EP 484: Jordan Himelfarb on Interregnum and the Drama of the 2024 Candidates Cycle
About this episode
Jordan Himelfarb discusses his book on the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle and the compelling stories within professional chess.
Jordan Himelfarb is an award-winning editor for the Toronto Star and an avid games player who became fascinated by elite chess during the pandemic. That fascination eventually led to his excellent new book, Interregnum : Inside the Grueling and Glamourous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, a detailed and highly readable chronicle of the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle. Jordan traveled to events including the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Candidates Tournament and World Championship match, gathering revealing first-hand reflections from many of the game’s top players along the way. We discuss: Why the Candidates cycle makes for such compelling sports drama The emotional and physical toll of professional chess Which players and personal stories resonated with him most Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh and the shifting generational landscape in chess The controversies, chaos and unforgettable moments of the 2024 cycle I recommend Jordan’s book to anyone looking for “bedtime chess reading”, and this was a really fun conversation. 00:00 Project Origins, Jordan’s Chess and Games Background 03:48 The Structure and Narrative of the Book 07:01 Experiences at Major Chess Events 09:54…
More episodes of Perpetual Chess Podcast
- EP 486: James Black Jr. on Going from Scholastic Star to Chess Mentor
- EP 485: GM Simon Williams on Mistakes, Revival, and the Future of Chesspublishing
- EP 483- Paulo SantAnna: What Happens When a Retired Adult Treats Chess Like a Full-Time Job?
- EP 482- GM Ivan Sokolov on Talent, Training and Modern Chess
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