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Artwork for Perpetual Chess Podcast

Perpetual Chess Podcast

Ben Johnson
Chess
Chess Improvement
Chessable
FIDE Candidates Tournament
Magnus Carlsen
FIDE
World Championship
Chess Education
Hikaru Nakamura
Chess Training
World Chess Championship
Gukesh
Youtube
Fabiano Caruana
Bobby Fischer
Ding Liren
FIDE Candidates
Chess Books
FIDE World Cup
Chess.com

Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes597Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HobbiesLeisureSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Perpetual Chess Podcast

Latest Episodes

The 2026 FIDE World Championship is just weeks away, so we rounded up a favorite guest to help preview it. GM Jan Gustafsson is a renowned opening theoretician, trainer, and Chessable author who served on Magnus Carlsen's World Championship preparati... more

FM Andrey Terekhov is an award-winning author, dad, and software engineer. For the last decade or so, Andrey has been consumed with writing a detailed biography of the underappreciated World Champion, GM Vasily Smyslov. This week he joins me to discu... more

GM Melik Khachiyan is a California-based, award-winning chess trainer and the 2023 U.S. Senior Champion. Melik is also the captain of the U.S. Women's Olympiad team, so it was the perfect time to catch up with him following the team's fourth-place fi... more

John Hartmann is the award-winning editor of Chess Life magazine, a longtime book reviewer, and an expert on ChessBase, engines, and chess technology. He joined me shortly after a visit to St. Louis to discuss the ongoing U.S. Chess Championships, th... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Andrey Terekhov
FIDE Master, award-winning author and software engineer
Microsoft
Episode: EP 506: FM Andrey Terekhov on Smyslov's Legacy and the Mysteries of Zurich 1953
Melik Khachiyan
Chess grandmaster, trainer and 2023 U.S. Senior Champion
Episode: EP 505- GM Melik Khachiyan on Building a Winning Team and Developing Chess Talent
John Hartmann
Award-winning Chess Life editor, book reviewer, and chess technology expert
US Chess
Episode: Ep 504- John Hartmann on the U.S. Championships, Chess Books, and the Future of Chess Technology
Nikita Vitiugov
Grandmaster; author of Chess Metamorphosis
Episode: EP 503- GM Nikita Vitiugov on Chess Legends, Career Crossroads, and Team Nepo
Mauricio Flores Rios
Chilean-born Grandmaster, five-time national team member, author, and founder of ChessMind AI
ChessMind AI
Episode: EP 502: GM Mauricio Flores Rios on Finding Lessons in Olympiad Games
Leah Brown
First-time guest on Adult Improver series, rapid improver in 2024
Chess player, adult improver
Episode: EP 501: Leah Brown: How an Adult Improver Went From Beginner to 1600+ in Under 2 Years
Jan Henric Buettner
German entrepreneur, co-founder of Freestyle Chess, FIDE presidential candidate
Freestyle Chess / FIDE
Episode: EP 500: Jan Henric Buettner on FIDE, Freestyle Chess and the Game’s Untapped Potential
Thomas Willemze
Dutch International Master, longtime trainer, author of multiple chess books
Self-employed; Chess trainer and author
Episode: EP 499- IM Thomas Willemze on Game Review, Openings & Training with Focus
David Vigorito
International Master, longtime trainer, author, and opening expert
Independent chess educator, Chessable author
Episode: EP 498- IM David Vigorito on How to Improve as an Adult & Build a Better Opening Repertoire

Host

Ben Johnson
Host of Perpetual Chess Podcast; frequently interviews grandmasters, coaches, and educators about improvement, publishing, and chess culture.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Love listening to your adult improvers

    Always interesting, I look forward to your new podcast every week. Makes my daily commute a joy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MatrixTransform
    Australia7 months ago
  • Enjoyable

    Enjoyable

    Pity about all the adverts for betting .

