FABIANO CARUANA: "I couldn't even look at chess!"

A new podcast episode with Fabiano Caruana as my guest! In this episode, Fabi talks about his motivation, story of his decline and then ascent back to the top, the cheating scandal, Magnus, Hikaru, the Candidates, his training schedule, and much more. Also, we play blitz with time odds. Enjoy!
My Twitch: / gregmustreader
My Twitter: / mustreader
Fabiano’s Twitter: / fabianocaruana
Episode with Nepo: • NEPO on cheating, Magn...
CSquared podcast: / @csqpod
DOP: timmmy_photos
00:00 - Intro
00:41 - About the episode
2:30 - Fabi dropped chess in 2020
8:00 - Problems with motivation
10:28 - How to stay in good shape
11:38 - Staying calm despite external drama
14:59 - Chess and working out
17:32 - Chess training schedule
23:30 - Training now
27:56 - Calculation vs tactics
31:31 - Comparing with Magnus, Nepo, Hikaru, Ding, Wesley
38:50 - How Fabi rates himself
41:45 - If Fabi wins the Candidates
43:21 - Kramnik’s ban
52:35 - We play blitz
My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.
In this channel, I interview top chess players (my guests include Nepo, Fabi, Aronian, Dubov and many others - the unreleased podcasts will be published in January-February), 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 30 years old, I have a girlfriend, a dog and two cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.
Don't forget to subscribe!
#fabianocaruana #csquared #chesscom

[@MustreaderChess]

My analysis of the game with Fabi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJDSeHidr7CUbK8 My Twitch for chess streams: twitch.tv/gregmustreader My Twitter: twitter.com/mustreader Also, check out my recent podcast with Nepo: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYiQmmd5haiUldk

[@NONSTOP_SO_1_VN]

❤❤❤ Tks

[@thernly]

Excellent interview. Pointed but balanced.

[@fredcurts9219]

Great interview! I’ve never heard Fabi speak so freely and in such detail.

[@lef7359]

Very nice interview your choice of words is really good. One thing tho, although its hard, try being a bit less stiff and be more relaxed and look the other person in the eyes a bit more when u ask a question. It was a nice watch 👍

[@MustreaderChess]

@@lef7359Thanks for the feedback and for the advice, will try to implement it. As for the stiffness, it was probably my nerves, it’s not every day that I speak to one of the greatest chess players in the world xD

[@user-fl9uy7ce5n]

Sometimes people forget how unbelievably strong Fabiano actually is, especially in classical time format. Dude has the 3rd highest rating of all time. Magnus has himself said multiple times he considers fabi to be the toughest opponent he faced and the closest anyone has come to dethroning him. It always somewhat bugs me that major chess platforms and creators almost never talk about his achievements and rarely promote him. We need more people to throw light on this man's career, because he is an absolute legend of the game

[@MustreaderChess]

Fully agreed!

[@rodneyfungus8249]

I don’t think anyone has ever doubted Fabi’s chess strength

[@veselinjokanovic3032]

@@rodneyfungus8249 I also think so, but he doesn't have as much of exposure and mentions as his strength deserves. Him being a cool guy and minding his own business and being a drama free gentleman also contributes to this I belive.

[@Scriabinfan593]

Who are these people that are forgetting how strong Fabi is?? Lol

[@adityavv96]

No one forgets how strong fabi is. Maybe you have.

[@baka1984]

The way Fabi articulates chess discussion is simply stunning.

[@Scriabinfan593]

I always love listening to Fabi. He’s always so precise and calculated with what he’s saying.

[@skriabinfly]

Nice name brother

[@---Vector]

Magnus, Hikaru and Fabi are walking through a dark, deep forest. -"We have to go faster", Hikaru says -"We have to go deeper", says Fabi "We have to go deeper and go faster," Magnus said. They went fast and deep, and the dark deep forest swallowed them up.

[@purnabharvada1158]

Tall was good, but not as these 3. The fanboy should sometimes stay quiet.

[@---Vector]

@@purnabharvada1158 You didn't get the joke :) Btw Tal not Tall

[@u.v.s.5583]

While certainly referencing the great Tal, probably what we mean today is Stockfish. Stockfish is the deep dark forest that swallows up them all.

[@flooent]

Nobody explains the world of high level chess as clearly as Caruana.

[@MustreaderChess]

Agreed! That's why I really like the C Squared podcast.

[@alekseykorchin504]

Amazing work! Waiting for Magnus or even Grishuk🤔 That would be a brilliant content; Greg's English vs Aleksandr's English.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! I have Grischuk's contact info, so I hope we'll record some content with him

[@daryab9416]

I really like how engaged you are in the conversation and how smooth the conversion between the topics is. You don't force the change of topic or at least it's not felt by the audience (at least me). Well done!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks!

[@kamerona]

Fabi is one of the terrors of the chess world when his motivation is high. An absolute beast

[@rewangdichen732]

What a great set of questions you've asked Fabi. Looking forward to more! Best wishes and good luck.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@LutherBach]

Really hoping that he can become world champion. IMO he is the best classical player besides Magnus in the last decade or two, he has the best peak and consistency of them all.

