The Chess Pit

This week Jon and Phil are joined by Grandmaster Jonathan Levitt who has a book out! Hear the guys discuss the holy trinity of 'c' words: comedy, cricket, and chess.

This week we discuss which chess grandmaster has eight legs, which member of the world elite looks like Bob Ross, and celebrate longevity in all its forms.

The murky underworld of social media and British intelligence services get a hearty airing this week. We also ask for your opinions on chess servers, and want your chess five-a-side teams.

This week Jon hates mornings, Chris stretches the concept of a chess anniversary to its breaking point, and Phil offers some textual healing. May also contain long walks.

This week we mark International Women's Day by celebrating Koneru Humpy and Vera Menchik while bemoaning the lack of equivalent opportunities for contemporary British female chess players. Otherwise, Jon is svelte, Phil is triumphant, and Chris is silent.

This week Chris's dog is pining, Jon has a heavy visitor, and Phil has a problem with carbs. May also include actual white hot chess content.

This week the guys discuss the effect PogChamps might have on the future of chess, and try to inflict the world's largest roundabout on the Isle of Man.

This week we ponder chess in a velodrome, celebrate South American Grandmasters, and ask whether the Dubai World Championship match is just another case of 'sportwashing'.

The unholy trio of Chris, Jon & Phil are reunited for a waltz through the latest happenings in the chess world, but not before they've solved naming Chris's dog and the age-old question of how many elite players you can fit in a Mini.

Everything gets a bit meta this week as we have Ben Johnson of the Perpetual Chess Podcast round for tea. Hear about his life and career, and his favourite moments from hosting.

This week Jon is a polyglot, Chris celebrates an important British player from the 19th century, and Phil wonders whether Tony the Tiger is Catholic.

Phil's moving house so this week Jon and Chris are joined by Robin Sarfas, an adult who's made some big strides with his game of late.

This week Phil gets dusty, Christory isn't historical, and Jon dares to ask more than one silly question.

The boys are back and raring to go in 2021. Chris espouses robes, Phil gets Augustinian, and Jon once again hates the quiz.

To close out 2020 we're joined by New Yorker columnist and everyone's best friend on Twitter, Rachel Syme! Rachel has a unique chess ancestry and has also just started taking chess lessons. Her story is not to be missed.