Chess with Mustreader

Try Chessreps and check out my lines here: https://www.chessreps.com/opening/mustreader-s-milner-barry-gambit-vs-the-french-6sbbek
Today I’m joined by one of the best chess players in the world — GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. We dive into the biggest topics in chess right now: the 2026 calendar clash, Hikaru’s criticism video, chess as part of esports, the 2026 Olympiad, and more. MVL also explains what went wrong in his attempt to qualify for the Candidates, and together we build a Candidates 2026 tier list — with some very spicy takes. And of course, as always, we finish with a blitz game — don’t miss it!
Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub
Collabs: [email protected]
MVL's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MVLChess
MVL's X: https://x.com/Vachier_Lagrave
MVL's website: https://www.mvlchess.com
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chess-with-mustreader/id1745521337
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mU5WbBXgDklyN3jm6GMSN
All platforms: https://mustreaderchess.mave.digital
My previous podcast with MVL: https://youtu.be/6sIBWByqqG8
My podcast with Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo
My podcast with Magnus’s coach Peter Heine Nielsen: https://youtu.be/bXQAvKUiA7A
My podcast with Wei Yi: https://youtu.be/TeQ-yS9EWRY
My podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs
My podcast with Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q
Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus
00:00 — Intro
01:13 — How have you changed this year?
03:30 — 2026 calendar clash: MVL’s take
08:24 — MVL on Hikaru’s criticism
11:09 — Will organizers find a compromise?
12:59 — Esports World Cup or Sinquefield Cup?
13:53 — Has Vitality changed you?
15:24 — Chess as an esport
18:01 — What went wrong with Candidates?
22:23 — “The most talented player is…”
25:14 — Back to Candidates qualification
26:33 — How to reach next Candidates?
28:09 — Olympiad 2026
29:47 — Candidates 2026 tier list
30:52 — Don’t underrate Bluebaum
32:19 — Esipenko plays incredible chess
33:57 — Sindarov’s great future
35:56 — Wei Yi: “it’s controversial, but…”
37:32 — Hot take on Pragg
41:29 — Anish impressed in 2025
43:09 — Fabi: six Candidates later...
45:37 — Hikaru: his best chance?
49:25 — Last takes on Candidates
51:37 — Blitz vs MVL
My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.
On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).
I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.
Don't forget to subscribe!
#maximevachierlagrave #candidates2026 #chess #hikarunakamura #mvl #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

Try Chessreps and check out my lines here: https://www.chessreps.com/opening/mustreader-s-milner-barry-gambit-vs-the-french-6sbbek7
Today I’m joined by Jan Henric Buettner — co-founder of Freestyle Chess, one of the boldest projects in the chess world. We talk about why chess, in its current form, may never truly become mainstream, what has to change, and what chess can learn from Formula 1. We also discuss the difference between classical chess and Freestyle Chess, and why Jan believes the future belongs to Freestyle. We dive into the FIDE vs Freestyle conflict and why Hikaru Nakamura, one of the biggest names in chess media, is not part of the project. Don’t miss it!
Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub
Collabs: [email protected]
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chess-with-mustreader/id1745521337
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mU5WbBXgDklyN3jm6GMSN
All platforms: https://mustreaderchess.mave.digital
My podcast with Levon Aronian: https://youtu.be/3EuVAo74L4U
My podcast with Fabiano Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo
My podcast with Wei Yi: https://youtu.be/TeQ-yS9EWRY
My podcast with Anish Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q?si=kJmwzyxph6XJ2Jdp
My podcast with Erik Allebest: https://youtu.be/1cCrMcUTDj8
And other LEGENDS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkAzovIvBvGxzaDCVwmo-ZJDtrilrJLjS
Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus
00:00 — Intro
01:16 — Freestyle World Championship
03:14 — “It turned out very differently”
04:30 — How Freestyle Chess began
08:58 — What went wrong with Freestyle?
12:53 — What’s next for Freestyle?
17:48 — Why the Freestyle Tour struggled
21:01 — Chess is not interesting?
24:14 — Freestyle more interesting than classical?
26:43 — Freestyle struggles with funding
29:18 — What Freestyle achieved in 2.5 years
31:35 — Can chess be Formula 1?
35:55 — How to make chess watchable
39:52 — Why not rapid instead of Freestyle?
41:04 — Magnus’s choice
41:27 — Freestyle or rapid: same thing?
44:15 — Chess media is just getting started
45:58 — FIDE vs Freestyle
50:50 — World Championship without Hikaru
53:06 — Gukesh took Hikaru’s place
55:41 — World Championship qualification
57:23 — How can chess become profitable?
01:02:54 — ChessCom — the most successful chess company?
01:04:13 — Jan on his own chess level
My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.
On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).
I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.
Don't forget to subscribe!
#chess #magnuscarlsen #freestylechess #fischerandom #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

Learn the rare Four Knights with a3 on Chessreps: https://www.chessreps.com/opening/mustreader-s-4-a3-in-the-four-knights-vbnf1t0

Imagine a future Magnus match nobody expected — one that could grab the entire chess world’s attention and attract new sponsors. Sounds wild, right? My guest, Oleg Skvortsov, is a major chess patron and tournament organizer who’s deeply involved in how modern chess is marketed and funded — and he’s ready to make it happen. We talk about what chess is missing for mainstream appeal, why “drama” matters, and what one change could make the game far more exciting for casual viewers. Oleg also shares his blunt take on freestyle chess, what he plans to discuss with Jan Buettner, and whether he could end up leading the project. We finish with a quick chess game — don’t miss it.

