#94. Simen Agdestein, Live From Norway Chess!

About this episode

This episode features an interview with Norwegian grandmaster Simen Agdestein discussing his dual career in chess and football.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam

Guest: Simen Agdestein

Topics covered

• chess
• football
• Norway Chess
• interview
• grandmaster
• sports career

Keywords

• Simen Agdestein
• Norway Chess
• chess
• football
• Erling Haaland
• Magnus Carlsen
• interview

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Norway Chess

Books & works: Games and Goals

Places: Oslo, Deichman library

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