ROAD TO GM: EPISODE 1!

[@GothamChess]

Unlock Full length GM lessons, puzzle training, bonus KZbin content, and dog photos: www.patreon.com/gothamchess

[@euyn_009]

I want to see dog photos😢 If I had the money, I will surely look at the dog photos

[@Rollieoriginal]

5 likes??? That’s crazy

[@keanux5906]

dog photos locked behind bars the west has fallen

[@sumansinha8702]

Dog photos? Hell yeah

[@Memeento]

Full Length GM Lessons ❌️ Puzzle Training ❌️ Bonus KZbin Content ❌️ Dog Photos ✅️

[@_JeffJeff_]

Levy got that 3 AM motivation

[@Anaanani]

Lmao

[@jaredpinto8614]

real

[@brentgroen3204]

💀

[@ItsDeveloper_]

so real lmao

[@Nocaplol]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@luukipuuk3537]

Hikaru: “Mentally, you’re not quite there.” Levy: “And I took that personally…”

[@Hgffyhv]

Real

[@k0nstixd]

But if thats what it takes to make levi a fing gm, then let it be 😂

[@Rio-lv2zp]

BRO HIKARU LITERALLY PREDICTED THIS

[@holyphainesthai286]

HHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

[@ponnadaharish7149]

Lol this is the first thing that struck my mind after seeing the thumnile😂

[@Evan-ph7jh]

Hell. Fucking. Yeah.

[@prxxyanshu]

im going to touch you

[@Will-zs6ln]

PIN THIS BABY LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO

[@H34L5]

Moin moin

[@GnuReligion]

Ah, but the real question is: Does Levy want the GM title enough to give up weed?

[@apersonthatlovescats]

This is what I thought when I saw this video

[@MyAmazingHands]

"They had one opponent, Me, I had 2, them and myself" Making me reevaluate how I approach competition. Thank you

[@DrakesGhostWriter]

Not exactly, opponent could say the same he also plays vs Gotham AND himself. He worded it poorly but we got what he meant by that, powerful and useful thought.

[@yairziv4890]

Can't wait for Levy shouting "THE ROOOOK" in the candidates

[@aryansingh7270]

😮😅😂

[@globularjalapeno]

[@DDKKAY]

Or just Pre-moving the Checkmate in 8 before going to rest romm 😂

[@tapsofosiris3110]

He's never going to be in the candidates. If he makes GM he's gonna do it by farming corrupt tournaments and his fide rating will never be over 2550.

[@barryweaver8833]

the GM title doesn't mean Top Level GM.

[@_JeffJeff_]

"I am coming back to competitive over the board play" LETS FUCKING GOO!!!!!

[@andreamorbello2507]

SAME REACTION

[@_JeffJeff_]

FR FR THIS GONNA BE INSANE

[@System.Error.]

Well, he said he won’t be playing unless things regarding his mental health does not substantially change.. so…

[@AykhanHajiyev13]

This nice to see this

[@AykhanHajiyev13]

I opened up youtube, so maybe i got an idea of which opening i can learn and My favourite IM posted an unexpected thing

[@CB-lh4ph]

23:06 Something that gets taught to high level athletes is to never think in negatives. Your brain doesn't know what "don't" means. If you think "don't mess this up" you're going to think of all the ways you could mess it up. If I tell you "don't think about giraffes," you're going to think about giraffes, whether you want to or not. Instead, say "I need to clutch this," or something to that effect. "Make sure I win." and you'll think of all the ways you can win

[@markrobs2954]

So instead of thinking "don't mess this up" instead think "mess this up" got it

[@TheBlueAkumu]

Don't shit yourself Now suffer as your mind shifts through the many ways you could accidentally and spontaneously mess up your clothes.

[@MrSupernova111]

High level athletes are 1) obsessed and 2) are not worried about losing because they come back stronger. Levy doesn't have neither of those two qualities. But whatever.

[@ludwigwittgenstein1280]

Good point

[@KeedanMalnar]

Don't win

[@tylerw.6060]

Hikaru said he had a chance at GM and Levy really took that to heart. LOL

[@nikolauric3880]

All jokes aside, the motivation that anybody would get from a grandmaster saying you could reach that level, let alone Hikaru,should be huge and a massive step in the right direction

[@bjwkusgxjdks]

Blud he got to 2450, he had to win 5-7 more rated games and he would’ve gotten the title. It’s not hard for him, the only one stopping him from becoming GM is himself.

[@Mawble]

Didn't Hikaru say he believes the main reason Levy isn't GM is because he gets in his own head when he plays higher rated players?

[@Phant0m51]

​@@bjwkusgxjdksI genuinely believe that a performance coach would be huge for him. Someone that specializes in helping people deal with performance anxiety and self doubt.

[@FuryOnClash]

Fr lmao

[@gcollins1992]

"They're not better than me!" is the most relatable chess thought other than "I'm trash, why do I even do this?"

