NIC Podcast #58 - GM Matthew Sadler

This week's episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with English grandmaster Matthew Sadler. 

Often called "the world's strongest amateur", Matthew is a former two-time British Chess Champion. He is also active as a streamer and author, and of course as the beloved book reviewer for New In Chess Magazine. In our last conversation with Matthew, we talked at length about "Game Changer", his critically acclaimed book about Google's AlphaZero chess engine. This time, we discuss even more recent developments in (computer) chess, such as the recent string of odds games played by Leela and the Freestyle "world championship". 

Interviewed by Dirk Jan Ten Geuzendam, Matthew previews the year 2025, discusses his fascination with Leela, talks about some classic chess books, and even gives an interesting take on the stale-growing GOAT debate in chess, among many other things. 

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

2:16 – Matthew’s fascination with recent odds games played by chess engine Leela

9:02 – Has Matthew been following Freestyle chess?

17:08 – Tata Steel

22:37 – Which recent books have especially impressed Matthew?

29:36 – The erosion of strategic principles in favor of pure calculation in the computer era

36:14 – AD BREAK

36:45 – Matthew’s love for historical chess books

39:25 – The legacy of lesser-known players like Efim Bogoljubow, David Janowski and Frank Marshall

45:00 – Matthew’s love for Zukertort and dislike for Steinitz

46:55 – The GOAT debate and why Matthew thinks the “Big Three” debate is unfair

53:24 – AD BREAK

54:21 – How modern chess does not require “classic chess education”

55:53 – The influence of Kasparov’s “modern” opening preparation

57:48 – Matthew previews the year 2025 and his expectations for Gukesh, Pragg, Keymer and Nodirbek

1:05:00 – The Gideon Ståhlberg biography

1:07:06 - Outro