EP 342- GM Simen Agdestein: The Norwegian Chess Legend on Coaching Young Magnus, Life as a Pro Footballer, and What he Learned from Career-Altering Injuries

This week we are joined by a legend of Norwegian Chess, GM Simen Agdestein. Simen was the first Norwegian Grandmaster, a childhood trainer of Magnus Carlsen, and is a nine-time champion of Norway, who holds the record of being both the country’s youngest and oldest national champion, after winning the title again this year at age 56. As if these feats weren’t impressive enough, at the time Simen was around his chess peak (#16 in the world) he was also a star football/soccer player, who played striker on Norway’s national team! With such an accomplished resume, one might think things have been easy for Simen, but that has been far from the case. As he discusses in our interview, injuries derailed his chess and football careers simultaneously, and SImen was forced to reassess everything. In our conversation, Simen shares what his vast life experience has taught him about life and chess improvement. Simen also discusses the current chess scene in Norway, and of course, tells plenty of stories about what it was like to coach a young Magnus Carlsen. 

Thanks to our Presenting Chess Education Sponsors, Chessable.com Here are a few of their Magnus related courses: 

Fight Like Magnus 

Grind Like a GM 

Magnus Carlsen: Endgame Virtuoso 

You can check out my favorite courses here:

You can check out some of my recommended courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/

0:02- GM Agdestein reflects on his recent, record-setting National Championship. How does the feeling of this one compare to prior championship wins? How did he prepare for this one? 

Mentioned: GM Judit Polgar’s Interview with GM Simen Agdestein, IM Elham Abdrlauf, GM Jonathan Speelman’s Chessbase column about Simen’s recent win, SImen’s book

15:00- How does Simen structure the chess study time at his famed chess institute for talented chess players?

Mentioned: GM Aryan Tari, GM Magnus Carlsen, Magnus Carlsen on The Lex Fridman Podcast 

22:00- What stood out about Magnus in his early years? 

Mentioned: GM Torbjorn Ringdal Hansen

27:30- Patreon mailbag question: “Are the live TV broadcasts attracting new tournament players?” 

31:30- How did Simen become a GM with so little chess infrastructure in Norway at the time? 

35:00- Does Simen think he was more talented in chess or in football?

37:00- Simen tells how injuries derailed his football and chess careers simultaneously. 

Mentioned: Chess.com’s Tarjei Svensen 

44:00- Why did Simen turn down a lucrative professional football offer from the Turkish club Besiktas? 

45:30- How did Simen recover from the physical and mental setbacks in his mid 20s?

49:00- When Simen reflects on his 20s does he think of chess or soccer first? 

52:00- Why did Simen turn down a lucrative football contract with a Turkish pro club in his 20s? 

55:00- What does SImen remember about a young Alexei Shirov coming to visit his house? 

57:00- What was it like facing Kasparov? 

1:00:00- What are Simen’s memories of Kasparov’s visit to Norway to work with Magnus at age 14? 

1:04:00- More Magnus stories! 

1:07:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is the proper way to determine a world champion in chess?” 

1:12:00- Why does Simen advise to “always take pieces?” 

1:16:00- Thanks so much to Simen for joining the pod! You can learn more about his experience coaching Magnus in his book:

https://www.amazon.com/Magnus-Carlsen-Became-Youngest-Grandmaster/dp/9056914375

And keep an eye out for the forthcoming book, Games and Goals by IM Atle Gronn. It should be available in English in 2024

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

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