# #87. Jonathan Tisdall Recaps Wijk Aan Zee!

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/new-in-chess-podcast-6749297/87-jonathan-tisdall-recaps-wijk-aan-zee
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/new-in-chess-podcast-6749297/87-jonathan-tisdall-recaps-wijk-aan-zee.md
Podcast: [New In Chess Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/new-in-chess-podcast-6749297)
Published: 2026-02-05T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://app.springcast.fm/19396/87-jonathan-tisdall-reviews-wijk-aan-zee
Audio file: https://app.springcast.fm/download/183174/KD0M4wFSZfwlABzrdZTh6AGKffSjIEhp.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/new-in-chess-podcast-6749297/episodes/87-jonathan-tisdall-recaps-wijk-aan-zee
Duration seconds: 4115

## Resource

This week's episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with chess grandmaster Jonathan Tisdall. Jon is a grandmaster and a prolific journalist, who has worked for Reuters as a chess correspondent, and has written many stories for New In Chess. He has been active in the chess world for decades, wearing a multitude of hats; n fact, if you want to know who is who in a chess press room, then the gentleman with the hat is usually Jon Tisdall. Jon is also the author of the widely acclaimed book Improve Your Chess Now, and he is working on a new book in collaboration with stand-up comedian (and chess fanatic) Nick Doody. Jon was present in Wijk aan Zee to witne respective players' performances. ss Uzbeki Nodirbek Abdusattorov win the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. Together with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, he recaps the event and its Enjoy this week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast! 0:00 – Intro 3:02 – Nodirbek and Sindarov 6:15 – Jonathan reviews some strange moves and decisions from Wijk aan Zee 9:35 – Hans’s mentality 11:15 – Abdusattorov’s strong performance 12:40 – Jonathan’s personal relationship with Arjun Erigaisi 16:25 – Why does Erigaisi perform so poorly in Wijk aan Zee? 19:56 – Jorden van Foreest’s performance 23:45 – Controversy around the time control in Wijk aan Zee 27:42 – Matthias Bluebaum’s strong development 29:20 – AD BREAK 29:52 – How strong is Gukesh right now? 35:28 – The role of psychology in chess 40:10 – Dirk Jan tells a story about the Spassky-Korchnoi match 44:51 – AD BREAK 45:43 – The Uzbeki revolution: why hasn’t Norway followed suit? 58:00 – Jon’s previous and upcoming books 1:07:41 - Outro

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