Episode 202 - Dr. Frank Brady

The Perpetual Chess Podcast was launched in 2016 by NM Ben Johnson. He was inspired when he realized there wasn't a top rate chess podcast out there and he, "thought chess fans like myself would enjoy hearing conversations about chess while 'on the go.'" So, from his living room in NJ, NM Johnson began conducting fantastic interviews with a who's who of global figures from the chess world. His intuition proved correct—if you haven't listen to an episode yet, Perpetual Chess is an absolute gem for chess lovers! 

In a recent episode, number 202 to be exact, NM Johnson sat down with our very own MCC President Emeritus, Dr. Frank Brady. As Ben explained in his newsletter, this episode is not one to miss if you're interested in all things Bobby Fischer:

"So of course, Dr. Brady and I talked a lot of Bobby Fischer! Frank is 86 years of age, but his memories of Bobby are vivid and evocative, particularly as he discusses the fabled Match of the Century, which Frank attended in person in Reykjavik in 1972. When it comes to Bobby Fischer, there is always so much to discuss, and so many eternal debates swirling. A few of the questions answered include: Who was the source for Frank's reporting on Fischer's genius level IQ? What were Fischer's political opinions in his younger days? Does Frank think that Fischer had Asberger's Syndrome? How did Fischer reconcile his virulent antisemitism with his Jewish heritage? Did Fischer know who his father was? Of course we talked more than Fischer, as Frank shared stories about other chess legends, and as a chess film expert, he gave his perspective on Netflix's Queen's Gambit. There is so much to learn from Frank's research and first-hand experiences! You can listen in via the podcast website here, or download Perpetual Chess on any of the major podcast apps."

This is but one of many good conversations your can find on Perpetual Chess. A number of episodes feature Marshall or Marshall-adjacent people. The week after Dr. Brady, for instance, the guest was the captain of the NY Marshalls PCL team, GM Wojciech Moranda! But if you're searching for a place to get started listening, look no further than this discussion with Dr. Brady.

You can listen to Episode 202 here!

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How the Pandemic has Changed Chess

When the pandemic began it instantly had a profound impact on chess. In the spring, clubs all across the country closed down and over-the-board play ceased entirely. Mainstream sports such as baseball and basketball also had their seasons curtailed or modified. As the coronavirus reached its first peak in April, the outlook for the royal game appeared bleak.

Then, unexpectedly, Chess found a way to quickly evolve. Its popularity has since managed to skyrocket. While playing tournaments in person is not possible for the time being, players and organizers have pivoted to online play, focusing especially on quick time controls. All the top professionals participate in these online events which are streamed live. They have attracted new audiences; people seeking to fill the endless void of time while stuck at home. The faster time controls have proved a factor too, making the game more engaging for new viewers.

Hikaru Nakamura’s Twitch stream stands out among the rest. He has a knack for cranking out compelling blitz games while kibitzing in real time. Another popular viewing option is the unending string of trash-talking GMs who compete on Chess24’s Banter Blitz series. And, of course, Netflix's much-lauded drama series The Queen's Gambit has played a big part. Add  these up and online chess is experiencing an unprecedented increase in new member enrollment. In a weird twist, even articles—and there have been many—reporting cheating have put a spotlight on chess that has only seemed to boost the games popularity.

Is it fair to say that the coronavirus has created the perfect storm for a worldwide surge in the popularity of chess? Through lockdowns and social distancing, the pandemic has effectively eliminated large chunks of competition from other sports vying for viewership. In contrast, Chess simply built upon an already well established online presence. Months of isolation have left people seeking outlets for their creative energy and recreation and chess has been right there for them. (There even seems to be a trend of chess set sales as gifts for the holiday season!)

The cold weather is driving people indoors and, as the experts predicted, the coronavirus is experiencing a resurgence. As 2021 approaches the development of vaccines has us hopeful for days when we can again play the game we love face-to-face. It stands to reason that chess will experience another uptick when those new players, who've so far played solely online, take their itch to the Marshall for a tournament in person.

—Lance Yoon, MCC Weekend Manager

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Next Monday, December 7th, we're beginning a new course with instructor, and Woman International Master, Tijana Blagojevic. Hailing from Serbia, WIM Blagojevic won the bronze medal at the Girl's U18 World Championship in 2015. Her five week class will be held on Mondays from 7 - 8 pm and will teach fundamental strategies for tournament players (rated ~1200-1900). Classes will focus on topics such as: identifying critical squares, pawn play, making advantageous exchanges, principles in closed/open positions and more.

Click here to register!