[@ChessDoctorsOrigins]

But they are... lol. Thats where ego goes too far. They might not be better in even raw skill, but they are better mentally or physically or in time management or in the other 16000 things that make up a strong chess player and you need all these things!!! He will find out soon enough

[@gcollins1992]

@@ChessDoctorsOrigins I mean yea, I agree with you. Just because it's a thought we all have from time to time, doesn't mean it's correct. On different days, I can crush a 1500 or get crushed by an 1100. But that 1500 is thinking "Man sometimes I can crush a 1700, and sometimes 1300s crush me." Chess is a funny game, but Elo rating measures consistency and closely approximates skill. An IM is IM strengh until proven otherwise, just like we really are what our rating says until we prove otherwise.

[@bigchestflex]

Hahahaha these are the only two feelings I ever have playing chess. I suck!!

[@mawandembatha6622]

​@@ChessDoctorsOriginsWell that is what he said when he listed his weaknesses

[@mistergolfer7]

Bruh we want you to become a GM sooooo badly. You deserve it. The chess community owes you a debt of gratitude for your education and entertainment. All the best!!!

[@Larencia91]

Not yet. He doesn't deserve it - yet. Levy needs to earn it on the board. ...but yes. We're all waiting for the day that we can call him GM Levy Rozman.

[@playfog]

He literally Deserves it. He's just lazy.

[@jerppazz4525]

how does he "deserve" it? just because you spend time in something doesnt mean youre owed something.

[@somesec5919]

@@jerppazz4525he means he deserves it because he has worked hard. it doesn’t mean that he has earned it yet, he still has to prove himself as worthy of being a gm.

[@KrakenIsland64]

​@@jerppazz4525 where did he say it was because of time spent? I believe he was referring to Levy bringing millions of people daily chess content, teaching hundreds top level chess lessons, and being a top 1% player. Why does that bother you so much.

[@pedramhaqiqi7030]

"i believe in you" button

[@tayls316]

Hell yeah

[@damianpizarro1896]

Hell yea

[@raveivrantz5080]

HELL YES!!!…also, we’ll love you no matter what 🤷‍♂️ But win this shit anyway cause you deserve that title!

[@plokenv]

YEAAAA ❤

[@Kermit_E_Frog]

I'll comment separately instead 👍🏾

[@RudolfMaster.]

he realised what hikaru was saying on why he isn't a gm and is improving on it, massive respect.

[@saikrishna1813]

What did Hikaru say??

[@nitinchennam]

@@saikrishna1813 He said that Levy has the analytical and tactical skills to be a grandmaster, he just needed the confidence and the mental fortitude

[@youwatchireact6308]

I think levy could do it but it would take a while because like Hikaru said he needs to be in a better mental space I think he has the theory down so on and so forth

[@DarkMavid]

Seeing this video after seeing Hikaru's answer really makes me smile. I hope Levy keeps this up and gets his title!

[@Jiten-pm5lz]

​@youwatchireact6308 at Levys prime elo on 2021 he was 4 wins away from GM as he already has the norms. It won't take as long if his mental state improves.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Good luck, Levy! It'll be fun to follow your journey. Happy to play some training games or stream some commentary when you're playing if you like.

[@knightla1126]

I love your scandinavian course on chessable, it was my first opening so thank you!

[@cftpafan]

That would be so sick

[@MrSupernova111]

Levy is never going to be a GM and you know it.

[@x0cx102]

@@MrSupernova111 after how well he played in madrid there is definitely a real chance

[@MrSupernova111]

@@x0cx102 . We'll see. If he miraculously makes it with his hand picked opponents I'll take it back. He won't be the first to earn a GM title this way.

[@thebattosai7814]

Levy: beats a grandmaster live and then shows us the game Kramnik: interesting🤔🤨

[@suvid9490]

I’m sure there’s gonna be allegations when he becomes gm

[@chandramoulimukherjee6653]

Not levy as well😭😭

[@Mawble]

Is this a bad thing? I think I'm missing some context.

[@vitae3786]

@@Mawble kramnik basically accuses everyone of cheating

[@isaacbugalho]

Let's do the procedure...

[@BariBunger]

"My opponents frequently play one person, which is me. I frequently two people, my opponent and myself". These words honestly hit close to home, and I understand how you feel levy. The road to grandmaster is and has been challenging for you, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. With your honorable courage, I hope you know that you can make it against all odds. If you can't make it to GM, then that's perfectly fine too. Even though you probably won't read this, I hope you know that your journey, though treacherous, is possible! What you do expresses who you are, and you doing such a task is truly inspiring and expresses your maturity as a person. Have a good day :)

[@nazarenoalmiron526]

23:02 "I don't just play them, I also play myself." Great to see Levy taking Magnus advice.

[@五条様]

💀

[@Larry__.]

