Perpetual Chess Podcast

GM Nikita Vitiugov is a former Russian champion who reached a peak ranking of #15 in the world. He has represented both his native Russia and England at the Chess Olympiad and worked on the World Championship team of his boyhood rival, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. In his excellent new book, Chess Metamorphosis, he candidly reflects on his varied chess experiences.

In our conversation, we discuss:

What he learned from working with players like Nepomniachtchi and Peter Svidler, and what he observed from seeing them up close.

How two unforgettable training camps with GM Viktor Korchnoi altered the trajectory of his career.

Why he has accepted that his best competitive years are behind him, and what that means for his future.

How professional chess has changed, and why he might not pursue a chess career if he were starting out today.

We also discuss the candid, behind-the-scenes photos featured in Nikita's book, his passion for cooking and football, and much more. I loved reading Nikita's book, and it was an honor to hear more about it.

0:00 Intro

Thanks to our sponsor Claude AI. Check it out at Claude.ai/chess

2:00 GM Nikita Vitiugov joins the show

3:00 Why Nikita wrote Chess Metamorphosis

6:30 Why Nikita suspects that his best competitive years are behind him

10:00 How professional chess has changed

14:00 Growing up alongside Ian Nepomniachtchi

18:30 Training with the legendary Viktor Korchnoi

23:30 Working with GM Peter Svidler

Mentioned: Svidler on being a practical player-

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gi9KryNqkNEPZzN3obeU6?si=a7e7505918ed441e

27:00 What makes Nepomniachtchi and Svidler so talented?

29:00 Behind the scenes of Team Nepo, including a funny story about a thermos

35:30 Working with GM Peter Leko

38:30 Moving to England and adjusting to a new life

41:00 Nikita's passions for cooking and football

45:30 His transition to coaching and advice for aspiring professionals

Thanks to GM VItiugov for joining me! You can order his book and find a free preview via the links below:

https://www.newinchess.com/chess-metamorphosis

https://forwardchess.com/product/chess-metamorphosis?section=Products

Photo in thumbnail by Etery Kublashvili

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GM Nikita Vitiugov is a former Russian champion who reached a peak ranking of #15 in the world. He has represented both his native Russia and England at the Chess Olympiad and worked on the World Championship team of his boyhood rival, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. In his excellent new book, Chess Metamorphosis, he candidly reflects on his varied chess experiences.

In our conversation, we discuss:

What he learned from working with players like Nepomniachtchi and Peter Svidler, and what he observed from seeing them up close.

How two unforgettable training camps with GM Viktor Korchnoi altered the trajectory of his career.

Why he has accepted that his best competitive years are behind him, and what that means for his future.

How professional chess has changed, and why he might not pursue a chess career if he were starting out today.

We also discuss the candid, behind-the-scenes photos featured in Nikita's book, his passion for cooking and football, and much more. I loved reading Nikita's book, and it was an honor to hear more about it.

0:00 Intro

Thanks to our sponsor Claude AI. Check it out at Claude.ai/chess

2:00 GM Nikita Vitiugov joins the show

3:00 Why Nikita wrote Chess Metamorphosis

6:30 Why Nikita suspects that his best competitive years are behind him

10:00 How professional chess has changed

14:00 Growing up alongside Ian Nepomniachtchi

18:30 Training with the legendary Viktor Korchnoi

23:30 Working with GM Peter Svidler

Mentioned: Svidler on being a practical player-

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gi9KryNqkNEPZzN3obeU6?si=a7e7505918ed441e

27:00 What makes Nepomniachtchi and Svidler so talented?

29:00 Behind the scenes of Team Nepo, including a funny story about a thermos

35:30 Working with GM Peter Leko

38:30 Moving to England and adjusting to a new life

41:00 Nikita's passions for cooking and football

45:30 His transition to coaching and advice for aspiring professionals

Thanks to GM VItiugov for joining me! You can order his book and find a free preview via the links below:

https://www.newinchess.com/chess-metamorphosis

https://forwardchess.com/product/chess-metamorphosis?section=Products

Photo in thumbnail by Etery Kublashvili

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

As a three-time Chess Olympian representing Chile, GM Mauricio Flores Rios, renowned author of Chess Structures, has fond memories of this timeless, biennial tournament. But these days, he is more interested in the instructive quality of the games than in the races for medals.

In our conversation, Mauricio discusses some of the most instructive Olympiad games that he reviewed on his YouTube channel before we pivot to a broader conversation about the Olympiad, chess improvement, the challenges of interviewing chess prodigies, and the evolution of his chess startup, ChessMind AI.

Before we say goodbye, Mauricio shares some improvement advice based on his interactions with countless amateur chess players. It’s always fun chatting with Mauricio!

