EP 421- GM Jan Gustafsson and FM Donny Ariel discussion: Can a mid-40s working dad make Grandmaster without doing any work?

Perpetual Chess Podcast

Perpetual Chess LLC

Sports, Leisure, Hobbies

4.8 • 678 Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week’s podcast is a discussion among friends. FM Donny Ariel is an NYC based former scholastic champion who has attained 3 IM Norms. These days he is a working dad, who has recently decided to pursue not only the IM title, but the Grandmaster title as well. (Donny is chronicling this journey on his YouTube channel, The Road to Chess Grandmaster). GM Jan Gustafsson, as many of you know, is a renowned commentator, Chessable author, trainer, and frequent guest on Perpetual Chess. Jan and I are skeptical that Donny can attain the grandmaster title given his other obligations, but Donny is adamant that we overstate the difficulty of chess improvement. In discussing Donny’s quest, we tackle such questions as: Is a coach necessary in the digital age? How important are openings at Donny’s level? How much improvement can one attain through changing your psychological approach rather than training? What is Donny’s “wall of haters”? What trait do those who have earned the GM title have in common, according to Jan? If not earning the GM title, what might Donny’s true goal be? This was an entertaining conversation in which Jan actually gave more earnest chess improvement advice than he has in prior episodes. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00- Subscribe to my chess newsletter! https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Subscribe to FM Donny Ariel’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess 0:02- What is Donny’s “Why?” Why is he pursuing the GM title? 15:00- Does Jan think that Donny needs a coach? 17:00- What is the “Wall of Haters?” 22:00- Patreon mailbag question- “How is Donny approaching studying?” 25:00- Jan’s opening advice to Donny Mentioned: Reimagining 1. E4 https://www.newinchess.com/reimagining-1-e4 42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Donny wish that he started chess later in life?” 50:00- What would my advice be for Donny? What would Jan’s advice be? Mentioned: Ep 415 with GM-elect Mark Heimann 1:00- Thanks to Donny and Jan for joining! Jan will probably ignore any messages you try to send him on social media, but you should buy his excellent Chessable courses. Below is how you can reach Donny: Chessable Jan Gustafsson Donny X/Twitter- https://x.com/RealDonnyAriel Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/donny.ariel YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everyone and welcome back to perpetual chess.
0:06.4	We have two old friends joining me who I will introduce in one minute.
0:10.1	First, a couple of the dreaded announcements.
0:12.9	Number one, bar meet up at the U.S. Amateur Team East.
0:16.3	They're also calling it the world amateur.
0:17.9	So if you're going to that tournament, as I discussed, with recent guests, Joel Sneed,
0:22.4	and I will be there.
0:24.1	And Sunday night after the round, please, people will be congregating at the hotel bar.
0:29.0	FM Nate Solon will be there as well.
0:31.1	So please stop by and say hi whenever your game wraps up.
0:35.1	Also, please subscribe to my stupid little newsletter.
0:38.2	It's very important.
0:39.3	We write about adult improvers like our guest, Jan Gustafsson,
0:43.4	feature the work of both amateur players and the top chess news in the world every week.
0:49.0	I troll the internet for all the stories written about chess and share the best ones that I can find,
0:53.5	and it's free.
0:54.5	So if you're driving, pull over the car, subscribe to the perpetual chess linkfester.
0:58.4	If you're on one of those boring machines at the gym, you know, just do it and be done with it.
1:02.4	A periodic reminder.
1:03.8	Now, as for our guests, first of all, we have Grand Master Jan Gustafsson, who's a renowned theoretician, commentator, former Team Magnus member,
1:12.3	chessable author, adult improver, and as prophesied recently here on perpetual chess,
1:18.3	moving ever closer to co-host.
	...

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