EP 372- GM Jan Gustafsson: Learning 1. E4, Life after Team Magnus, Chess Cheating, the FIDE Candidates & more

This week we get to catch up with one of the original and most popular Perpetual Chess guests, GM Jan Gustafsson. Jan, of course, is a renowned opening theoretician, commentator and trainer, who has worked on GM Magnus Carlson’s World Championship team, and is currently the coach of the German National Team. Jan has recently released a highly anticipated Chessable course, Gustafsson’s  Aggressive 1. E4 (co-authored with CM Vjekoslav Nemec).  

We discuss the lines Jan selected for this course, but also catch up on a wide variety of topics including life after Team Magnus, life after Chess24, life after the Chicken Chess Club podcast, chess cheating, the Bundesliga and the FIDE Candidates. It is always amusing and informative to chat with Jan, and this time is no exception! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Chessable has tons of new offerings in addition to GM Jan Gustafsson brand new course on 1. E4!  If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:01- Welcome back Jan! Patreon mailbag question: “What chess generation does Jan identify with?”

0:05- Jan recently competed in the renowned German Chess League, the Bundesliga. How were the games, and what was his schedule like? 

Mentioned: GM Viswanathan Anand, Nakamura, GM Vincent Keymer 

9:30- How did Jan enjoy the Chess.com Team Challenge match, where he and Peter Svidler lost to a team with GM Robert Hess and GM Daniel Naroditsky 

You can watch the match replay here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pl3TNUTtqQ

11;00- Will Jan be playing his aggressive 1. E4 repertoire in the Bundesliga? Was it challenging to work on this course as a lifelong 1. D4 player. 

14:30- Why did Jan decide to focus on the Dubov Italian within his course? 

20:00- Why did Jan pick the classical against the Pirc? 

24:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Why did Jan make an aggressive repertoire rather than a “chicken” repertoire?” 

27:00- Did Jan have a secret blitz account to try these lines? 

28:15- Patreon mailbag question: “Why does Jan stream in German rather than English?” 

30:00- What does Jan miss most from Chess24? 

32:00- Will Jan do a banter blitz for Chess.com ? 

33:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Whither the Chicken Chess Club Podcast?” 

36:00- What are Jan’s thoughts about the upcoming FIDE Candidates?

41:00- Is Jan still working with GM Anish Giri? 

42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What emotions did Jan feel when Magnus announced his stepping down from the World Championship cycle?” 

46:00- What does Jan think of Chess960/Freestyle chess? 

50:00- Jan’s 2024 calendar including coaching the German Olimpiad team. 

57:00- Jan asks me for chess book recommendations

Mentioned; Think Like a Super GM, In Black and White 

59:00- Has Jan seen any good movies or TV shows lately? 

Mentioned: Mr and Mrs. Smith, Shogun, Blue Eyed Samarui, The Bear, 

 1:02:00- How are Magnus’ Carlsen’s Fantasy Basketball skills? 

1:04:00- Has Jan seen GM Hans Niemann’s vlog? 

Mentioned: GM Hans Niemann’s YouTube 

1:06:00- What does Jan think of all of the recent cheating accusations we have been hearing about? 

Mentioned: Episode 368 with Erik Allebest 

1:10- Thanks to Jan for joining me again!!

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