The Chess Underground

The February Chess Underground takes a trip through time with Internet Chess Club co-founder Marty Grund. Marty shares from his wealth of stories through the years, uncovering some gems that are now chronicled in chess history through the Underground. Enjoy!

In the December 2020 Chess Underground, host Pete Karagianis looks back on the year that wasn’t, his own best laid plans, and the difference between Chess and Go. A show like the year 2020: from the archives and for the vaults – the kind they keep locked.

The November installment of Chess Underground's second season, Tournament Life, checks in with Isaac Steincamp, director of strategy at chess.com. As the pandemic has forced tournament life primarily into an online environment, Isaac shares his insights about what that means for tournaments moving forward, online providers like chess.com, and the chess community in general. Also, a deep dive into the current US Championship Online Qualifier as well as the **HIGHLY UNOFFICIAL** rankings of the top-3 pop culture moments for chess in the last quarter century.

The October Chess Underground checks in with States Cup creator and lead organizer Saumik Narayanan. Saumik gives the inside scoop on the States Cup as it enters into the playoffs for its inaugural season. We also discuss his other endeavors, including bowling and chess, grant-writing, and a visit from a certain kind of raptor to a scholastic chess tournament.

The September 2020 installment of Chess Underground continues its exploration of the theme "Tournament Life" with NM Tim McEntee.

The August installment of Chess Underground checks in with ANTD Jim Hodina, Manager of Environmental Public Health for Linn County Iowa.

Jim weighs in on lessons from the past, traveling chess teams, Ice Harbor, snowstorms and life with a couple cronies. Don't miss it!

The July episode of the Chess Underground checks back in with Iowa Chess Association Eric Vigil who recently conducted the Iowa Championship... in person?

Tornadoes, travel, masks, a lot of bleach and science experiments on chickens. Just the facts!

Dance parties, the Thai Underground, and riding a bull: the untold story. Recently minted US Chess Tournament Director of the Year Glenn Panner joins host Pete Karagianis to investigate the secret lives of TDs.

Chess Underground Season 2 Episode 2 catches up with Maret Thorpe, NTD and FIDE arbiter, about customer service, career changes, and riding a mechanical bull. Also maybe some chess.  

Season 2 of the Chess Underground, Tournament Life, investigates the many nuances of the chess tournament subculture.

What better way to kick off than with US Chess National TD and FIDE International Arbiter Bill Broich, who takes us from a hotel room in Reno to the open fields of Oklahoma.