Tip number 10 💡 Sit at the chessboard 🪑 And play with yourself 😳 It’s amazing.. ah okay 🏳️

[@aboi9865]

But that got me out if the tournament

[@masterlukson]

Genuinely nice to see Hikaru making such an impact

[@jaiveersingh3415]

Ikr!

[@trashthethrasher]

What hikaru said in his interview with levy definitely motivated him

[@TmOnlineMapper]

I'm sure Levy was working on himself for a while. But that interview is probably what pushed him over the edge so to speak and actually follow through

[@strategicsage7694]

@@TmOnlineMapper Agree. Hikaru said similar things a couple years back I think it was. Basically at that time said Levy had the potential but he was playing not to lose rather than playing to win, he didn't think it was realistic anymore to think Levy would be a GM for that reason, etc ... didn't have the same impact at that time. Levy probably wasn't ready for it. Hopefully he is now.

[@akshathkumar9135]

@@trashthethrasher could u tell me what he said

[@Mrvorace2010]

I’ve probably watched 100+ videos and have never left a comment until this one. Good luck in the journey Levy, we’re all rooting for you!

[@brycepeddicord6763]

Gotta love he refused to pin good comments like this😅

[@AveragePopcornEnjoyer]

Something my old chess coach used to say，"If you go to play chess and think youve already messed up or theres no way ill beat that guy, your opponent doesn't need to checkmate you. He doesn't even need to make a move. He's already won the game". Mindset is everything Levy, you got this!

[@LukeKowaletti]

Proud of you Levy. Congrats on getting your mental back on track, that's huge, and no easy feat. I'll be rooting for you, regardless of outcome. Remember, you've already accomplished more than virtually anyone in the history of the game as far as outreach and education goes. GM would just be a cherry on top of your already fantastic chess career. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do, and for sharing your journey and struggles so openly. Love you!

[@ShakirFazal-os4lv]

Yeah

[@MrSupernova111]

Rich middle aged guy. Life must be hard.

[@ShakirFazal-os4lv]

@@MrSupernova111 middle aged?

[@avepllov]

"When you're winning, you're not as good as you think you are. When you're losing you're not as bad as you think you are." -Wise Guy from a podcast I came across from a short

[@SomeCarney]

"If you can dream and not make dreams your master, if you can think and not make thoughts your aim; if you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same" -Kipling

[@b00gabr0s]

"pee in the shower don't shower in the pee" - my dad

[@bernardovidigal1306]

@@b00gabr0sits better to piss in the sink than to sink in the piss

[@emeralff881]

Pretty sure that’s from a Modern Wisdom episode with Alex Hormozi. Very good podcast

[@macsdojo]

“Momentum makes you look better than you are. Lack of momentum makes you look worse than you really are.”

[@siddhantchopra9416]

I have been following you since 2022, and oh my god did i fucking flip on hearing this. A very hearty congratulations on rekindling that fighting spirit, and I'm here till the end of this amazing journey man, show them bozos what you're made of.

[@strike2jz]

did you actually got up and did a flip?

[@achyuthankarthikeyan3287]

yeah can confirm he did a flip

[@owenfeilds]

I hope he did a flip

[@atomicpiano]

Legend has it they're still flipping to this day

[@siddhantchopra9416]

sorry to break it to you all, but i actually did 2 flips

[@NemeanIndustries]

It’s awesome to see. Hikaru doing what a real friend does and being brutally honest with you on your shortcomings. Rather than you getting upset about it, you took accountability of it and are actively working to overcome those shortcomings. And the perspective and maturity to know that it’s not going to be easy, it isn’t a switch you can flip, that it’s going to take time… all awesome stuff. I’m really excited to see you achieve this goal. Belief in yourself is the most important thing, the skills and knowledge are all already there. Good luck!

[@adlex1212]

I think real friends are brutally honest in private, not on stream in front of 5k people.

[@rauniksharma3116]

​@@adlex1212it wasn't on the stream unless I am on drugs

[@retard69420]

Levy got kidnapped and the kidnappers forced him to be a gm

[@SuperJewster-ub6ts]

bro give him back to america

[@gw6667]

Sounds like he just needs to use zen mode exclusively for a while

[@Sncedayone]

You learned his first name so you say every comment like you know him personally. But you also say it because you want everyone else to know you know it.

[@razznote7586]

@@Sncedayone And he is going to say here in the comment "I know...". Because he knows, he know, that is why he wants everyone else to know that he knows it.

[@retard69420]

@@Sncedayone I feel like your overthinking my comment

[@AJ_Cricket_Fish]

YES. Seriously hyped for this. Hands down my favourite content was the last Road to GM series and I was totally gutted, though sympathetic, when you decided to call it a day. Huge props for having the courage to dust yourself off and have another go. We shall be watching with interest. Very best of luck

[@user-li9vt5mi2n]

Your road to GM has for me been one of the only online things that’s been sentimental for me, but Ive always had hope for you. It makes me very happy that you’re picking it back up and I’m rooting for you.

