This week's episode of the New In Chess Podcast features in interview with Norwegian grandmaster Simen Agdestein.

Today’s podcast reaches you from Oslo, where the 14th edition of Norway Chess started earlier this week and is in full swing now. Yesterday, while walking around at the venue, the spectacular Deichman library in the heart of the city, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam ran into Simen Agdestein, Norway’s strongest grandmaster before Magnus Carlsen and Magnus’s first trainer.

Simen is famous for his remarkable double career. He was not only the country's best chess player for many years, he was also a gifted footballer who played on the national team of Norway on eight occasions.

Simen first appeared on the New In Chess podcast almost exactly two years ago, and talked about the book that Atle Grønn had written about his remarkable double career, Games and Goals.

And chess and football, as of late these two have been more connected it seems than ever. Many famous footballers claim that there passion for chess helps them on the pitch, and Norway’s biggest star, Erling Haaland, is one of the main investors in Norway Chess’s new venture, Total Chess, a new cycle of tournaments that will start with a pilot edition coming November and then see a first Total Chess World Championship consisting of four tournaments worldwide next year.

Simen is a natural storyteller, who always speaks his mind. About chess and about football. And much more. Don’t miss it!

0:00 – Intro

2:33 – How the growth of chess in Norway has affected Simen

4:10 – Discovering Magnus Carlsen

9:33 – Why do strong players prefer not to play important matches in their own country?

13:40 – Simen’s school

24:34 – AD BREAK

25:33 – This year’s edition of Norway Chess

31:03 – Magnus’s performance

35:20 – Time controls at the tournament

40:20 – Erling Haaland

47:23 – AD BREAK

47:56 – Simen’s personal ambitions at the moment

52:57 – Who’s going to win Norway Chess?

56:28 – Outro