This is what it feels like to peak at Chess

In this video, I reach new chess peaks in the July 2021 Blitz Titled Arena on lichess.org
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0:00 Late joining the tournament
0:28 Starting with 2616 blitz rating (London time!)
6:04 Attempting to play a Stafford Gambit
12:24 "OH NO! DID I FALL FOR MY OWN THING?"
19:15 London Opening Trap higher-rated players fall for
25:57 KNIFE f5
31:38 Berserking was a dangerous decision
34:34 Hoping for a smooth victory with the Qf3 London
39:40 STAFFORD GAMBIT TIME
45:31 YOLO VS 2700 (DIRTY FINISH!)
52:15 "I THINK IT'S MATE..."
56:52 One point away from HIGHEST BLITZ RATING EVER
1:03:08 STAFFORD GAMBIT TIME
1:08:27 I'M RUNNING OUT OF HAND SANITIZER
1:15:42 Crab setup vs NM
1:20:44 Exact same line as before so I don't have to think!
1:24:30 Tough fight vs strong Grandmaster
1:30:48 A pleasant Trompovsky game
1:33:52 Very symmetrical London vs GM
1:39:58 Opponent waits until the last second to berserk
1:45:36 "IS THAT A MOUSESLIP?"
1:52:08 A WILD KINGSCRUSHER APPEARS
1:58:13 Everyone refuses to accept the Stafford :(
2:02:46 How I handle the Catalan
2:09:00 TOP 50!
2:14:42 "I guess this is what it feels like to be peaking!"
2:21:06 DANISH GAMBIT TO FINISH TOURNAMENT
Final results: lichess.org/tournament/jul21bta
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Eric Rosen
4579 Laclede Ave 205
St. Louis, MO 63108
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See Eric in the chess documentary Chess State (2015): vimeo.com/ondemand/chessstate
Chess book recommendations: imrosen.com/book-recommendati...
London Opening 8-hour video course: www.ichess.net/sale/8020-tact...
#chess #ericrosen

[@abrahamgatling5056]

16:04 "It's supposed to help with focus" Blurry Eric: *_focuses_*

[@JohnHazl]

"It's supposed to help with focus" he says, while making a drink instead of focusing on the game

[@coffeedude]

Lool

[@sebaa1095]

That timing lmao

[@fmcountto123]

2:18:07 Eric's opponent notices their rook on c1 could be better positioned, so they spend four moves switching it with their rook on c2.

[@nourthedoor]

Backwards rooks are a huge problem!

[@gerald02121]

Hahaha, good eyes. That is funny

[@psychohist]

It worked, too!

[@maciejglinski6564]

That was super funny. Good find.

[@Fergus316]

39:20 Eric beats IM SmoothAsAHedgehog. Eric: "That was pretty smooth"

[@sondrepedersen7919]

And the next sentence: 'thank you hairy bum' Not so smooth

[@chair8833]

lol, i just realized that hedgehogs are not suppose to be smooth

[@brendanmostek4723]

Youre dangerous Eric, I've been telling myself "I'm going to bed after this next game" for the past hour and a half

[@cauler6627]

Exactly! SMH… With a L0L to boot

[@kruksog]

Eric answering chat's questions while his time expires just fills me with rage and anxiety 🤣

[@eshw23]

Eric disrespecting his opponents by being able to read and respond to chat at the same time

[@aesaphyr]

Witnessing Andrew Tang's ability to read and respond to chat while berserking hyper or ultra bullet games is peak anxiety.

[@vitorcastro42]

@@aesaphyr and answering his dad phone calls

[@MegaMarko8]

I would have said "with awe and admiration"

[@cauler6627]

Almost everything about Eric fills me with rage and anxiety… Yet… YET! I’ve seen almost every one of his videos… What does that say about me!? Am I a mental masochist? Or a connoisseur of all things, including annoying and obnoxious, brilliant (I’m gonna choose the former and the latter;-) No?