0:00 IntroThanks to our sponsors, Claude.ai/chessCheck out Claude-coded Chris Wainscott’s chess site: guessthemove.net3:30 Mauricio joins and reflects on playing in three Chess OlympiadsCheck out Mauricio’s confusing Olimpbase page here:https://www.olimpbase.org/players/l9dxlxdl.html9:00 How Mauricio finds the most instructive Olympiad games12:30 Favorite games and lessons from the eventCheck out Mauricio’s bullet win over GM Vincent Keymer here:https://lichess.org/sVl59MdM?pov=ChessMindAIThe most interesting game:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3SxghzYRB0&list=PLfOXGLq2wea8&index=13Mauricio’s annotations of Abdusattorov-Caruana:https://chessmind.ai/events/chess-olympiad-2026/game-of-the-day/round-9/Mauricio’s Erdogmus-Oro annotations:https://chessmind.ai/events/chess-olympiad-2026/game-of-the-day/round-10/16:00 What stands out about today’s chess prodigies?18:00 What Mauricio has learned from interviewing top young players22:30 Patreon mailbag question: How does Mauricio differentiate his YouTube channelin a crowded field?

25:30 The evolution of ChessMind AI and what users want most32:30 The challenges of building a chess startup in the AI era47:30 Mauricio’s chess improvement advice and YouTube plans

Thanks to Mauricio for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCafpDJknMf7fr1Wlw6jAEMQChessMind AI: https://chessmind.ai Email: mauricio.a.flores.math at gmail.com

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The Adult Improver series returns to spotlight another guest who has benefited from chess and improved significantly at the game. Chess was recommended to Leah Brown as a healthier outlet for a mind that, in Leah’s words, tends to “torture itself.” Leah began playing tournaments less than two years ago and already has a peak rating of over 1600 USCF. In our conversation, Leah shares the training approach that has helped propel these gains, including:

A lot of OTB chess with comprehensive review

A heavy reliance on books, particularly those by IM Jeremy Silman

A painful adjustment to 1. e4 openings that will hopefully provide long-term benefits

Leah also highlights the importance of finding a friendly chess community in Massachusetts and shares the story of beating a GM in a simul. Tune in to hear the rest of this inspiring story.

0:00- Intro

Links Mentioned:

Perpetual Chess Patreon

Spotify Adult Improver Playlist

Website

Form to be considered as an adult improver guest

1:45 Meet Leah Brown

2:39 How chess became a healthy outlet

Mentioned: BIllerica Chess Club

https://billericachess.42web.io/?i=3

FM Sandro Safar

https://lichess.org/coach/Sandro970

The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan

5:08 Finding a welcoming OTB chess community

7:11 Getting serious about improvement

10:28 Jeremy Silman and learning through chess books

15:28 What fueled Leah’s rapid rating gains?

20:42 Lessons learned the hard way and switching to 1. e4

31:38 Rating goals and the ambition to earn a title

35:34 Advice for adult improvers

37:09 The role chess plays in Leah’s life

40:31 Beating a GM in a six-hour simul game

Mentioned: GM Nadia Kosintseva

45:25 Closing Advice for Navigating the Chess Community

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Jan Henric Buettner is a German entrepreneur, co-founder of Freestyle Chess alongside Magnus Carlsen, and a candidate for FIDE President. In his business career he has worked in technology, venture capital and hospitality.

In our interview, we discuss:

The logistical problems some participants encountered at the Olympiad and Jan’s own experience in Samarkand

Why Jan believes chess still has vast untapped potential

Whether Freestyle Chess can appeal to a wide audience

Whether an outsider can defeat FIDE’s establishment candidate

What Jan considers chess’s most undervalued commercial asset

We also touch on lessons Jan has learned from his varied business career, the potential threats posed by AI, and why he believes chess is a great game to introduce to the next generation.

🕒 Timestamps

0:00 Intro and Episode 500 housekeeping

This podcast is brought to you in part by Claude AI. You can try it out via the link below:

claude.ai/chess3:53 Jan Henric Buettner joins the show4:40 Early logistical problems at the Chess Olympiad9:00 Jan’s business background and what drew him to chess13:40 Building Freestyle Chess and attracting sponsors16:34 Is Freestyle Chess accessible to traditional chess fans?20:25 Jan’s own chess experience22:01 FIDE elections, corruption allegations, and Jan’s chances24:06 Jan’s platform and plans for making FIDE financially independent28:55 Women in chess, cheating, and rating reform34:00 Chess.com’s dominance and the possibility of new competitors35:30 Turning chess players into chess spectators38:00 Why Jan believes the FIDE brand is undervalued39:47 Wadim Rosenstein, Timur Turlov, and the possibility of a split vote40:41 What Jan would do if he loses the election42:09 Could FIDE postpone the election?43:53 Jan’s concerns about AI, venture capital, and the future49:42 Why chess offers an antidote to technology overload

Thanks to Jan for joining me! You can learn more about his campaign here:

https://janhenricbuettner.com/

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