GothamChess: Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen, Cheating Scandal & Chess Bots | Lex Fridman Podcast
Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess, is a professional chess player, streamer, and educator. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
- Notion: notion.com
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EPISODE LINKS:
GothamChess's KZhead: / gothamchess
GothamChess's Twitch: / gothamchess
GothamChess's Twitter: / gothamchess
GothamChess's Instagram: / gothamchess
GothamChess's Website: gotham-chess.com
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
1:09 - Elo rating
2:13 - Chess.com vs lichess.org
13:04 - Teaching chess
17:32 - Magnus Carlsen
32:47 - Greatest chess player of all time
37:30 - Hans Niemann cheating scandal
38:59 - Pin of Shame
53:07 - Bullying
54:59 - Indonesia incident
1:06:34 - Retiring from chess
1:13:11 - Death
1:16:53 - Streamers
1:30:29 - Hans Niemann cheating scandal continued
2:08:11 - Magnus Carlsen's statement
2:19:32 - Podcasts
2:21:59 - Parasocial interaction
2:25:49 - How to cheat in chess
2:35:34 - Reddit questions
2:41:58 - Chess boxing
2:50:44 - Chess bots
2:56:26 - AlphaZero
3:02:13 - Did Hans Niemann cheat?
3:09:29 - Chess openings
3:14:09 - Magnus Carlsen's poker game
3:16:51 - Chess advice
3:23:12 - Depression
SOCIAL:
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Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Notion: notion.com - Athletic Greens: athleticgreens.com/lex to get 1 month of fish oil - ExpressVPN: expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free - InsideTracker: insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off 1:09 - Elo rating 2:13 - Chess.com vs lichess.org 13:04 - Teaching chess 17:32 - Magnus Carlsen 32:47 - Greatest chess player of all time 37:30 - Hans Niemann cheating scandal 38:59 - Pin of Shame 53:07 - Bullying 54:59 - Indonesia incident 1:06:34 - Retiring from chess 1:13:11 - Death 1:16:53 - Streamers 1:30:29 - Hans Niemann cheating scandal continued 2:08:11 - Magnus Carlsen's statement 2:19:32 - Podcasts 2:21:59 - Parasocial interaction 2:25:49 - How to cheat in chess 2:35:34 - Reddit questions 2:41:58 - Chess boxing 2:50:44 - Chess bots 2:56:26 - AlphaZero 3:02:13 - Did Hans Niemann cheat? 3:09:29 - Chess openings 3:14:09 - Magnus Carlsen's poker game 3:16:51 - Chess advice 3:23:12 - Depression
Wow wow!!!
GOAT GUEST
Lex get a bonsaï for your studio it would fit perfectly
This pin of fame does not spark joy.
Pin of shame
Thank you for having me, Lex! It was a pleasure to meet you and to speak with you.
1st Edit: Suck it noobs
Levy you are trash but I still like you and bought your course which I'm very happy with
@@PaulAndersonENG second bro
here from stream
@@rngdavis6102 Nice man, podium atleast
If I wanted serious chess lessons, I might buy a book. *If I wanted someone to throw a book at me when I hang a queen, I watch Levy.* Levy's value I do not think he can see from the back of his own eyes. His personality is immensely captivating, and I have found myself listening to his youtube videos not to learn chess, but to just listen to his entertaining narration and self-deprecating humor, even while I do other things. If he wasn't a chess guy, he'd be a natural showman. His value isn't the chess, his value is that he makes chess captivating, funny, and entertaining, and somewhere in there you learn some chess along the way. Levy is a narrator. And one of the best.
His value IS chess his personality is why people watch. He's a great teacher, he jokes around a lot and sensitive people get angry.
Very well put! It's like you've given life to my own thoughts with words of yours mate 😎✌️👍👌👌👌
Good description of many people in the entertainment side of a competitive field. Not everybody can be the best X of all time, but educators and entertainers with a fair bit of knowledge are incredibly valuable and not to be viewed as lessers
Interesting analysis, Mr McGowan. I'll definitely have to check him out.
well said
This is like when people from different parts of your life meet at your wedding. I'm so happy Gotham and Lex know each other.
I always find it so enjoyable to see different people I admire online meet.
Got ham chess?