    No problem with adverts just the content

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Great

    Qualifies for quality background noise from my experience

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m just a cool guy
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • “Just like in my book…”

    Can the host talk to one guest without pushing his own book? Great guests, good content, and I want to listen more, but constant self promotion just cheapens the whole production until it’s just too off putting.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Quercus marilandica
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Podcast

    I love all the guests on your show. I am quickly falling in love with chess myself and love to listen to this podcast while doing my daily routine! Great personalities and would like to see GothamChess back on the pod soon.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skull Island 1276
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host for asking thoughtful questions and featuring a broad, eclectic range of guests.
Some critics note occasional sponsor-heavy episodes and pacing issues.
Fans appreciate deep dives into chess improvement and coaching strategies.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#16
United States/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#147
United States/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#15
United Kingdom/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Leisure/Hobbies
Apple Podcasts
#112
United Kingdom/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#153
Canada/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 506: FM Andrey Terekhov on Smyslov's Legacy and the Mysteries of Zurich 1953
Q: What would you tell people they should know about the degree to which the government influenced the results in Zurich 1953 and in that era generally?
Terekhov describes chess as an instrument of Soviet propaganda and says officials were especially concerned about Reshevsky winning. He recounts reported pressure and behind-the-scenes efforts to shape outcomes, while emphasizing that no definitive evidence settles the allegations.
EP 506: FM Andrey Terekhov on Smyslov's Legacy and the Mysteries of Zurich 1953
Q: Why do you think this tournament in particular is such a topic of endless fascination for chess players?
Terekhov says Zurich 1953 brought together nearly all the strongest players, lasted 30 rounds, produced memorable games, and became the setting for Smyslov's greatest tournament victory.
EP 505- GM Melik Khachiyan on Building a Winning Team and Developing Chess Talent
Q: What advice do you find yourself repeating to chess players around the 1400 to 1700 level?
Khachiyan says coaches should avoid imposing their own style on children and instead build a supportive environment that helps them love the game. For adults, he emphasizes calculation and tactical practice to stay sharp and reduce fear.
EP 505- GM Melik Khachiyan on Building a Winning Team and Developing Chess Talent
Q: How does the rotating of players get decided during the Olympiad, including board order and who rests?
Khachiyan says the federation provides an initial lineup based on ratings, then the captain sets the fixed board order after considering recent form and consulting players. Round-by-round choices account for player condition and nerves, opponents, colors and openings.
Ep 504- John Hartmann on the U.S. Championships, Chess Books, and the Future of Chess Technology
Q: What's the origin story and the vision for this newsletter?
Hartmann created First Look Chess to track the volume of chess news he could not follow manually. Claude gathers and synthesizes stories under his rules, and he reviews sources, facts, and names before the newsletter goes out.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Perpetual Chess Podcast

What is Perpetual Chess Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly conversation that brings together top chess players, coaches, authors, and educators to discuss improvement practices, coaching philosophies, and the evolving chess ecosystem. Guests range from seasoned grandmasters and renowned teachers to young prodigies and industry innovators, with topics spanning practical training methods, opening ideas, publishing and media in chess, and the intersection of technology and learning. Noteworthy is the consistent focus on actionable advice for improvers, the prominence of coaching and education themes, and the presence of guests who shape both the game and its culture. Potential listeners include adult players looking to level up, educators seeking teaching insights, and industry professionals ... more

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How many listeners does Perpetual Chess Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Perpetual Chess Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Perpetual Chess Podcast:

1. Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast
2. Chess Journeys: Tales of Adult Improvement
3. New In Chess Podcast
4. The Chess Angle
5. C-Squared Podcast

How many episodes of Perpetual Chess Podcast are there?

Perpetual Chess Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 597 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Perpetual Chess Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Perpetual Chess Podcast?

Recent guests on Perpetual Chess Podcast include:

1. Andrey Terekhov
2. Melik Khachiyan
3. John Hartmann
4. Nikita Vitiugov
5. Mauricio Flores Rios
6. Leah Brown
7. Jan Henric Buettner
8. Thomas Willemze

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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