[@MustreaderChess]

I think it's highly likely that he will!

[@Momus2024]

and of course a shout-out to you for producing such a fine program....

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks!

[@MAR_0777]

Fantastic interview. You did a fantastic job at interviewing Fabiano. I'm guessing English isn't your first language but was thoroughly impressed with how eloquent and seamless you were in your conversation with Fabi. Great job bud! Subscribed!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks a lot!

[@bharlesCabbage]

I enjoy seeing Caruana succeed.

[@mattkemerait]

Fabiano Is an international treasure. That is all.

[@PC-vp2cg]

How come I only now discover your podcast? The quality is excellent, one of the best chess interviews I have seen!

[@jeremyshields8285]

Caruana is my favorite personality in chess, and in my opinion, he is actually the current greatest *ambassador* for the game among the top players. Great guy!

[@johnsonater8491]

Fabi is an amazing human being

[@devv4941]

Thank you bro for such a great piece of content!

[@MustreaderChess]

My pleasure!

[@remi.bolduc]

Thank you, you’re very good at interviewing players of that level. Your questions are simple, short, and effective.

[@bugpb1583]

Great interview I really hope we can see more :))

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@ignaciofernandez1343]

Great interview. Subscribed.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@ivo28182]

AMAZING interview, thank you!!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@alexanderyeara8809]

Amazing interview, well done.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks!

[@AuRowe]

Wow. 2nd awesome interview. Great channel!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! there's more to come!

[@YRMW1983]

Excellent interview with well-thought out and engaging questions!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it!

[@peterhardie4151]

Great stuff. Fun but very insightful. Watched all of Fabi's C² podcast but there was more here that was new and interesting.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week, a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@terribleteacher]

Otoscope. Excellent interview. Thanks for bringing such quality content. Greetings from Colombia!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks!

[@AmitPanchalChess]

Good interview, Keep it up

[@MustreaderChess]

Thank you!

[@Momus2024]

when Fabi played Magnus for the world championship..of course everyone knows they played 12 draws....this is very important because i never believed a match so important should be decided by blitz...the point is....had the match continued till a winner using classical time controls history could very well be different because i do not believe Magnus was a stronger player than Fabi during that match....

[@tomkostolom6559]

He definitely was, he proved it years after their match

[@Momus2024]

"i do not believe Magnus was a stronger player than Fabi during that match...."@@tomkostolom6559

[@MustreaderChess]

I agree that they were equal in that match and yes, if was a bit unfair

[@drHouse-gb2kt]

Most games showed a bit advantage for magnus still he agreed to draw

[@alekseykorchin504]

It's like a penalty in soccer; if both sides are almost equally strong you need to decide somehow🤷🏿‍♂️

[@runswithbears3517]

Nice podcast!

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it!

[@amun1040]

Great interview, you ask exactly the questions that I am curious about definitely the best chess interviewer I have ever watched a I love the chairs and the wall behind you. I would love to watch an interview of alireza

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks a lot! I'll try to interview Alireza as well, of course!

[@cblips1]

Good interview.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@ritikhans372]

was waiting for it thanks man

[@MustreaderChess]

I hope that you like it!

[@mikemartin5340]

You are a fantastic interviewer. And not in your native language! Kudos

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! I guess experience helps, I used to record lots of podcasts in Russian and in English (around 500 interviews) on non-chess related topics for my other channels

[@TheAlleycat0909]

good stuff👍

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it! Next week a pod with Aronian is coming out!

[@Joseph-nh6in]

Caruana seems like he could be an actor.

[@Apopjak]

Great podcast! When u play the game, is it possible to show evaluation bar? that would be helpful for us who are not good in chess :D

[@MustreaderChess]

Ok, next time will do it!

[@dogwoof9128]

Fabi goated

[@The5trongmonkey]

massive credit to the YTer who played that game with one of the best in Fabiano

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! I was really nervous throughout the game!

[@drnickpol]

The device is called otoscope

[@u.v.s.5583]

What they need is a ... how do you call it, a proctoscope?

[@NONSTOP_SO_1_VN]

Tks ❤

[@jackwilliams7193]

42:10 what a badass

[@HexxuSz]

this is great

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! Check out my other content if you liked it!

[@HexxuSz]

@@MustreaderChess you bet

[@michaeloconnor6264]

Excellant pod, Ian was good,Levon should be good

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks! The one with Levon will be out next week!

[@joshjac81010]

"these are people who have won hundreds of thousands of dollars, and I am sure not all of them are clean" Hmm that's exactly not a big list

[@the_great_plague]

good interview, where is it taking place?

[@MustreaderChess]

Samarkand, Uzbekistan (at World Rapid and Blitz)

[@dominikbosnjak9901]

Some Feedback: The wallpaper is very distracting. You also stand out more than the guest with your clothes and rings. In my opinion focus should be on the guest and what he has to say, which is not easy with this set up. Other than that, I think you are doing a great job.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks for the feedback! Me and my team will try to improve on everything

[@raylopez99]

I disagree about the background. It's Balkan/Russian Byzantine fashion, also popular in China. Nothing extraordinary except to Westerners who only know the Scandinavian simplicity tradition.

