bows_down_to_levon_aronian/

25:00- Should spectators at major chess events be allowed to bring phones?

28:00- Brief basketball talk- When will The Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast have GM Jan Gustafsson on their podcast?

31:00- FIDE Women’s World Cup- Who is Jan rooting for?

32:00- Did Jan ever meet recently deceased Former World Champion Boris Spassky? 

35:00- What happened to FM Donny Ariel’s quest for the grandmaster title?

Mentioned: EP 421 with GM Jan Gustafsson and FM Donny Ariel

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/2/11/ep-421-gm-jan-gustafsson-and-fm-donny-ariel-discussion-can-a-mid-40s-working-dad-make-grandmaster-without-doing-any-worknbsp

43:00- I asked Chat GPT to come up with 20 questions for Jan Gustafsson. Jan answers about 18 of them! We discuss the nature of chess talent, what makes Magnus special, Jan’s favorite chess job, and more. 

Mentioned: Jan and GM Peter Heine Nielsen’s Top 50 Players Series:

https://www.chess.com/lessons/hall-of-fame-the-50-greatest-chess-players-of-all-time

1:07:00- Thanks as always to GM Jan Gustafsson for joining! Here is how to keep up with him:

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/janistantv

Chessable courses:

https://www.chessable.com/author/JanGustafsson/

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

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EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve At It 

GM Johan Hellsten returns to Perpetual Chess for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential chess skills: defense. Johan is the 2006 Swedish National Champion, and a renowned author and coach, best known for his Mastering Chess series. In this interview, he shares insights from his latest book and Chessable course, Mastering Chess Defense (also available in print,) reflecting on why defending is often harder than attacking, which players are best to study to improve your defensive play, and key concepts like “the lifeline.” Johan is a true professional, and always a pleasure to talk chess with. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:00- We begin with an impromptu discussion of obscure chess opening names including the Austrian Defense, the Tartakower Caro Kann, The Fegatello Italian, and the Polerio Italian Defense

10:00- Why is it harder for people to spot defensive resources than tactics? 

15:00- How did Johan find so many good defensive examples? 

Check out Johan’s separate course on defense for Chessmood members:

https://chessmood.com/course/chess-defense

 21:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How should amateur players incorporate chess defense into their thinking processes?”

29:00- What is the definition of defense? 

31:00- Did Johan ever meet legendary GM Miguel Najdorf? 

Mentioned:

El Viejo by GM Zenon Franco

Najdorf X Najdorf by Liliana Najdorf 

Kasparov vs. Najdorf Bugojno 1982

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069983

36:00- If choosing between Kasparov, Karpov, Korchnoi, Spassky, whose games were the most instructive? 

Mentioned: GM Emmanuel Berg

Check out Johan’s Youtube videos about Petrosian and Ulf Andersson here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAkeoP9TTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDo--EPHnfc

42:00- More book recs from Johan!

Mentioned:

Timman’s Triumphs:

https://www.amazon.com/Timmans-Triumphs-100-Best-Games/dp/9056919172

Speed Demon:

https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Demon-Fascinating-Tragic-Vyzhmanavin/dp/9493257819

GM Judit Polgar’s Quality Chess Trilogy

46:00- What is the chess defensive resource that is sometimes referred to as “the lifeline?”

Mentioned:

GM Hellsten’s Chessmood article about it:

https://chessmood.com/blog/lifeline-chess-tactic

Or move 32 of this Korchnoi-Fisher 1962 Curaco game:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044560

49:00- What do the concepts of “Evolution and revolution” have to do with chess defense?

Mentioned: GM Josif Dorfman’s “The Method”

https://www.abebooks.com/Method-Chess-Dorfman-Iossif-Sarl-Game/31453994460/bd

52:00- More chess book talk!

Mentioned: Boris Spassky’s Best Games 

https://www.amazon.com/Boris-Spasskys-Best-Games-Rising/dp/1784832006

53:00- Check out the two defensive puzzles we discuss in this Lichess study:

https://lichess.org/study/1AlpJ6gn/3b3ZdebD

Spassky-Geller move 35-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049395

Carlsen-Duda 2025 is included and annotated by NM Anthony Levin for Chess.com here (as well as in the LiChess study):

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-cct-chesscom-classic-playoffs-day-1

Thanks to Johan for joining me again, you can reach him via his Chess.com page:

https://www.chess.com/member/jhellsten

And check out his Chessable courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/author/JohanHellsten/

And his books here

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In just a few years, 24-year-old Australian Twitch streamer Hannah Sayce went from playing casual online games during lockdown to earning the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title and competing in international tournaments. Her post-lockdown rise has taken her from below 1000 to a 2300 Chess.com blitz rating. In this conversation, Hannah shares the highs and lows of her chess journey and the strategies behind her rapid improvement. Key turning points included learning to slow down at the board and forcing herself to embrace endgame study despite her resistance. Hannah’s rapid progress is inspiring to young girls and adult improvers alike—and it was fun to hear her story. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- What is Hannah’s approach to streaming and prepping for Titled Tuesdays. 

