Perpetual Chess Podcast
Ben Johnson
Categories: Sports & Recreation
Listen to the last episode:
41-year-old IM Renier Castellanos had all but given up on earning the Grandmaster title. His life was getting busier, and after 2 potential GM norms were not ratified by FIDE, he felt like it just wasn’t meant to be. But his friends and Killer Chess Training co-workers, GM Jacob Aagaard and Kallia Kleisarchaki, convinced him to keep trying. It turned out that was all it took! Two weeks ago, Renier got his final GM norm, to earn the title of Grandmaster at age 41. In our interview, Renier reflects on the lessons he has learned, and why he thinks he was still able to earn the title in this challenging era, despite not working on chess as much as he did in his 20s. Renier also shares his own advice on chess improvement, some book recommendations, and discusses what he observed from facing Super GM level players like GM Vladimir Fedoseev. This interview was conducted while the Candidates was still ongoing, but you can even hear Renier’s Candidates prediction to see how it played out. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 0:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com New courses include - Michael Roiz’s Fighting the Grunfeld and King’s Indian If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:01- Renier discusses why he had given up on the GM title Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard of Killer Chess Training, Killer Chess Training Review of Renier’s Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeI0AazBw1I 0:08- What shortcoming in his game did Renier need to overcome in order to earn the title? 9:45- How did he think about the expense of pursuing the GM title? 16:00- What is Renier’s approach to the opening? What else did he do to train? Mentioned; KillerChessTraining.com 22:00- How did Renier’s wife, WGM Raluca Sgircea, help him with his daily habits? 25:00- Renier discusses his early years growing up in Cuba, moving to Chile and then to Spain in his teens and 20s Mentioned: GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Chess Reddit thread about Renier’s GM title 31:00- We discuss the congratulatory notes Renier has gotten, including this tweet from GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming Mentioned: Episode 184 with GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 34:00- Did an emphasis on physical fitness help his chess? What about community? 43:00- What is the best way to spend one’s chess improvement time? 46:00- Renier’s recommended open tournaments, based on his time on as a traveling chess professional: Mentioned: Benasque, Spain Chess Open, Menoraca, Sitges 51:00- Renier’s favorite chess books Mentioned: Perfect Your Chess, Dynamic Chess Strategy by GM Mihai Suba 54:00- What did Renier learn from playing Fedoseev and other super GM-level players? 1:03:00- Renier’s most memorable game Mentioned: Video of his World Bitz victory vs. GM Peter Svidler 1:10:00- Thanks to Renier for sharing his inspiring story! You can reach him via his Lichess coaches page or find his classes at KillerChessTraining: https://lichess.org/coach/RenierChess KillerChessTraining.com 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
Previous episodes
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511 - EP 379- IM Renier Castellanos on How he Earned the GM Title at Age 41. Tue, 23 Apr 2024
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510 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 2)- FM Mike Klein on the Player’s Mindsets, Historical Context, and the Alireza Shoe Controversy Fri, 19 Apr 2024
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509 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 1)- An Epic Finish Awaits, as Naka, Nepo and Gukesh are Tied! Fri, 19 Apr 2024
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508 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Jan Timman on the tournament so far. Tue, 16 Apr 2024
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507 - EP 378- Lou Hays- Spending weekends with Fischer and Spassky, Getting to 2100 from Scratch as an Adult, Chess Publishing Then and Now Tue, 16 Apr 2024
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506 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Gukesh lead Narrowly as Naka and Fabi are in Pursuit Tue, 16 Apr 2024
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505 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Daniel King on the Tournament So Far Fri, 12 Apr 2024
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504 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Tan Zhongyi Lead after a Dramatic First Half of the Tournament Fri, 12 Apr 2024
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503 - EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith. Two Accomplished Trainers on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts To Know Tue, 09 Apr 2024
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502 - Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates First 4 Round Breakdown. Nepo leads (As usual). Plus a Fan's Toronto Trip Report Mon, 08 Apr 2024
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501 - EP 376- Adult Improver Jordan Groff on What it Takes to Make Master in 2024 Tue, 02 Apr 2024
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500 - EP 375- FIDE Candidates Mega Preview with GM Rafael Leitão, Chess by the Numbers, and On the Queenside Tue, 26 Mar 2024
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499 - EP 374- GM Noel Studer- Chess Improvement Q & A- Avoiding Burnout, Addressing Weaknesses, Avoiding Blunders, & Lots More! Tue, 19 Mar 2024
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498 - EP 373- Carol Ann Caronia: Advice for Chess Parents & Scholastic Teachers from an Author and Longtime Teacher Tue, 12 Mar 2024
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497 - EP 372- GM Jan Gustafsson: Learning 1. E4, Life after Team Magnus, Chess Cheating, the FIDE Candidates & more Tue, 05 Mar 2024
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496 - EP 371- GM Josh Friedel- Common Beginner & Intermediate Mistakes, Freestyle Chess, and Advice for Goal-Setting Tue, 27 Feb 2024
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495 - EP 370- GM Paul van der Sterren- Breakthroughs, Declines, Mindfulness and the Odyssey of a 20+ Year Professional Career Tue, 20 Feb 2024
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494 - EP 369- NM Robert Ramirez on the difference between Adult and Youth Chess Students, Chess in Cuba, and Why He Loves the Pirc Defense Tue, 13 Feb 2024
