GM Valentin Dragnev is a two-time Austrian champion and former Chess Olympian who has competed against Magnus Carlsen, Vasyl Ivanchuk, and many other top players. He is also a chess coach and the co-founder of Chessivity. We discuss:

Valentin’s fast rise to GM after a relatively late start.
Why adult chess improvers often struggle with their thought process.
His approach to chess training and the vision behind Chessivity.
Nearly beating Magnus Carlsen and cycling from Austria to Budapest for the Chess Olympiad.

Lots of good stories and practical chess improvement advice in this one!

Timestamps

0:00 - Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today —
Claude.ai/CHESS.

03:05 - GM Dragnev’s rise up the ranks
Mentioned: The Art of Planning in Chess by GM Neal McDonald
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Planning-C...

12:14 - Transitioning to chess as a career
15:31 - Advice for parents and young players
18:29 - Coaching adults vs. kids
21:52 - The importance of thought process in chess
26:53 - The birth of Chessivity
30:32 - Integrating Chessivity with user accounts
31:05 - Future features and user feedback
33:11 - Valentin's chess career highlights
35:05 - Playing against Magnus Carlsen
38:39 - Training and preparation strategies
42:10 - Working with top players
44:46 - Balancing coaching and competitive play
47:07 - Misconceptions in chess improvement
52:22 - Cycling from Austria to Budapest for the Olympiad
56:03 - Thanks to Valentin for joining!

Links

Chessivity: https://chessivity.com
Follow Ben on Chessivity: https://chessivity.com/profile/bennyf...
Valentin on Chessivity: https://chessivity.com/profile/valentin
Valentin’s Lichess coaching page: https://lichess.org/coach/DrAgnevstein
Valentin vs. Magnus Carlsen: https://lichess.org/broadcast/europea...