[@DjentZilla]

Gotham is the man. 🦇

[@mrmasrawy92]

Literally just decided to throw away my business degree and pursue music seriously. This couldn't have come at a better time

[@theglobalswede760]

@@mrmasrawy92 What kind of music do you do?

[@bransoncoburn5907]

I been following you since 2020 man. Bought your book. Learned a lot from you and continuing to do so. I was very sad as a fan of yours when you quit, but I knew you'd continue to be a great content creator. Needless to say...SO glad to hear you are returning to competitive chess. I, and we, all believe in your journey. Keep killin' it Levy.

[@Ciaoandrea999]

Review on the book? Is it user friendly and interesting? I'm looking to buy it

[@mikoajp.5890]

I've read an article "The secret to lasting love for chess" from GM Avetik, where he recognizes a recurring pattern in those who struggle with quitting: players see wins as a given, and stress on losses. They get (almost) no joy from a win, they feel the full impact of a loss. With losses happening more or less as often as wins, this gives us a psychical net loss! You've mentioned same pattern in own reasons for quitting the fight for GM. With same results. We should, in chess and outside of it, be very aware of this pattern of taking good things for granted and stressing over the bad ones. It's becoming more and more common, and more and more damaging. Yes, of course I repeat it myself. In my case, in office context. I won't quit though because I'm very passionate about my kids not starving to death.

[@nbassasin8092]

your wins are never as sweet as losses are bitter is a common phrase for any game, and many aspects of life, can sum up what you wanted to say a bit more concisely

[@绝不会放弃你]

This actually really spoke to me, not only in terms of chess, but life as well. I sometimes consider myself to a perfectionist, being critical to the point that I'm unsatisfied with everything I do unless it is perfect. This just ends up with it not being enough most of the time, and it wearing down my mental state. I've been trying to make myself more aware of this lately and I felt this put words into some of the thoughts I've had for a while now. Thank you

[@mikoajp.5890]

@@nbassasin8092 it's more concise, but it also misses the point. The point is: if a naturally occuring net ratio of positive and negative outcomes results is not net neutral or net positive for your Psyche, the best case scenario for you is disinterest and burnout, be it chess or any other part of life. Active care needs to be taken to avoid this trap, and huge part of that active care is to not take positive outcomes for granted.

[@cdw2468]

i just read the article, thanks for the recommendation

[@sholom90]

That's a really great article! I urge all to read it.

[@Devilfish6666]

In a hundred years, ppl will remember 3 things about chess: - 11th of May 1997: Deep Blue beats Kasparov - 20th of July 2022: Magnus Carlsen forfeits his WC title - 23rd of April 2024: LEVY ROZMAN IS BACK! In all honesty man, this is great news. Its such a pleasure for us, your viewers, to be with you on this journey. I hope you can enjoy it as well and remember you are never alone. 5 million ppl will always root for you no matter what happens. And you have a great wife and doggo:)

[@mapsgillnet6762]

I concur! Levy is one of the few chess masters that have social skills and a personality. I've loved chess since I was given a 100 year old set as a kid, but I could never break into it, because it was dominated by overly-serious condescending nerds, overly competitive dweebs, and pompous dbags. Levy got me back into it and took me from 900s to 1100 in like 6 months. I hope he keeps doing it. The win at chess series taught me so much

[@samuelk3076]

+ xqc losing in 6 moves

[@MrSupernova111]

Levy is never going to be a GM. lol

[@matthewblyth3324]

@@MrSupernova111don’t need to be a dickhead

[@atharv407]

Yeah

[@SaunavaGhosh]

I have been watching you since 2020 and rooting for you from way back then, when you quit over the board games , I was so sad but then you came back today, so happy for you!

[@whoopsbess]

Love this for you!! I got a little emotional as I'm 30 next year and I've been looking at some of my 'life goals' and trying to battle that voice that says it's too late. Wishing you all the luck in the world, looking forward to the journey! ✨

[@enexified]

I’ve watched you since 2022 and have followed ever since, even buying your Chessly courses. Your love for the game, the community, the players is so pure. I was so sad to see your inner saboteur blocking you all these years and I CANNOT be happier to see you having this renewed sense of confidence and fire to give it another shot. I know the pressure is going to be a lot given how big you’ve gotten, and I hope you remind yourself it isn’t just the wins but also how you analyse your losses and get back up from there - as that’s also what all of us players will feel inspired by and also learn from. Rooting for you so much!

[@davidcorcoran1715]

I find it crazy that hes so hard on himself, even though in a short span of time he managed not only the most subscribed to chess youtube channel but a trend setter in the chess youtube ecosystem. Hes a big reason that chess has grown and will not die anytime soon and he should be proud of that.

[@Mrwutevah]

I relate to it a lot; I'm my own harshest critic even when others tell me I'm doing well. Therapy can help in starting to see why one does it to themselves, but it takes time to work through.