[@dominikbosnjak9901]

@@raylopez99 I don’t doubt that. I like the wallpaper aesthetically. I just find it distracting in this context. Visually my focus fell on the wallpaper instead of the guest.

[@vulpeslagopus1]

I think it's not possible to detect cheating 100% of the time through statistical means alone, but if they want to develop the online prize tournament, they can develop software for prized chess tournament that can run in the background to detect if other programs are accessing stockfish or like a exam software where you can't exit the program unless the tournament is over and also have a camera that can detect your pupil movement to check if youre using your phone or staring at second computers etc. it's doable, just not in a browser.

[@jlamastus999]

Great

[@wot_hog]

48:23: Instrument to inspect ears: Otoscope.

[@yagamilight1231]

are u the same person who interviewed dubov in russian lang?

[@user-uo5cm5ig7f]

yes

[@MustreaderChess]

Yes I am!

[@erice.riosminor5529]

С большим уважением отношусь к Каруане. Великий игрок

[@JOSELOPEZ-rn2nl]

Which is the secret ? Damn it. I will have to wait for Fabi beeing Champ. 😢😢

[@MustreaderChess]

I also would really like to find out. Maybe this was a clever way for Fabi to make us root for him in the Candidates! xD

[@anissbenthami]

Did this interview happen in Morocco?

[@MustreaderChess]

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan (before the World Rapid and Blitz)

[@dougalwatts3656]

Nice wallpaper

[@MustreaderChess]

It's a local ornament from Samarkand. Looks interesting xD

[@Anfield_the_place_to_be]

Hello First of all i want to say i really like your content and you seems like a very likable guy:) Subbed and looking forward to more videos from you. One thing, if i may give a advice: It seems you look away from your interview object and fiddeling with your hands/fingers when you talk to them or asking questions. That can put some people off, and loose their intrest in the conversation. It can also get them to feel uncomfortable and steer the converasation in the wrong way. It was maybe more notisable in the Nepo video. Just a friendly advice from someone who has worked with presentation etc. And good luck with your master and chanel😊

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks for the feedback! I am constantly trying to improve!

[@teddymagcawas1332]

I play chess becaused it is my favorite hobby..from 11 years old .😊

[@anotherelvis]

Hikaru said that some of the young online players are underrated over the board. They may look like cheaters, but in reality their FIDE rating is just too low. This would be a good question for all your guests. How can they know if their opponent is cheating?

[@DanielVictorDVZero]

Damn, Fabi skipped what he was going to say on Ding's strength and weakness, I was so curious! :(

[@Error-ii9ls]

where was this filmed?

[@MustreaderChess]

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at World Rapid and Blitz, end of Dec2023

[@jishavenu6264]

Please do podcast with Vidit gujrati, World no 12 and the greatest chess player from India after Anand

[@MustreaderChess]

I hope I'll be able to do it! We met with Vidit in Samarkand and exchanged contact info, so I'll reach out to him and try to fly to India

[@jishavenu6264]

@@MustreaderChess thanks bro he is national hero in India , so I hope to see him in your podcast

[@olegyashin2363]

🔥🔥🔥🔥👍👍👍

[@Hbmd3E]

It tells something if 2 or 3:th best player in the world hasnt won Titeled Tuesday even once. Prove it self . He is not cheating. God Bless you Fabi : )

[@raylopez99]

Fabi, if that's who you mean, is well known not to play as good at fast time controls as in classic time controls.

[@Hbmd3E]

@@raylopez99 seems right. wonder what 2 others I was talking about?

[@Hbmd3E]

@@raylopez99..I mean Im literally wondering.. dont remember and if you dont remember Im not sure If want put my time in this

[@mohan9465]

bring anand to podcast

[@MustreaderChess]

I exchanged contacts with him in Samarkand, so I'll try! Already wrote an email to him

[@petertimowreef9085]

Wesley and so on Huehuehuehue

[@Olegchert]

Kaif brat

[@Megaloblocks]

A Elo bar would make the chess game at the end way more entertaining for chess beginners

[@MustreaderChess]

OK, next time we will add one!

[@Megaloblocks]

@@MustreaderChess thanks!

[@CharlesOffdensen]

44:49 like the "toiletgate". Worst cheating in chess history, if not in sports history. Kramnik is the worst.

[@zeimarunescape]

Cheating Tuesdays

[@aleksandrbochkarev1263]

Sorry what??

[@Ryanmuniverse]

I'm enjoying these podcasts, but I find intros like you and others have done incredibly annoying and unnecessary (I already clicked so I plan on watching) But I must ask, why does what you show in your intro immediately pop up again only 3 mins later into the video?

[@yQaT735M]

If he reads your comment he should take your advice. Intro's are pre-2010s. Outdated and unnecessary.

[@MustreaderChess]

Thanks for the feedback! Will think about it!

[@raylopez99]

He has captions, just learn to use the slider button in KZbin and move to that part of the podcast you wish to see. Works for sponsorship segments too. Skip ahead, it's not hard to do. I personally like the intro.