@@inthefade goth ham Plays chess
@@isaiahmacadam 😊put 😊
Pp
Its strange to see him with a slower pace and lower, calmer energy, its a night and day difference, and yet he's still very captivating
He is just very articulate and entertaining
@@weetmane.1780 Yea, he is
lex is not a chess player AT ALL
@@richardfiorentino3951found the 200
I swear Lex has access to my KZhead home page based on the guests he has on here
Lmfaooo dude I thought the sameee thing 😂
He does bro
I'm expecting a Jperm interview any day
I always assumed Lex was the algorithm. Like the architect in the matrix.
I feel exactly the same. He even had Noam Chomsky. It feels like there's no way he could've guessed it, but also no way he could *not* have guessed it.
The interview speaks for itself
I mean that's literally what an interview is
@@JD-xw3tj he's talking about the accused player's post game interview which was very sus.
@@shoyupacket5572 Don't tell him. We don't need to show variations.
Ah, the trolls brew gets more variations, lol :)
@@ImStuckInStockton nobody needs to. It’s an overused meme at this point and unoriginal.
1:16:43 Lex: "Alright, what do you think happens after we die." Levy: "Oh man" Lex: "No, that's a rhetorical question" Laughed so hard at this 😂
The existential rabbit hole could be seen in levys face
Really? Lol I mean I guess it is funny but I felt it so deep.. like if only humanity as a whole could understand that I think we'd be in deep space like star trek
same
Haha, yes I noticed that too. I suppose Lex regretted mentioning the subject and decided to immediately ask another question.
@martinvoet217 or um.. that is the exact correct and only logic way to ask that question.. of course it's rhetorical bc literally everyone knows that Noone knows ANYTHING about what happens after death period
I think Lex missed an opportunity to get Levy's candid opinion of Hikaru. Very good interview though.
He would literally just say Hilakru is the best blah
Lex is slowly turning into a chess Podcaster and I am here for it
No he is not
@@Adamskyization yes, it was only a joke. You have exposed me
Adam Y even say that
@@TheChessNeck You tricksy fool. You must pay for this transgression.
Only when he gets Hans on
This is first time I’ve ever seen Levy not sitting in his apartment and it’s never gonna get better than this
So you missed his wifey video!!!!!
He was on the Botez channel once playing chess in a New York park.
I thought he'd been under house arrest all this time
This crossover is everything
Literally.
Being someone that casually plays chess and doesn't follow the game, I thought this was a great conversation. Not a "lame" guest at all.
agreed he is not a lame guest at all he is great actually ... think of the subject matter
The crossover we didnt expect but we needed
@@drich1s hush Rich. Now. Kthx
By this time it was very expected. Not complaining.
it was totally expected LOL
I never expected this one
The comment everyone expected, and no one needed.
Another collaboration I didn't know I needed until it happened. Levy's passion for chess is absolutely infectious.
Hes a dipshit moneygrabber cmon man
Wow, Levy just commented on the Botez interview just a little while back and now he’s on the show! Well done to Lex and Levy for making this happen so quickly
Fell asleep listening to this and had a dream that I was in a competitive chess team winning a bunch of matches but for some reason one of the coaches said I owed him and made me do underground chess games for him. I woke up at the 2 hour mark.
Makes for a great mpvie 😂
@@salthazar1237😂😂😂for real
@@salthazar1237 Like the movie 21 but for chess
What a crossover, not completely left field after the Botez sisters! Love it! *insert obvious call-out for Hikaru to be on the show*
F*** Hikaru
Think he was supposed to be on but Elon Musk became available and got the slot... Sure he'll be on before long!
Hikaru can suck an egg!
Yes, that would be incredible
He a comin! Check out r/chess, Lex put out a post asking for questions he should ask Hikaru :)
1:40:33 props to the video editor who synced Levy and Hans saying "chess speaks for itself"
@@alexanderinsubordinate1861 It's not how easy something is, it's how it affects us. It's easy to move a carved wooden piece across a board.
I've learned so much just from levy's free content alone. I can imagine his courses being well worth the money
As someone who has his courses, I can say that in my opinion, it is very worth it as long as you put in time to study and memorize the theory and lines. He also does a lot of sales, so I bought mine when it was 40% off, which makes it even more worth it.
This has been one of my favorite episodes. Super unexpected guest but very insightful as someone who loves your podcast and someone who’s trying to be better as a chess player and human every day. Thank you both for the great 3 hours
*Please, consider inviting Daniel Naroditsky. It would be super great to have him on your podcast*
@Lex Fridman please do consider this. He is one of the best chess teachers/personalities online. He’d be great in conversation as well, but he’s too humble to reach out.
ah yass
Danya is way too much of a bad boy for this podcast. He is a loose cannon… probably would be in the studio coked up doing shots and trying to fight crew members. He is the Charlie Sheen of chess
@@TDOLLA How is he a 'bad boy?'