[@lukasbrown6114]

Of course, becoming GM in chess should not be some social brag either. It is reserved for the best players and it is to be dictated as such. Why do you think FIDE doesn't have some voting system? Levy is an amazing chess player but GM has to be earned like everyone else.

[@Shellback13202]

Great lesson on mindset. I mentally resign after losing a pawn, while I've lost to opponents after I've gained an advantage. "I'm going to make you beat me" is a great mantra.

[@Concordborn14]

Excited for this series! Game recaps from the people playing, especially classical tournament games, are always my favorite type of content so I'm excited for this. Love the mindset refresh and the honesty. Definitely motivates me as well to stick with my goals!

[@andreamorbello2507]

I started following you during that tournament in Las Vegas, I am so happy that you're coming back to play, hoping that's good for you mental health witch is the most important thing. I will so happily follow you in this jouney and take inspiration for my own chess journey. LET'S GO GET THOSE NORMS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY LET'S HAVE SOME FUN PLAYING THE MOST FUN GAME IN THE WORLD ❤

[@danielp1810]

I played in that tournament. Levi was 4-5 people ahead of me in line to get coffee one morning and I was too afraid to say hello to him.

[@benjaminborrero1022]

I mean Hikaru did tell you that as far as analyzing, theory and overall play you are already there and it's just your mentality that needs adjusting means you are already GM level but you need to have confidence in yourself and forget about your opponents rating. I would suggest treating every opponent as if they were lower rated than you to get over that mental block of anxiety and fear. You are an amazing chess player and once you find the confidence to also believe you are an amazing player thing will fall into place. Been waiting for you to get back into tournament chess and get that GM title. We all believe in you and it will take time but I know you will get there eventually. A winning mentality is crucial for you. If you just think of it as being just a game and that even people like Hikaru and Magnus loose games. It's ok to loose but it's not ok to panic and always think your gonna loose when you have great chess knowledge, theory and skills. We are rooting for you and for the day when you finally achieve GM status. You play like a GM but fall apart mentally and loose winning positions cause you think these guys are better than you when they aren't. You are at their level and sometimes even have a higher level than them but you let doubt creep into you. Always stay calm and stop seeing ghost where there aren't any. You can do it.

[@waynekasmar4401]

I like how your negation of losing means you don't even spell the word properly.

[@ojus8725]

yo ass yapping

[@benjaminborrero1022]

@@waynekasmar4401 it is my second language. 🤷‍♂️

[@moali7441]

Levy never fails to become GM

[@Thricecube57]

The GM of our hearts

[@adlad1563]

Doesn't he though?

[@motion3102]

Gm Levy incoming….💛💛💛

[@B-fq7ff]

except for one thing...

[@alihaider-t8n6z]

Ouch..

[@emconstrucao.2235]

Usually I won't comment here, but I can't. It's just so heart warm seeing Levy pursuing his dreams, and if he can do it, I guess all of we will feel a bit of his joy I'm also following my dreams in improving at chess, I know it's unlikely but you're sorta of an inspiration

[@mitsossvi5778]

This is incredible news, I LOVE this type of content and it doesn't even matter how well you do it's always such a treat how much fun this journey you take us through is (like your previous recaps of yourself playing classical tournaments). Can't wait , good luck !

[@unstoppable0120]

Levy never fails to not clickbait us. (I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME!)

[@quentindebiais9378]

Neither would i but better later than ever 🎉😂😂

[@yoppelpanger]

OMG YESSSS!!!! Love the positivity and self-awareness, it's a long journey and everything about this time around (as opposed to 2021) feels more mature and respecting of the fact that it's a slow, nearly full-time grind! Hope to see more of Levy loving his chess💗

[@johnhightshoe996]

You got this. Sounds like you have the right mind set. Only thing I would say is on your list “What will be different (I hope)” take that I hope part off, don’t give yourself the out. It’s a weird psychological thing that seeing that there is an out can hold you back and you can point to the fact that you had the out the entire time. Seriously I can’t wait to call you Grand Master, you’ve earned it and deserve the title.

[@magicsquirrel8827]

Hi Levy, I just wanted to offer my support for your GM endeavor. I've been watching since 2020 and I was so sad when you decided to step away from becoming a GM. I know one person doesn't matter much, but I sincerely believe in you and your chess. Win or lose, you will always have my support. Lots of love from Wisconsin.

[@shortking611]

levy is just wanted to say i bought your book! im a 500 elo player and i went to a chess tournament last Wednesday, everyone i played against was around 800-1400 and i won 3.5 out of 6 games. i decided to start playing chess seriously and i bought your book! i love it

[@hutchmusician]

Great performance! Good luck in your journey. :)

[@jennymulholland4319]

Huge well done from a fellow low ELO player!

[@yessirBR]

Meanwhile I fell off (1100 to 930)

[@SouICoffin]

Congrats brother

[@ajp1653]

Dude, hell yeah! Congrats on the outcome and super proud of you for putting yourself out there 💪💪

[@fields0020]

Hell yeah man. Love the journey, the transparency, the challenge to yourself, and you can count me rooting for you in any of your games. Good luck my dude

[@FedUPwithPPL]

I think meditation and Xanax could propel Levy up the rating ladder. His anxiety is the biggest obstacle here. I'd be focusing more on that than my skills.

