By
The Chess Pit
After yesterday's Game 6 drama, everyone expected a quieter (and shorter) game today. And so it transpired: a short and snappy draw carries us over the halfway point in the World Chess Championship.
Published 2 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
WE HAVE A DECISIVE GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS! Jon and Robin give you a whistlestop review of the sixth game of the World Chess Championship and pep you up ready to go again tomorrow.
Published 2 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
It's the second Rest Day of the World Chess Championship but that's not stopping us! Jon is joined by a couple of very special guests to talk about the action so far. Benji Portheault and Dan Gallagher are both chess coaches and luminaries of the chess world. Listen to their thoughts on the WCC narratives, the availability of high-level punditry, sports washing, the "solutions" to draws and much, much more!
Published 3 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
Ian Nepomniachtchi had a little opportunity today, but Game Five eventually fizzled to another repetition. Hear the guys' reactions to Carlsen finally looking vulnerable, as well as their discussion on possible shorter time limits.
Published 5 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
A fourth draw to follow the rest day, which now in effect makes this a ten-game match. As the tension ramps up in Dubai, find out whether Phil and Robin's opinions have ramped up too. And is accuracy in chess a direct antithesis of entertainment?
Published 5 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
Robin's no longer snowbound in the East Midlands, so he's able to join Jon and Phil for a look back at the first three games of the World Chess Championship, as well as a discussion of what might happen next.
Published 6 days ago
By
The Chess Pit
Three days, three draws. But this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we're not even a quarter of the way through the match. Join Jon and Phil to see if their overarching thoughts on the match narrative have changed ahead of tomorrow's first rest day.
Published 1 week ago
By
The Chess Pit
A second consecutive draw, but again not one without intrigue. Phil and Jon also ask whether chess coverage is negatively affected by referral to engines' opinions of heavily-nuanced positions.
Published 1 week ago
By
The Chess Pit
The World Chess Championship has begun in Dubai! Join Jon and Phil for the first of many daily game recaps.
Published 1 week ago
By
The Chess Pit
It's here! No fluff this week as we do The Big Chess Pit World Chess Championship Preview Podcast with Phil, Robin & Jon. Find out what's occurring in Dubai over the next three weeks.
Published 2 weeks ago
By
The Chess Pit
This week Phil is guarding against scurvy, but still gets his metro rail system opinions trashed by Jon and Robin. We also round up the FIDE Grand Swiss and do a preview of next week's World Championship, er... preview.
Published 3 weeks ago
By
The Chess Pit
This week the guys discuss talent vs hard work in chess and other sports, the aesthetic of autumn, and the quiz gets all scientific!
Published 1 month ago
By
The Chess Pit
This week Phil is spotty, Jon is fishy, and Robin is masonic. Among other things we preview the FIDE Grand Swiss, and also assess the first artefacts offered to Robin's Organic Bobbin Store!
Published 1 month ago
By
The Chess Pit
Robin Sarfas joins Jon and Phil as a regular panellist this week, and heartily joins in the nonsense. We cover the current state of chess within the pandemic context, including the FIDE Grand Swiss and the recent British Championship. And we introduce Robin's Organic Bobbins Store!
Published 1 month ago
By
The Chess Pit
The lads get somewhat philosophical this week in the context of adult chess improvement, and Chris reveals just how inspired he is by dishwasher repair folk.
Published 1 month ago
By
The Chess Pit
More of the usual this week as our decidedly croaky triumvirate deal in spoonerisms, sportswashing and Stephens.
Published 1 month ago
By
The Chess Pit
We are not our normal mirthful selves this week because we have more serious things to discuss. Is it appropriate for FIDE to associate themselves with a breast implant company, and what does the association say about FIDE's attitude to women's chess in general?
Published 2 months ago
By
The Chess Pit
This week Jon is yawny, Chris is croaky, and Phil is full of football. The guys also discuss opening choices for amateurs, Nona Gaprindashvili's lawsuit against Netflix, and tributes for deceased chess players.
Published 2 months ago
By
The Chess Pit
Phil is absent and everything falls apart without him. Sort of. Chris and Jon are joined by previous Adult Improvement guest Robin Sarfas to cover the return of real-life, over-the-board amateur chess in the UK!
Published 2 months ago
By
The Chess Pit
This week Chris is surrounded by applause, Jon has the silly question blues, and Phil tells an unbroadcastable joke. Chris also reveals how his FIDE Trainer exam went, and Vladimir Savon's life is examined.
Published 2 months ago