No thanks, don't want that arrogant obnoxious self absorbed moron on here, let's not just make this a salivating over any chess personality podcast. We should celebrate excellence not mediocrity.
I'm in a terrible position and i gotta thank you Lex, listening to your podcast has a soothing effect and i appreciate that. Keep up the good work!
Hope things turn around for you 💪
You aren’t alone, take care of yourself
Are you okay?
@@isaiahmacadam maybe he is. how can you know he isn't?
@@newt2120 by asking.
The chess world is such a better place with Levi in it... We love you man! Thanks for all you do!!!
And with Lex!
You’re welcome
Lex, just wanted to say that I dig the fact when you're into something, you really lean in. Passion is important.
Lex: Can we edit my last question into something more sophisticated? Editor: No.
@@phree8866 I did, but thank you anyway. Good to see some human compassion in a KZhead comments' section! Here's to more commenters being like you. :)
@@petermorcos1519 Same sentiment to yourself! What a wholesome comment thread! (for now at least ha ha)
There’s definitely various comments that have been deleted from this thread
This guy is so humble. It's so wholesome. I love it. PS. This is one of the best episodes.
I love lex and his interview style but must disagree with you sorry 1000% far from being one the best episodes ... I will explain why its far from one off the best ps I was an avid chess player when I was in grade school and I have no idea what my rating is ? but I win most chess games I play ... I graduated with a degree in comp[uter science at NJIT/ and I find chess boring and golf and quite frankly most people but I am proficient at golf and chess ... not bored when it comes to racing my MGB and looking at etc. pretty ladies
@richardfiorentino3951 so it's not a good interview because you're good at chess and golf?
The utility in having Levy is that he’s a thoughtful and introspective guy that despite not being a top chess player he is the guy that made us love the game and made it fun. He has a range that lends him an ability to penetrate on a personal level. Great guest. - Happy fan
When two of your most watched youtubers have a podcast together 😍 thank you both
I absolutely love how Lex asks for clarification and elaboration without embarrassment. He doesn’t know something, he says it. Even things one might expect him to know. It’s an amazing way of ensuring that Levy’s entire point is explored and that the audience fully understands the information. More specifically, a people completely unfamiliar with the material can access the info easily without confusion
I thought lex would be a great chess player but he sounds like a total rookie
@@richardfiorentino3951 That's because Lex is asking questions on behalf of his listeners, many of whom would be newbies to chess.
nice to see Levy in this calm reflective context
Somehow I never once saw Lex's channel but you are a good listener to allow your guests to actually speak. (as an edit) I was mostly listening while working on school stuff, but I really liked seeing the book you mentioned on screen immediately. It's such a small thing that actually goes a very long way. Sounds like you have a lot of quality guests so I subscribed off the first episode I saw.
So nice seeing Levy on the Lex Fridman podcast! What a genuine and beautiful conversation, loved it. Great interview that I enjoyed more than I could imagine
Very authentic and human conversation. Enjoyed getting to know both of you better. Gothamchess sub.
Love the shoutout to Ben Johnson and the Perpetual Chess Podcast. Really fascinating seeing these creators from vastly different fields collide.
I’ve been bingewatching both guys. So excited to see this one!!
Ive been a fan of you for a while lex, and had just become aware of Levy and his channel. This conversation was perfect timing for me! so great to get to know Levy a little bit better beyond his chess channel. loved it all
So happy you decided to interview Levy!! These chess player interviews have been great.
Great episode as usual! It’s nice to hear from a wide range of guests from different domains.
WHAT!? Not sure what I'm more excited about; Levy being famous enough to go on Lex's show or the fact that he's on Lex's show. You go, Gotham!
Fame has only a little to do with how Lex chooses his guests.
@@inthefade That's seems to be true. However, I still think it's neat to see his career grow
WHHHHHAAAT?!? My man Levy on the pod… We need to thank Gothamchess for his contribution to chess since the pandemic broke out. He’s the opposite of the dry stuff we got before. Shout out to the O.G. - Kingscrusher though. Also, thanks Lex for the great eps lately. You’re doing your part to boost chess in the eyes of many newcomers.