[@bonkadoom]

not u trynna turn him into a beth harmon lol /j

[@sleepysoundz7573]

Thank you so much Levy. My chess too has followed the same trajectory as yours (Although my strength is nowhere close). And what I realize is that we are so good at gaslighting and convincing ourselves that we deserve better than other people and that we should be at a certain level. The ego is very subtle and in my opinion is the most common obsticle people face when they try to get better, even though they don't realize it. Embracing the struggle and going through this journey with complete honesty to ourselves is the only way to inherit virtue and fulfilment from the game. Everybody's improvement happens at a different pace. But that truly doesn't matter cause what we truly seek is only found when we destroy the small obstcles that stand in our way with our personal skills of determination and perseverance. That makes this journey lonely at times. But to see you come to terms with your weaknesses and progress at your own pace with wisdom you have gained along the way is very inspiring. I wish you all the best!

[@Carleslc]

I love to hear that! I watched your videos in your last tournaments with you being mentally devastated, and that was not healthy at all. I hope you learned that you need to believe in yourself without the worry and anxiety of the losses. Your road to GM is not a series of videos, is a life journey, keep that in mind! We're all supporting you, but you should not feel any pressure by us, there is no one you have to prove anything to, not even to yourself! Take your time, and enjoy the journey. You don't even need luck, you just need to believe and relax along the way.

[@jaskaranaklia]

I hope you make it dude. It's great to set personal goals. What's amazing is that just by trying (not even hitting GM), because of the size of your audience, you will inspire hundreds! Good luck!

[@RubberSheep]

Maybe even dozens

[@rgallitan]

Count one person inspired right here. With God as my witness by year's end I will reach 600!

[@jaskaranaklia]

@@RubberSheep I didn't want to say thousands but also didn't want to say dozens lol. I thought hundreds was a nice middle. But it doesn't matter, inspiring even 1 person is an enormous thing.

[@reillyleblanc1930]

Awesome. My favorite content has honestly always been watching you play or you examining your own games. Also I’ve been at this channel ever since I was a 300 rated noob and your videos are the sole reason i decided to try and improve my game. So to see you rekindle your goal of GM is amazing and I’m happy I get to watch and cheer you on throughout your future wins and losses. Best of luck

[@trickogamerx6081]

I am actually getting inspired by you and Gukesh because controlling your emotions and holding your nerves feels so damn gooddd! I mean it feels like you are a perfect human. I am trying to apply these things in my real life work

[@valerioadrianozuccarello]

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

[@EliteArsenal]

You don't really control your anger and frustration, you sort of channel it into good things

[@trickogamerx6081]

I think only my comments reply section is this much positive

[@aravensfeather2874]

I don’t think I’ve ever commented on a Gotham video before but dude I was so STOKED when I saw the title, 100% cheering you on on this journey man, best of luck!

[@kaiyubi9052]

Wow, this is massive! Wish you the best for the road ahead. Also, nailed the pronounciation of Köln!

[@milang.4992]

Which conference could that be?

[@t3hNinj0r]

Glad to see you coming back to the GM grind! Your tournament recap videos were great. Even though the grind might take years, it will be worth it. You can do it. Good luck!

[@skeyenexus]

4:59 had me ROLLING. You got this levy!! Your amazing. I don’t care weather you win or loose, im here for content either way.

[@sapphirewoolf14]

hell yeah Levy! You can do anything you set your mind to. There's potential for greatness in each of us. I'm rooting for you. Much love!

[@seandavidson]

This is great news, Levy. I enjoy your work. I think addressing how you handle loss will be key to progression, whether you win the game or not. Cheers.

[@nickdueber2586]

I can't wait!! good luck! this is my favorite content you've made in the past is your tournament games. If its too much to make the videos while you're in the tournament dont worry about it. just focus on you man. Talk positively to yourself when you're in the games and after the games.

[@mahnoorzaidi6943]

I'm so incredibly happy you're doing this! I started watching you about a month ago with your series of candidates being the best one yet! I really do hope you achieve your goal because you truly deserve it!

[@cinziarossello3934]

Thank you for sharing L. I’m a big fan because you made chess possible for me at the age of 60, when during covid I started playing and following you. It takes courage and compassion to be so open ❤ 🎉 I can relate and I feel less frustrated about myself because you create value by being human no matter what the rate is…and on top of content your entrainment makes it fun!

[@creedisagoodband]

Love this

[@consul4823]

Glad to hear it, Gotham! You’ve been an inspiration to so many - you can do this, man! You’ll have my unwavering support from the UK

[@TheChessNerd538]

Yes! Go Levy! I’m so excited that you’re playing over the board again! 🎉🎉

[@theteatree2457]

LETS GOOO LEVY!! I’m on my journey for a title rn so this is gonna be so fun haha, I’ll be doing it with u and rooting for you!