[@LeoLukasievicz]

chat: do you need queens? eric: depends on the position i loved the answer 😂😂😂

[@32braveheart]

5:58 Eric is comedy gold.

[@topherharrison8042]

Please add a shirt to your store that says "Treat every blunder as a gambit" I'd buy that in a heartbeat 🤣

[@harrisonw4559]

Seconded!

[@thomaspaine2217]

You said "Luft" correct the first time.

[@patriot1303]

I was blown away when you checkmated with a knight and pawn

[@Immo21]

Hey Eric! Love your Tournament Videos, helps me learn a lot about. Please upload more of the Tournaments you're playing, they are so awesome!

[@insight827]

If a beginner is ever confused about what profylaxis is just say “I have a plan of never mind”

[@vivvpprof]

Prophylaxis is when you medicate before you get a disease. Or when you show youngsters drugs before they get addicted, which has no effect but still is enough to get you state funding. Basically it's doing something before you need to deal with a problem.

[@TDOLLA]

I love how Eric has these sort of aggro titles and then when you click on the video he is literally the calmest man alive who's voice is the verbal equivalent of drinking tea with honey in it.

[@lecobra418]

11:44 I'm pretty glad I saw on the spot something Eric missed: Ne3+ forking the King and the Bishop. :)

[@draevonmay7704]

Eric peaks his blitz rating and gets 69th place simultaneously. nice.

[@charlesfunnell3101]

So excited for a long chess vid! Just started and I am so stoked :)

[@McPocketCrafterHD]

just a friendly hint from a german: the u in luft is not emphasized and not long so its "luft" not "luuft" :)

[@mehdia5176]

Life is already sufficiently complicated and we don’t need to make it any harder for each other. Luft or luuft or even luuuft, we got the meaning, language has served its purpose.

[@einmensch6694]

@@mehdia5176 Actually, if I didn't know what he means, I (native german) would not understand it. Same with "Zugzwang", which is just pronounced quite horribly everywhere.

[@surveil3548]

@@einmensch6694 why do you even care when a non native speaker mispronounces a word that has a W after a Z which itself goes after a G? he isn't even a non native speaker, he simply doesn't speak german lmao

[@matthewdallalana9869]

At 11:45 he had knight e3 forking the king and bishop

[@Cardtrix77]

I’ve been waiting for another arena video let’s go!

[@benbarri1982]

It’s always a good day when eric posts a tournament vid

[@tolgish1]

I missed that Titled Arena videos. Thanks!!

[@glennmathias1805]

Very Impressive. It is interesting to watch your thought process. I enjoyed this video very much. Thanks.

[@jannik207]

21:35 As your opponent I would be very afraid if you played Nf5 while holding a knife at OTB games 😂

[@bailey4650]

These long tournament videos are my favorite

[@joeb4142]

Amazing how soothing and calming Eric’s voice is compared with the stress induced when he slowly contemplates moves as his remaining time quickly diminishes.

[@Guineapigs_181]

he's so wholesome tho I like this guy

[@troycongdon]

Luft is German for air (you are creating breathing room for the king) and would be pronounced with the same vowel sound as the English word “Book”.

[@Sirzacharia]

I really enjoy the long tournaments that are 3 or 5 minute games

[@rossgeller6650]

It's weird that you are the most entertaining chess player I've ever watched including nakamura and carlsen

[@alandouglas2789]

Nakamura is not entertaining at all lol… What does elo score have to do with entertainment anyways?

[@rossgeller6650]

@@alandouglas2789 I ment blitz nakamura the real fun games..but stiill watching Eric is ma favorite part

[@isaactodman2015]

Just finished watching this great tornament

[@mratkovich]

Didn’t Magnus peak with the highest blitz rating ever on this platform with this tournament?

