EP 169 | Total Chess World Championship Tour

David, Kostya, and Jesse share their memories of Danya, reflecting on his early talent, kindness, intelligence, humor, and lasting impact on the chess community. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:06 Remembering Danya and why this talk matters 01:20 Early years in Bay Area chess and family support 05:37 First games, world title, and early talent 13:33 His humor, kindness, and impact on others 33:05 Closing thoughts

The Dojo crew debates Norway Chess’s new “Total Chess World Championship Tour,” comparing it to past innovations, Magnus Carlsen’s influence, FIDE’s involvement, and the growing clash between classical, freestyle, and online chess circuits. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:00 Introduction to the Total Chess World Championship Tour 03:20 Norway Chess vs. St. Louis Chess Club 07:10 Format Innovations and Fast Classical Debate 17:00 Magnus, Freestyle Chess, and Competing Circuits 23:30 FIDE, Chess.com, and the Future of World Titles

The sensei recap last year’s junior-draft results and rating swings, then run a snake draft to add three new juniors and two girls each—keeping graduated players for tracking, debating drops and Christopher Yoo’s suspension/return, and highlighting prospects like world junior champion Pranav V, Lu Miaoyi, and even a risky 10-year-old. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:00 — Intro & format 02:18 — Rating swings & scouting 06:01 — Team breakdowns 10:42 — Draft rules & order 13:19 — Round 1 picks 19:42 — Round 2 picks 25:24 — Round 3 picks 35:44 — Girls’ draft (Round 1) 42:08 — Girls’ draft (Round 2) 49:23 — Closing thoughts

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss thrilled fans with Anish Giri’s win, Matthias Blubaum’s surprise Candidates spot, and dramatic clashes between rising juniors and veterans, sparking debate on how to create more high-stakes events like it. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:06 – First impressions of the Grand Swiss 01:34 – Why this tournament felt special 03:02 – Calls for more events tied to the World Championship 06:12 – Stakes and qualification systems in chess 09:26 – How FIDE co-opted the Isle of Man tournament 14:06 – Tournament winners: Giri and Bluebaum 20:00 – Evaluating Bluebaum’s chances in the Candidates 28:34 – Giri’s ambitions and old-school endgame play 33:45 – The gap between 2600s and 2700s 42:26 – Who might miss the Candidates and future prospects

In this DojoTalks, the sensei argue that 3700 Elo engines are so far beyond humans that they beat elite GMs even while spotting queen/rook/knight odds. They discuss that this gap reframes odds chess, preparation, and training, showing how much headroom remains in human understanding. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:05 Humans compared to machines in chess strength 01:14 Purist view of chess vs. odds traditions 02:06 GMs losing to Leela even with material odds 03:37 Notable results Naka Fabi Nepo against Leela 10:35 Odds games as a learning tool vs. engines 17:18 What an 800-point gap from Magnus really means 28:47 Computers proving drawish positions still hold winning chances 39:09 Engine Elo progress and the question of a plateau

In this Dojo Talks, Kostya recaps his trip to Portugal for the Maia Open with three chess streamers—Matthew, Rachel, and Anushka—along with David, discussing their experiences with tournament preparation and their performance. They highlight how sparring and collective training were crucial to their success, helping them feel more confident and prepared for their games, and they share their different feelings about the pressure of a big tournament. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:00 Introduction to the Maya Open tournament recap 01:19 Players share how they feel after the tournament 02:28 Player backgrounds and chess experience 04:19 The role of sparring in their training 13:04 The players' approach to pre-game preparation 20:16 How tournament goals changed their training

The Dojo (GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, IM Kostya Kavutskiy) discuss Hikaru Nakamura's path to the candidates, along with who they'd like to see qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament.   Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:00 – Intro & Setup 01:31 – Is Hikaru the Exception? 08:36 – Balancing Streaming, Training, and Competition 09:23 – The Busy Chess Calendar 10:55 – Strength of the Tournament 14:39 – Ethics of Rating Manipulation 17:39 – Die-Hard Rules vs. Fair Play 22:27 – Mathematical Loopholes in Ratings 27:15 – Impact on Future Candidates 31:20 – Who Deserves to Be in the Candidates? 55:00 – Alternative Qualification Systems 58:33 – Broader Trends in Chess Ratings 1:00:12 – Closing Thoughts & Wrap-Up

This Dojo Talks explores what makes some players stronger at blitz than others, contrasting calculation-based vs. intuitive styles, online vs. over-the-board skills, and the role of premoves, time management, and tricky opening repertoires. The sensei also discuss the rise of a “blitz generation,” handling tilt, and David’s quest to reach a 2600 blitz rating. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:01 – David’s blitz struggles 02:46 – Blitz as a different game 07:05 – Calculator vs. intuitive players 15:16 – The premove problem 20:05 – Online vs. OTB blitz 25:18 – Blitz repertoires and system openings 32:07 – Queen’s Gambit generation 58:15 – Tilt and the 2600 quest

GM Alexander Fishbein shares how he won the 2025 U.S. Senior Championship by relying on stamina, heavy tournament practice, and deep training methods such as solitary chess and analyzing old annotated games. This Talks also highlights generational contrasts in chess culture, from preparation styles to the evolving rules on draw offers. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 0:15 – Introduction 2:34 – Becoming a Real Contender 6:00 – Finding an Edge Against More Talented Rivals 8:13 – Taking Time Off Work to Chase Chess Goals 10:52 – Training Stamina & Playing 100 Games a Year 18:20 – Why Rating Doesn’t Matter 21:11 – Core Training: Annotating Games & Using Engines 36:33 – Solitaire Chess & Personalized Training 51:06 – The “Post-Postmortem” Method (Old Book Analysis) 59:39 – Final Insights

In this episode of Dojo Talks, Jesse, David, and Kostya each reveal and debate their top 10 chess countries of all time—based on world champions, cultural contributions, and historic achievements—before combining their lists into a final ranking. Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 04:57 – Jesse’s #10 pick 09:44 – David’s #10 pick 13:01 – Kostya’s #10 pick 14:04 – Kostya’s #9 pick 15:24 – David’s #9 pick 18:51 – Jesse’s #9 pick 20:33 – Jesse’s #8 pick 21:37 – David’s #8 pick 25:16 – Kostya’s #8 pick 27:12 – Kostya’s #7 pick 28:31 – David’s #7 pick 30:13 – Jesse’s #7 pick 32:19 – Jesse’s #6 pick 33:54 – David’s #6 pick 36:28 – Kostya’s #6 pick 37:39 – Kostya’s #5 pick 38:34 – David’s #5 pick 42:12 – Jesse’s #5 pick 44:51 – Jesse’s #4 pick 46:24 – David’s #4 pick 49:04 – Kostya’s #4 pick 50:26 – Kostya’s #3 pick 52:43 – David’s #3 pick 59:29 – Jesse’s #3 pick 1:02:48 – Jesse’s #2 pick 1:05:50 – David’s #2 pick 1:09:45 – Kostya’s #2 pick 1:10:37 – Kostya’s #1 pick 1:11:41 – David’s #1 pick 1:12:42 – Jesse’s #1 pick