Levi's shirt combined with the background kept giving my eyes this optical illusion of a cartoonishly large head. I would have to blink my eyes or look away for a second to "reset" my eyes. I wonder if anyone else had this?
Gotham chess is awesome. Thank you for having him on the podcast!!!
Lex you're killing it. Loving all the chess content as a huge fan of GothamChess.
So the important thing to understand about Levy is how wild he gets on the stream - the dude is pure energy
A crossover I didn't know I needed is a phrase I keep repeating with almost every Lex Firdman Episode. From Jordan Peterson, the Danaher Death Squad, GSP, Daniel Negreanu and now the youtuber that got me into chess. What a treasure this channel is.
Levvy is great, love his content this was Nice
I wanted this podcast so bad! My weekend couldn’t start better!
Lex, I love all these chess videos recently, as a chess fan it’s been a really good insight into the lives of these grandmasters and streamers. Thank you so much for providing an ever expanding wide range of guests ❤️🔥 God bless
Levy ain't a grandmaster
@@Tribe84 "grandmasters and streamers"
@@Tribe84 he’s a streamer lmao - Lex has interviewed the Botez sisters and Levi (streamers) as well as Magnus and Kasparov (grandmasters)
We love Levy - our chess translator, our guru always helping us... Thank you Lex for having him on your podcast!
I know next to nothing about chess, but somehow still reeeally enjoyed this conversation. Great stuff, as always Lex.
I’m hoping by the end of this 3 hour vid I can see the hidden picture in Levy’s shirt.
It’s an image of a rook sacrifice.
I'm not not much of a chess person, but this is one of the most interesting conversations I've heard in a very long time. Two fascinating people. Thank you both.
@1:19:00 this is what i love too lex.but i got the same experince with the game elders scrolls oblivion !! The natural feeling is so great when i walk or ride around with a horse inside that world.the hills and the music..
nothing makes me feel nostalgia like the oblivion soundtrack, the exploration songs, just makes me long for the days i had my first playthrough of it
Maaaan, i have never seen any of his podcasts. But this is incredible he asks real questions that really give me something its incredible to listen, big up man ...
In light of many recent events its very nice to see that there are real people with feelings who use KZhead for good and a plethora of assholes who jump on the hate train for a lack of understanding anything beyond what happens in their pea sized brains while they hang out in the solitary of their basements. Im subscribing to Gotham Chess.
I am SUPER excited to watch this! Lifetime goal for me: be on this podcast. 😃
Your goal should be to do something so important, that you would naturally be invited to Lex' podcast.
Keep up the amazing work, Chess for Charity! Love your channel!♟️
Low key one of my “many” motivations for working hard 😅
What i love about Lex is that he is a great listener. Best podcast ever
Hell yes, been waiting for this since your podcast with magnus. Now you've checked off kasparov, magnus, the botez sisters, and levy. I'd love to maybe see a Daniel Naroditsky next, or even an Eric Hansen. Keep it up Lex!
What a great conversation. You both Rock thanks for the heart to heart on everything.
I was thrilled to see Levi on your show!
Levy*
Probably my favorite Lex Fridman podcast...and I've seen a lot of them. Great subject, and great guest. Please do more chess podcasts!
I want to say that this is probably the most fruitful, entertaining and enlightening podcast I have listened to. I even did not finish and kept building to the moment I leave my comment in the end of it, but I couldn't resist the beauty of the conversation. I just want to say that I am grateful for your words Lex and Levy and pleased that I had the chance to hear them. I tremendously appreciate authentic humans and I actually have been inspired by your words. Thank you.
I am so excited by this podcast! Two of my favorite creators
Turned out to be a very high value episode for me as a listener.🙏
Jesus Christ, Lex can be intimidating for us regular people that just live our lives for fun, if placed on the other side of the table. This is the 3rd podcast I've seen so far and definitely going to check out more after this lol.
Loving all the chess content! It's interesting to see the real personality behind the faces of chess. Levy seems very genuine and honest, especially about giving up competitive chess due to anxiety etc. A chess player's life is like the duck syndrome, calm on the surface and gliding along nicely but underneath you're going a million miles an hour and it's stressful; a weird, complex juxtaposition between perception and reality in the calm game of chess lol
You guys ever see a crossover video that feels so specifically catered to you that its actually unreal?
DAYUM MAN... DANIEL NEGRANEU AND LEVY? Lex been stepping up his podcast game.