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub
Collabs: [email protected]

Listen on:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chess-with-mustreader/id1745521337
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mU5WbBXgDklyN3jm6GMSN
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1745521337
All platforms: https://mustreaderchess.mave.digital

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro
01:05 — A future Magnus match idea
05:39 — Why this opponent?
07:07 — Does he even have a chance?
10:48 — What does Magnus gain?
11:27 — Why not Hans vs Magnus?
12:27 — “This will be like Fischer–Spassky”
14:10 — Is chess not interesting anymore?
15:48 — One change to make chess WAY more exciting
17:28 — Oleg’s FIDE-approved idea
19:27 — What’s wrong with freestyle chess?
22:12 — What will Oleg discuss with Buettner?
24:10 — We need drama
25:02 — Draws kill the excitement
27:58 — Has the level of play dropped?
31:49 — Magnus lost to the Grob Opening?!
34:33 — Calendar clash isn’t the problem
35:52 — Is Freestyle the future?
36:51 — Why Buettner is stepping back
38:43 — Could Oleg replace Buettner?
40:14 — Will Dvorkovich get sanctioned?
40:50 — Many want Freestyle to grow
42:45 — Our game

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#chess #magnuscarlsen #freestylechess #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

Learn the rare Four Knights with a3 on Chessreps: https://www.chessreps.com/course-creator/mustreader-s-4-a3-in-the-four-knights-vbnf1t0

Today my guest is one of the world’s top GMs and a 2026 Candidates participant — Wei Yi. We talk about his preparation for the 2026 Candidates, the mental struggles he had to overcome, and whom he sees as the main favorites. Wei also shares why Gukesh hasn’t looked as sharp lately, plus his honest take on Ding Liren — is he actually considering stepping away from chess? We finish with an intense blitz game with a surprising result — don’t miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader
My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb
My X: https://x.com/mustreader
My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips
My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub
Collabs: [email protected]

My previous podcast with Wei: https://youtu.be/080CuetikLE
Nepo’s 2026 Candidates Tier List: https://youtu.be/Kk1u6caPMW8
My podcast with Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo?si=AtUforPE0YYsWbhi
My podcast with Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q?si=kJmwzyxph6XJ2Jdp
My podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs?si=j_GBgdtZKywBKEfc

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro
00:48 — Meet Wei Yi
01:22 — Surprised to be in the Candidates?
02:15 — The plan to reach the Candidates
04:35 — Last year’s mental struggles
05:35 — Why the World Cup "clicked"
07:51 — Wei Yi's Candidates tier list
10:35 — What matters most at the Candidates?
11:49 — When did you start preparing?
12:28 — Candidates prep plan
13:26 — Does fitness matter in prep?
14:06 — Chess training vs gym
14:35 — Is Ding Liren helping?
15:27 — What’s going on with Ding?
17:06 — What happened to Gukesh?
20:06 — Will Gukesh bounce back?
21:43 — Wei Yi’s goals
22:48 — Who beats Gukesh in a title match?
24:48 — Chess as an esport
26:55 — Blitz vs Wei Yi

Wei Yi: CANDIDATES, Ding’s Comeback & Gukesh | PODCAST
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My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. 

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). 

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#weiyi #candidates2026 #chess #candidates #dingliren #gukesh #chesspodcast #chesstraining #chessimprovement #chesspsychology #worldchampionship #blitzchess #chesstalk #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

Check out the King's Gambit and other openings on Chessreps: https://www.chessreps.com/opening/kings-gambit

Today my guest is IM John Bartholomew — one of the original chess YouTubers, chess coach, and a former co-founder of Chessable. We talk about what chess YouTube was like back in 2014, the gap between IMs and GMs, and whether Levy aka GothamChess can still make the GM title. We also discuss how online courses changed the way people learn chess, plus John’s new project Chessiverse and what “human-like” training bots could mean for chess improvement. And of course, we nerd out about the Scandinavian Defense (one of John’s signature openings) and then finish with a blitz game. Don’t miss it!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub

Collabs: [email protected]

John's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnBartholomewChess

John's X: https://x.com/fins0905

John’s project — Chessiverse: https://chessiverse.com

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 — Intro

00:50 — John: IM, educator, Chessable co-founder

01:51 — How Chessable started

04:44 — Was Magnus in the meetings?

05:33 — Chessable valuation?

08:33 — Chessiverse: best for beginners?

10:34 — Chessable vs Chessiverse: what’s different?

14:30 — Who is Chessiverse for?

16:39 — What “human-like bots” means

19:30 — The future of Chessiverse

20:30 — Chess.com bots vs Chessiverse

22:30 — Chess YouTube in 2014

25:20 — Competition in chess content

28:59 — Competing with GothamChess?

31:40 — Did John ever chase GM?

33:55 — Can Levy (GothamChess) become GM?

35:27 — How John trains now

36:34 — Splitting time between projects

38:24 — Why the Scandi works

41:12 — Blitz vs John

42:33 — Scandinavian tips for beginners

46:03 — Blitz begins

Bots that PLAY LIKE HUMANS — Future of CHESS TRAINING? | John Bartholomew PODCAST

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My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#johnbartholomew #chess #chesstraining #chessimprovement #chesscoaching