Mentioned: 

7:00- Overcoming the Nerves of OTB chess 

12:00- We discuss Hannah’s chess improvement philosophy as originally laid out in her popular YouTube video, How I Went from 700 to 2200 in 2 Years. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCBGNjddiTE

Specifically she touched these 7 themes:

Play longer time controls 

Developing calculating skills 

Decision journal 

Analyze your games 

Practice your tactics

Calculate before you move 

Study master games

18:00- How Hannah will work on her endgames 

Mentioned: Notjowol on Twitch

https://www.twitch.tv/notjowol

20:00- Why does Hannah stream the lessons that she gets? 

21:00- Hannah’s current chess goals

22:00- How did Hannah get into chess? 

24:00- Hannah’s advice for girls getting into chess

28:00- Hannah’s favorites chess books and authors

Mentioned: Modern Chess Openings, IM Jeremy Silman, GM Yasser Seirawan 

30:00- Hannah’s favorite Chess Youtubers:

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Ben Finegold, Hanging Pawns 

32:00- What is the chess scene like in Melbourne?

33:00- Hannah’s favorite OTB tournament 

Mentioned: The Rilton Cup 

35:00- Hannah’s post-university plans and non-chess hobbies 

39:00- Thanks to Hannah for joining the show! Here is how to follow her continued progress:

 Hannah’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/anichessgame/?hl=en

Hannah’s Twitch: 

https://www.twitch.tv/hannahsayce

Hannah’s Chess.com:

https://www.chess.com/member/hannahsaycestreams

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@hannahsayce1

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Alexandr Fier is a 5 time champion of Brazil and 9 time chess Olympian. He also recently qualified for the FIDE World Cup for the 8th time by finishing tied for first at the American Continental tournament. But aside from all of his impressive accomplishments, what interests me most about GM Fier is how frequently he competes.  Last year alone, he played nearly 200 classical games,, and he has now travelled to over 50 countries. In our conversation we discussed: 

How he maintains his energy and positive outlook through a busy tournament calendar

Why he thinks playing quickly gives him a competitive advantage. (Hence the nickname “No Fear”) 

How he reacted to getting some harsh feedback from legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky at age 18. 

We also talked about GM Fier’s recent qualification for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, his plans for the rest of 2025, and of course, chess books. It was a pleasure to chat with one of Brazil’s top players, and I look forward to following his nonstop tournament adventures in the years to come.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:02- Alexandr is one of the most active Grandmasters in the world- how does he stay motivated?

0:06- How does Alexandr prepare for opponents? 

0:11- How did Alexandr begin to collaborate with Imperial sports? 

0:13- How Alexandr qualified for the World Cup? 

Mentioned: Fier-Shankland 2025

https://www.chess.com/events/2025-american-continental-chess-championship/05/Fier_Alexandrandr-Shankland_Sam

0:16- Why Alexandr plays quickly

Mentioned: GM Giga Quparadze 

18:00- What makes the World Cup special to Alexandr? 

22:00- Alexandr’s early Chess Development and Influences

Mentioned:  Blokh’s Combination Art, Domination by Kasparian, Laszlo Polgar’s Chess: 5334 Combinations and Games 

Navara-Fier 2015

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1787858

GM Navara’s Blog Post:

https://lichess.org/@/RealDavidNavara/blog/because-we-care/fauAwr9r

26:00- Was it challenging to get chess books as a kid in Brazil? 

28:00- Is chess gaining popularity in Brazil? 

Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Henrique Mecking 

31:00- When did Alexandr decide to pursue chess professionally? 

33:00- What languages does GM Fier speak? 

35:00- Alex’s approach to following top games 

37:28- How he Studies Openings and Uses Engines

39:00- Alexandr’s favorite opening authors

Mentioned: GM Ivan Cheparinov, Nikolaos Ntirlis, GM Alexei Kornev 

Memories of Training with Dvoretsky

42:00- Alex’s favorite chess books

Mentioned: GM David Navara’s Best Games, Tal-Botvinnik 1960, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

44:00- Memories of a training camp with legendary trainer Mark Dvoretsky Influences and Inspirations in Chess

48:00- Why GM Fier loves endgame studies 

50:00- GM Fier’s fondest memories

Fier-Ryan 2009, Ireland

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601053

Fier-Akopian 2017-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1870136

54:00- Alex’s passion for music 

55:00- Upcoming tournaments and advice for Aspiring Chess Players

1:00:00- Thanks to Alex for joining!