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493 - EP 368- Erik Allebest (Chess.com CEO)- Online Cheating, The Magnus-Hikaru match that fell through, the Chess24 closure & more Tue, 06 Feb 2024
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492 - Book Recap #35- Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning- What should chess players know about how to learn and retain information? (with Dr. Nick Vasquez) Fri, 02 Feb 2024
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491 - EP 367- Adult Improver Julio Calcina: A Chess and MMA Enthusiast on the Life Lessons that Each Can Provide. Tue, 30 Jan 2024
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490 - EP 366- GM Raven Sturt: Chess Improvement Deep Dive with a Self-Taught Grandmaster. Board Visualization Tips, Book Recs & Lots more. Tue, 23 Jan 2024
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489 - EP 365- GM Abihimanyu Mishra: The Young Phenom on his Chess Improvement Regimen, His Next Goals, and his 2024 Plans Tue, 16 Jan 2024
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488 - EP 364- GM Patrick Wolff: Recent Chess News Breakdown: Prearranged Draws, Bizarre Dress Codes, the Candidates Cycle- Is it time to Replace FIDE? Plus, a Chess and AI update Tue, 09 Jan 2024
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487 - EP-363 Jennifer Shahade on Playing Like a Champion, Building Confidence, and what "Zapping" is in Chess. Tue, 02 Jan 2024
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486 - EP 362- IM Jeremy Silman tribute: IM John Donaldson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala look back on their friend's life and legacy Tue, 26 Dec 2023
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485 - Book Recap #34- IM Jeremy Silman's The Amateurs Mind (with David Hamm) Fri, 22 Dec 2023
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484 - EP 361- Professor/ GM David Smerdon: Renewed Chess Cheating Allegations and the new “Gender Equality in Chess Index.” Tue, 19 Dec 2023
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483 - EP 360- Adult Improver Ben Hodgkiss just quit his job to pursue chess full-time. Here is his story. Tue, 12 Dec 2023
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482 - EP 359- Davaun Williams (aka Chess Knowledge with H1) on Chess TikTok Stardom, Opening Traps, and Improvement Recs Tue, 05 Dec 2023
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481 - EP 358- GM Robert Hungaski on Teaching Chess Teachers, Nakamura, Shirov, Niemann The Indian Chess Boom & more Tue, 28 Nov 2023
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480 - EP 357- Adult Improver Denis Markov on How a Calm and Consistent Approach has Elevated his Chess Game Tue, 21 Nov 2023
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479 - EP 356- FIDE Grand Swiss Recap/FIDE Candidates Lookahead plus LiChess Catchup with Community Manager Chris Callahan Fri, 10 Nov 2023
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478 - EP 355- Cecilia Albertini and Chandler Toffa- Two filmmakers discuss their touching new chess documentary, The City of Human Chess Tue, 07 Nov 2023
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477 - EP 354- Perpetual Chess Improvement Book Discussion with Dr. Christopher Chabris Tue, 31 Oct 2023
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476 - EP 353- GM Davorin Kuljasevic: Chess Improvement Q & A (plus discussion of his great new book on GM Ding Liren) Tue, 24 Oct 2023
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475 - EP 352- Emilia Castelao and Craig Dubose: Two Chess Enthusiasts on their Chess Passion Projects Tue, 17 Oct 2023
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474 - EP 351- Steffen Nielsen: The author and award-winning endgame study composer on what makes a good chess puzzle, and whether endgame studies are good for your chess calculation. Tue, 10 Oct 2023
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473 - EP.350- CM Can Kabadayi: A self-taught Candidate Master and Cognitive Scientist on Calculation, The Chess Aging Curve and his Favorite Chess Books Tue, 03 Oct 2023
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472 - EP 349- Dr. Anique de Bruin: Deliberate Practice and the Science of Chess Learning Tue, 26 Sep 2023
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471 - Book Recap #33- Think Like a Super GM and Strategic Chess Exercises: 2 Great Books for Intermediate Level and Up (with Dr. Michael Franco) Thu, 21 Sep 2023
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470 - EP 348- ALTO Tournament Report- Two Participants on What they learned and Experienced at an Adult Only Weekend Tournament in Charlotte Tue, 19 Sep 2023
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469 - EP 347- GM Gregory Kaidanov on The Return of Hans Niemann, FIDE World Cup Reflections & The Differences Between Adult and Youth Chess Students Tue, 12 Sep 2023
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468 - EP 346- NM Todd Bryant Shares his Data on the Most Accomplished Adult Improvers in recent US Chess History, plus Discusses his Own Approach to Chess Enjoyment & Improvement Tue, 05 Sep 2023
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467 - EP 345- WFM Maaike Keetman on The Best Open Tournaments in Europe, The Chess Steps Method & Chessable's Create Your Own Course Contest Tue, 29 Aug 2023
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466 - EP 344- GM Melik Khachiyan on How Staying Active OTB and Emphasizing Physical Fitness helped him Finally win his First National Title! Tue, 22 Aug 2023
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465 - Bonus Pod- FIDE World Cup Update- Magnus and Fabiano on a Collision Course? Featuring CM Vjekoslav Nemec and IM Michael Rahal reporting from the tournament in Baku. Fri, 18 Aug 2023
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464 - EP 343- Rating Deflation Roundtable- Statistician Jeff Sonas and Data Scientist FM Nate Solon discuss FIDE’s Proposed Changes to their Rating System, Plus Historical Chess Nuggets from Jeff’s Great Site “ChessMetrics” Tue, 15 Aug 2023
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463 - EP 342- GM Simen Agdestein: The Norwegian Chess Legend on Coaching Young Magnus, Life as a Pro Footballer, and What he Learned from Career-Altering Injuries Tue, 08 Aug 2023
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462 - Book Recap #32- GM Rowson's Chess for Zebras a classic book that tackles the challenges of adult improvement, and the differences between playing White and Black (with guest co-host, Professor David Franklin) Fri, 04 Aug 2023