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The Chess Pit
For the brand new Season 4, Jon and Phil are joined by new semi-regular panellist Rhys Cumming to discuss the Carlsen-Niemann furore, what it says about the modern game, and why chess seemingly always seems to eat itself.
Published 2 weeks ago
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The Chess Pit
Well, then. Magnus Carlsen has confirmed that he won't be retaining his World Championship crown in 2023. Phil and Robin round up the Candidates in the knowledge that the top two now qualify for a title match, and ask what Magnus's abdication means for chess.
Published 2 months ago
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The Chess Pit
Jon and Robin are joined by Dan Gallagher to review Rounds 7-9 of the Candidates in Madrid, where everything appears to be falling into place for Ian Nepomniachtchi to repeat.
Published 2 months ago
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The Chess Pit
Phil and Robin are fresh from Round 1 of the Pimlico Open as the world takes a breather from the Candidates. Hear what all three guys think of Rounds 4-6 as we approach the halfway stage. Can Nepo do it again?
Published 3 months ago
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The Chess Pit
Hear what Jon, Phil & Robin made of the first three days of the Candidates in Madrid, with particular focus on Hikaru Nakamura who's certainly helping worldwide popcorn sales.
Published 3 months ago
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The Chess Pit
Our candidates preview special is live! We give in-depth assessments of each player's chances, as well as wondering whether the extreme heat in Madrid will have an effect.
Published 3 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week, Jon and Robin spend a lot of time talking about age, Jon moving back to London and Robin's ongoing travails at the board.
Published 3 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week Robin and Phil quite simply want you to join a (good) chess club! Hear about their own experiences and follow their advice of what to look out for, and what to avoid.
Published 3 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week the guys discuss how they could tutor a child in the ways of chess righteousness, while also offering adults tips on their first serious tournament games. A full lifespan in one episode! Also includes curry etiquette. You lucky people.
Published 4 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week the guys plumb new depths of dorkery while wondering whether the chess boom is diminishing. Silly questions are back, and the Rookbusters clues might be somewhat familiar...
Published 4 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week Robin is a reasonably-established adult, while Phil and Jon are both nervous about football. We discuss the Candidates qualification process, being accused of being elitist, and the demographics of our listenership.
Published 4 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week Robin has seven friends, Jon misses composing crosswords, and Phil seemingly casts aspersions on great mathematicians. The guys ponder encouraging female participation from the bottom up, and declare themselves to be far too busy for online chess.
Published 4 months ago
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The Chess Pit
The guys are back together for the first time in a month and get straight down to it with the nonsense this week including Spanish restaurants and boring names for pets. We also build on our visit from the chessfeels podcast to pep Robin up for his tournament this week.
Published 5 months ago
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The Chess Pit
Jon and Phil are joined by chess analytics human and resident Frenchman Benji Portheault to discuss chess on film, snooker, and whether Phil's French Rookbusters are better than Robin's English ones.
Published 5 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week Phil is still yanking around the US of A, so Robin and Jon welcome a couple of very special guests: JJ and Julia of the chessfeels podcast.
Published 5 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week, Phil is yanking around the US of A, Jon is hibernating during football's international break, but Robin in here in his cave to hold the fort. He's joined by his good pal Jim Stevenson to talk about Jim's new Chessable course on Alexander Tolush, a little-known (by Jon at any rate) Soviet grand master. Enjoy!
Published 5 months ago
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The Chess Pit
This week Phil has been to the seaside, Robin has been in a moving van, and Jon has simply stayed at home. Hear the guys discuss the latest FIDE sanctions against Sergey Karjakin, the latest from the Grand Prix, and... what is the English Chess Capital of the World?
Published 6 months ago
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The Chess Pit
When we heard that Jennifer Shahade would be in London to promote her new book 'Chess Queens', we jumped at the opportunity to get the whole gang in the studio to record an episode with her. So here it is!
Published 6 months ago
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The Chess Pit
The guys are still on a high from their first studio outing since March 2020 so please forgive the higher quality of chat than usual this week. The Belgrade Grand Prix is nearing its conclusion and we also set a rating metric which is superior to Elo.
Published 6 months ago
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The Chess Pit
We have a completely new combination of humans this week as Chris, Phil & Robin get together to solve all the world's problems. Shining brightly from the gloom we discuss the futility of an easy win, the Belgrade Grand Prix, and topless panellists.
Published 6 months ago