This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko.

Reaching you from Budapest, Hungary, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam talks to Peter about the Total Chess Pilot being held there, in the magnificent Anantara hotel, with 24 of the world’s best players taking part, including Magnus Carlsen. 

Next year will see the Total Chess World Championship, with four tournaments in cities around the world, to determine who will be the 2027 Total Chess World Champion. The new format, a mix of blitz, rapid and fast classical chess, is tested in a spectacular pilot in Budapest.

Peter Leko is the only Hungarian to ever play a match for the World Championship and a legend in many other ways. Besides being one of the greatest players his country has ever produced, Peter is one of the most popular commentators around. And he is the second of German star Vincent Keymer, one of the participants in the Total Chess Pilot.

With his contagious enthusiasm and his wide knowledge of anything connected with chess, Peter talks about the new format and its challenges. And much more. You don’t want to miss his fond memories of his meetings with Bobby Fischer. 

Have a listen and have fun!  

0:00 – Intro

1:50 – The pilot of the Total Chess Championship

3:50 – What does Peter think about the Total Chess concept?

12:50 – Is the “fast classical” format too fast to be called classical?

17:10 – Coaching Vincent Keymer in this novel format

28:12 – AD BREAK

28:46 – Why coaches always have to be positive

31:10 – How does Peter channel his own ambitiousness into Vincent’s play?

34:50 – How far is Vincent from fulfilling his potential as a player?

41:39 – Peter’s post-playing career: does he get nostalgic?

54:35 – Peter’s meeting with Bobby Fischer

1:05:50 – Peter will be commentating on the World Championship with Peter Svidler!

1:07:15 – Who will win the match?

1:09:08 – Outro