Lex a conversation with “Micheal Redmond” 9dan professional in the game of go would be really cool . You could talk about the game of the century “Alphago vs Lee Sedol” and the game of go .
As Lex gains more followers, he gets more humble and more open. I have enormous respect for this. Has anyone else also noticed this?
Awesome! My two favorite KZheadrs/podcasters in one video!
Lex Fridman is among the calmest and the most honest interviewers I've ever come across. And Levi Rozman appears to be a witty, direct, self-composed, and likable guy.
There was some interesting talk about noise versus quiet. An interesting thing is that typically what feels quiet is what you've gotten used to, so you can train noise tolerance, where as what you are unused to, even in minuscule amounts, can drive you crazy. That is why someone can sleep in a factory even in deafening noise sometimes, and at other times some guy will be unable to sleep because of some dripping water. That is also why people who are not used to certain music styles would typically call it noise, whereas someone regardless of musical taste will almost always find the music they like, relaxing and quiet.
Just got into chess and Gotham Chess is my guy. Really appreciated seeing him on another favourite's podcast! Thank you gents, looking sharp Levy!
Never clicked so fast. Love that these worlds collided in such a timely fashion. Bravo to you both.
I yelled out, hell yeah when I saw the notification of the upload
Great interview!!!! Thank you for interviewing Levy. As someone who has watched many of his videos and heard his views on many of the topics discussed, this was still fascinating!
Lex, I love that you've gotten so much into chess. Also, I heard you mention that you've been running?? Please get some runners on the pod. I'd love that. I can send some recommendations your way! Love how you do your podcasts. Would love to have a similar way of doing a pod someday! Keep up the great work.
Lex, please have Danny Rensch on the pod. Coming from a chess lover and a computer scientist, I agree completely with you that it would be so interesting to hear about their cheating algorithm and more from him as a person
"If the work was put in I would be a Grandmaster". It's a bit of an unfair statement to make given there are actual Grandmasters out there who DID put in the work. That's the whole difference between anyone and Grandmaster, hard work.
Began watching Gotham Chess a few months ago. Levy makes chess entertaining with an amazing scope of curiosity and insight. Glad you interviewed with him.
I’ve been looking forward to this for so long. May the KZhead algorithm gods take this content far and wide.
What a great conversation. Loving the banter
1:12:22 that hit hard. Just went through this myself. The realization that your time on this planet is finite and that you won't get to do everything you wanna do in life is deeply, deeply, saddening and crushing.
Wow great interview ! As expected Levy is a really nice person, big love
A new podcast discovered through Gotham, very nice indeed!
Oh, my God, you interviewed Levy for 3 hours. I love you. I get an extra three hours of levy content
Great podcast and conversation, love Gotham Chess. although I wish the conversation would have stayed on track more at times.
Thank you Lex and Levy. Really enjoyed the podcast
Legendary podcast, so happy that two of my favorite KZhead worlds have collided
Great episode! Loving the chess interviews
Thank you for this conversation and everything that facilitated it. Refreshing. Smart. Honest. Made me smile, laugh and feel less alone. Good stuff.
Lex, I love you man! I watch all your interviews and you get better with every passing year. If you ever want to interview a nobody, about Northern Ireland, I'm here for you man!😂 Thanks for all the entertainment.
My worlds colliding. Thanks for covering chess topics and guests Lex
This was incredibly helpful and informative. Thank you both.
1:15:57 lex, I’ve never really appreciated you until this talk. I really appreciate your interview style and have learned a lot from your conversations. When Gotham chess was talking about how he felt after getting IM is a feeling I think about alot. I was a very competitive “gamer” (top 00.05% in the game I played) until I hurt my right shoulder and have stepped away from it so I can heal. I miss the competition and team work so much. I’ve looked everywhere to find something close to it but have not found anything. Never take for granted the ability to test your self against your peers
OW?
@@dovke5305 it was apex and there isn’t content of it on my channel, but my shoulder is healed (mostly) and I am currently the flex dps for a 4K team!
Levy is amazing. Love listening to him.
The beads theory is really funny. But it’s scary to think how mainstream media reported a meme without doing any research whatsoever. Makes me not want to believe a single word they’re saying after this.
1:20:59 such a deep conversations, one of the only podcasts where I wish I was there to put my point in. im kinda a internet addict, this whole episode and your viewpoint and mindset has really hit home with me. I think this idea is so important if not one of the most important in these times at least to me, so much respect for you
turned out to be one very human and interesting conversation, thanks a lot for having it.