[@marvin501]

I have to admit that I enjoy this series the most. It is not about if you win or doing well. I cheer for you anyway and love to be part of the journey. Of course I hope that you make it in the end but part of the thrill as a supporter of yours is that we never know if your tournament will go well. We never know if there is a happy ending at the end of the season of the series. I sincerely wish you all the success and the ounce of good luck you need in certain moments.

[@Sachet378]

Good luck on your journey hope you go through with it and thanks for all the content you gave us over the years

[@submeg5183]

Hey Levy, this is great news - I have been watching your stuff for a while now, I have your courses on Chessly, and am slowly seeing an increase in my ability. Not only has your content made me better at chess, it reignited my interest in the game. Having seen your ups and downs in your belief at your chess ability, I truly believe you will reach the GM level, and I know a lot of people are cheering you on. Can't wait til I see the GM next to your name :)

[@pradipto3584]

Levy, I'm so proud you are getting back to the GM grind. I have been following you since the covid Road to GM days and I have loved every bit of your content and you, partly because I could somewhat relate to your setbacks and thought process. That being said, you have definitely got this! Lots of love from India!

[@Wargasm54]

Oh boy. Here we go again 😂. We’re pulling for you Levy! Just remember, put the anxiety to rest. You are doing better now because you have nothing to prove. When you feel yourself getting sweaty and your heartbeat starts racing just take a deep breath and say to yourself, “I’m a made man, why am I stressing?” You got this levy. The only obstacle in your way is fear of failure. But this is not a real obstacle. You’ve already made it in life. You got this man👊🏻

[@gcg8187]

With God in his heart, he cannot fail!

[@k3rvyn]

@@gcg8187 Isn't it cheating if he gets help by god?

[@gameknowledgeandit8934]

2026: levy: I BECAME GM!!!! hikrau: can i beat the lowest rated gm down a queen?

[@rellimrellim9199]

The self improvement and desire to grow is just inspiring. never thought I’d say I was proud of my content creator lol

[@Ryng98]

You are an inspiration. Not in chess but in another type of competition i felt the same way you did, and i know as a content creator the pressure is something very hard to manage, i retired or taked breaks a few times because of that, but now i wanna completely get in the spirit and seeing you doing the same is very inspiring. I'll be rooting for you, good luck :)

[@jRoy7]

I'm excited for this announcement and looking forward to your journey. I remember a few weeks ago I watched an old clip of Hikaru when asked why you wouldn't make grandmaster, and he basically said it was because you get too hesitant against players that are a lot stronger than you. Something along the lines that being afraid to lose prevents you from winning. Since you see that clearly yourself and are intentionally working to overcome it, I'm excited to see where it all leads. :) I've also found that tournament chess is some of my favorite chess content now. I always look forward to Anna's tournaments with her recaps and Pia's live commentary. Sort of sharing the experience with the player as they go through the tournament gives it a much different feel.

[@mtgxerxes]

HELL yeah Levy, go get it! You have everything that you need this time to complete your mission. You mentioned at one point that studying for GM in modern times can be a full time job. What are your expectations on how you will apply this to yourself? Do you have a plan of a certain amount of time per day/week to dedicate to study and prep? Or maybe it will it be business as usual until tournaments get closer? Obviously you're constantly in a state of practice with daily playing but I would imagine thats not quite the same. If only us low elo peons could help your training, instead all we can do is give our support! You've got this!

[@calebcortez1120]

LETS GOOO!!! i love watching your videos but the best videos are the ones where you go over your own games! I’ve waited 2 years for this moment🙏Even if you lost, you going through your thought process and analyzing the games was still the best to watch. Glad you took a break for your mental, but im overjoyed that your back🫡🫡 why do we fall gotham? SO WE CAN GET BACK UP‼️‼️‼️

[@timepass4783]

Levy I don’t know if you’ll read this but know that all of us are with you, you can’t imagine the amount of pride I would feel calling GM Levi Rozman(had to do it😛) and more so watching you grow, not just a new title but as a person and a player! You got me into chess in October 2022 and haven’t looked back All the best for the Journey!!!

[@calebwomack7532]

I’m so excited to hear this. I was torn for you back in 2022 when you “quit chess” due to all the pressure. Always been rooting for you through it all. Way to set an example of taking time to mentally heal and never giving up!

[@Lord7979]

I really enjoyed your first road to GM series! Good luck Levy you got this :)

[@funfact7188]

It takes serious courage to walk away from competitive chess for the sake of your mental health. It takes serious courage to decide you will be pursuing competitive chess again. And it takes serious courage to publicly state your aspiration of becoming a grandmaster. I understand that achieving the grandmaster title would mean so much to you, but you are already a winner in all the ways that matter.