Be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/alexandr.fier/

https://www.instagram.com/pontocego/?hl=en

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

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This week’s guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him build intuition and visualization skills. A passionate player himself, many of Sam’s ideas have directly shaped NoctieAI, which offers immediate move feedback and personalized flashcards based on individual mistakes. We also explore the broader state of machine learning as it relates to chess. Samuel has been fascinated by this intersection since the days of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, but while he still sees great potential in AI-assisted chess learning, he no longer views chess as the leading edge of AI development. This was a fascinating conversation, and I’m excited to follow NoctieAI’s continued evolution.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

You can also check out special offers from Chessmood, Chessdojo and Chess.com at the following page:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners

0:00- What has been Sam’s approach to chess improvement?

Mentioned: EP 383 with Dan Bock

08:00- Why did Sam decide to develop Noctie such that it gives immediate feedback on your moves, rather than after your games?  

12:00- When did Sam start playing tournament chess? 

15:00- Why did Sam choose memorizing master games as a favorit-  approach to chess improvement?

19:00- How to overcome rating anxiety 

Mentioned: Sam’s Blog post- 

https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/

24:00- Why does NoctieAI offer both rating level tests and non-numeric titles such as “Knight 3?” 

27:00- What does Sam do to make NoctieAI play in a more human-like fashion? 

31:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What new paradigms could still be coming from chess engines?” 

34:00- What sparked Samuel’s interest in computers and chess? 

37:00- Should chess still be considered an effective testing ground for AI development writ large, or has broader AI development caught up with the chess world? 

40:00- Why is ChatGPT terrible at games like poker and chess?

Mentioned: 

Nate Silver’s blog post:

https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker

Jen Shahade’s blog post:

https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess

47:00- How is the business of NoctieAI doing? 

52:00- Sam’s favorite chess books and content creators

Mentioned: Jeremy Silman, Shereshevsky’s Endgame Strategy, ChessNetwork 

Thanks to Samuel for joining us! The best way to reach him is via NoctieAI.

https://noctie.ai/

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

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In this memorable episode of Perpetual Chess, we welcome back Tony Ballard, who spent 26 years incarcerated and credits chess with helping him change the course of his life. When we last spoke in Episode 289 (2022), Tony was still in a minimum-security facility. Now fully free, he’s making the most of his second chance. He’s working full-time at the Paul Mitchell Barber School, has founded a nonprofit—Masters and Mentors—to teach chess to at-risk youth, and has released a powerful memoir, Time Alone: From Isolation to Transformation. The book doesn’t shy away from the trauma and darkness of his past, but ultimately it’s an inspiring story of growth and resilience.

In our conversation, we discussed: – How chess fits into his daily routine – His chess improvement philosophy – The best things about life after prison – Tony’s advice for anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed

Chatting with Tony is always uplifting—and this conversation is no exception.

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

And you can check out their new offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

02:00- Has Tony been playing any chess since getting out of prison? 

Mentioned: Episode 390 with Russell Makofsky of The Gift of Chess 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/7/9/ep-390-russ-makofsky-how-chess-can-change-lives-from-nyc-to-africanbsp

Watch Tony’s interview with Devaughn Croxton of US Chess here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6OH3NvF6M

06:00- What is Tony’s online chess routine? 

Mentioned: Chess Psychology: The Will to Win

15:00- What is Tony’s chess improvement philosophy? 

20:00- We discuss chess notation and Tony’s approach to game analysis 

22:00- What are Tony’s favorite non-chess books? 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Man’s Search for Meaning

The 48 Laws of Power 

29:00- How is chess perceived in prison? What is the chess scene like there?

Mentioned: Agadmator 

34:00- Patreon mailbag question: 

“How can prisoners be encouraged to invest time and effort into activities like chess?”

39:00- What is the mission of Tony’s new non-profit, Masters and Mentors? 

https://mastersandmentors.org/

You can support Masters and Mentors here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-masters-and-mentors-youth-enrichment-strategies

45:00- How did Perpetual Chess help Tony win over his girlfriend?

46:00- How did Tony get interested in golf? 

50:00- What is the best part of being free? 

53:00- Is Tony ever tempted to return to his younger lifestyle? 

58:00 Tony’s closing advice for those who feel like they are struggling.

1:00- THanks to Tony for sharing his inspiring story!

Here is how to keep up with him

Facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/tony.ballard.900918

Instagram- 

https://www.instagram.com/tonyballard1977/

Masters and Mentors-

https://mastersandmentors.org/

His Book- 

https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48

His LiChess:

https://lichess.org/@/TonyBallard77

And Chess.com

https://www.chess.com/member/tony_1b

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/notifications

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