[@PalladinPoker]

As a scrub who has watched high level chess for years but could end up on LEL, I'll chuck in my 2 cents of advice from the last tournaments. You play differently against opponents you consider stronger than yourself. This is fine for opening choice but it made you passive in the mid game which often leads to being put in high pressure positions. Take the same risks against everybody. Full time 2400-2500 rated players typically have better preparation, so open tournaments might be a good idea to avoid bespoke traps. Time management. Self explanatory, you are aware of the issue. Going into games with mental baggage from prior games and semi quitting after bad moves. Obviously I can't suggest a solution, the mental aspect is the hardest to train.

[@howtobeit9149]

The level of depth you covered grandmaster games such as the candidates would have surely improved your own abilities especially since your last attempt 2 years ago.

[@adariusb]

I look forward to seeing the journey. I myself started my OTB journey nearly a year ago and been reflecting on what my end goal will be. As of right now being a National Master is the most realistic goal and I hope to continue watching your videos so I can gather situational awareness in games cause like you I often overthink my position and run into time trouble. My chess rating is in the 1000s in OTB but with a few tournaments planned out these next few months I hope to get it higher. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and excited to see you achieve the GM title!

[@LinusSchalk]

bro i am so proud of you that you wont give up and try again to play professional chess an serious chess. whit that you are motivating i think all of us and we will support you no mather what. you can do it bro

[@TheMArcanjo]

What i love about Levy is that he is still really young and he is still finding out what his goals are... and I guess that's what life is about.. you live, you learn, you set some goals, you set some new goals and you achieve your very best... I'm really proud to see Levy becoming more mature, realizing what's important and going for it... good luck mate and godspeed

[@samirfarag6568]

So happy you feel like you can get back on that journey! really hope you achieve your goal of becoming GM and even more so that you have a great time on your way there. Hope you know that as fans (which granted we're pretty much strangers), no matter how this goes or where this new endeavor will take you, we are incredibly proud of how far you've come both with your own chess and with the channel, and we have great faith in you

[@till246]

I loved your old own tournament recaps but it was heartbreaking to see you frustrated and quite actually in shambles after every tournament that didn't go well and I was happy for you when you decided to quit even tho I craved GM Levy so badly. I hope you are going into this with better and different motivation and a new spirit for competitive play.

[@omaryazal1098]

Levy: "getting my rating out of the Absolute trash " Also has 2000 elo more than most of us

[@apersonthatlovescats]

Levy got me into chess, your tutorial helped me and I started watching you then. I was like dayum this must be a GM hes so good and then I realised. You deserve that title definitely

[@lucassipe9448]

As someone who reached 1800 at the end of year but got way too stressed/ anal about my chess (and dropped 200 points as a result), this is awesome! Looking forward to the efforts/ recaps, ill try to get my rating up as well!

[@johnnyboypv7]

Rooting for you! So excited to follow along on your journey! Godspeed!

[@ohmandprotector]

The stress that comes with being a creator has to be brutal. I love the honest and open minded approach you're taking with that in mind. Good luck Levy!

[@brothabarone]

Working your way all the way to the gm ranking title is truly a worthwhile and respectable pursuit. You can’t help but admire the amount of humbleness in a lot of the gm’s we have as streamers to entertain us and learn from. Gotham is definitely one of those exceptionally great people and he continues to put out well mannered and informative unwavering content for he is truly a good person and it’s appreciated.

[@lospollos5303]

Love this Gotham. I believe you can do it! I’ll be watching and supporting from the sidelines it will make for a very cool and inspirational story when you become a GM

[@miikomakes8083]

Best of luck man, I’m excited to see it again, hearing someone talk through review of their own game and experience really humanizes the game and makes any goals i have seem like it’s always possible with time

[@nicholas9718]

Hey Levy, love the content. My chess game has gotten much better thanks to you. I'm rooting for you GM!

[@mauriciocoutinho6912]

Happy for your new found motivation!! As a almost 30yo watcher, im hyped to see you try, no matter the result!! To put clear goals like GM as a content creator like this is very brave! Lets go man!

[@RobLarsen]

This is great to see. I'm really looking forward to this content and seeing you make it to GM.

[@Jorge_Ramirez584]

This video and the announcement made me smile. Not simply because I have been subscribed to Levy for over two years and regularly enjoy his content, but because the sheer motivation this video represents is incredible. Not only does it make you think he can do it, but it's also one of those "you can do anything you put your mind into if you believe in yourself" things. And that is, in my opinion, the most wholesome thing of Levy's content and of chess in general. It's one of the many things that make you challenge yourself every day and do better next time. I know Levy will get there sooner or later, and we will all be there to accompany him along the road and celebrate it with him when he gets it. Go get 'em GM Rozman!

[@Michelt007]

The greatest difficulty at improving at chess is that the good feelings of winning a game are not, not even close, in magnitude, as big as losing one game. It takes great resolution to see any loss as an opportunity to uncover a weakness in one's play and great determination to put the effort to root it out.