[@fivehighflush]

He had something like a 95% wr over 35 games or something absurd. Lol

[@austinnunez2031]

out of 34 games he won 32, he set the 3 records for the site: highest blitz rating achieved, highest win streak in a titled arena, and highest winning percentage in a titled arena

[@12jswilson]

@@austinnunez2031 94% win rate against titled players is certifiably insane

[@vitorcastro42]

What was his peak blitz rating?

[@12jswilson]

@@vitorcastro42 he reached 3136 on Lichess.

[@drewmiddleton9715]

the stafford gambit that starts at 1:03ish is one of the craziest games I've ever seen. I want to study it in more depth - confused why opponent can't play be3 after you play qe6 unpinning it.

[@inktag9190]

24:01 “How do you write an academic essay, Eric?” “Just google it”

[@rmendeljacobs2832]

That was the coolest Stafford gambit I've seen

[@ajedrezz]

Great chess battle, bro!

[@WretchedTom]

what an event, peaking with magnus

[@goutvols103]

Another epic tournament Eric. At 32:03, would knight B4 being a good move as well? Thanks in advance.

[@dukedp5227]

in a video around three years ago you spoke about cheap flights to london and just generally mentioned how you pay attention to cheap flights. As you are going to Russia now I am wondering, do you shape some travel trips depending on what cheap tickets you find?

[@nabeelnawzar]

1:07:10 "delayed half crab" Lmfao 🤣🤣

[@eboatwright_]

POV: You're playing Eric Rosen: Eric Rosen: "Oh, this is a fun line!" *starts sweating

[@chesscity3924]

I have learnt so much from watching you Eric! Have started my own channel, a video tributed to you coming soon! 😅

[@AbhishekBera]

Eric swallowing while thinking is my kinda ASMR

[@doctorbea]

2:14:49 "You are better than 99.9% of Blitz players."

[@kevinsholisticrecordingstu916]

What a Stafford to celebrate your new peak rating

[@asliuf]

2:11:00 can anyone help me understand what's so dangerous about playing b3, allowing Qb4? knight retreats to c2, everything's defended and queen can't infiltrate?

[@B0mbs0nda3dge]

On move 56 after white went Kg4 wouldn’t Ne3 be the best move to fork? @11:45

[@andymion]

Happy birthday Stephen Gray!

[@UnitaryInstinct]

What new camera did you get Eric?

[@KF1]

If suffering from the plethora of ads, scroll just past on the bar to clear the lot and return to start. Wtf laundry detergent, get out of the way it's chess time.

[@jwr1970]

that actually works! thanks.

[@brianstark1527]

Or get an ad blocker... lol

[@dgwallac2990]

Not even going to lie, I put this on to fall asleep, I watch the first few games and then pass out and then the next night I pick up where I remember

[@gm_ahmed]

love the subtle Bitcoin..

[@rubikashree7724]

this is free anxiety the silent kind

[@frederickmcclure5027]

Highlight of the video was learning who was a good cat

[@martins.7021]

1:15:20 I've never seen someone feels kind of bad but with so satisfying smile...

[@nathan9901]

"among us Carlsen" *Checks date* You're excused this time Eric...

[@thomasr7129]

You are so relaxed, it is almost scary... Do you do any meditation, relaxation exercises? :)

[@sashaboydcom]

And this is what it feels like to peek at chess 👀

[@yudeoyude852]

Does anyone know which london system variation at 13:04 Qa4 and Ba6

[@rossgeller6650]

No one: Eric: arrrh..oh no my!!

[@vivvpprof]

40:51 incredible that the engine gives this 0.00 :D

[@nikitaovsov8687]

Black hasn't got anything better than perpetual check in the line which was played

[@xtxmidnightxtx1784]

38:45 is Bxh6 playable?

[@romainblackburn8158]

apart from your playing style, I think you are a very relaxing person - I think Im gonna play your videos for that purpose - just to relax

[@krytycznyziemniok2394]

2:02:08 Opponent fails to play en passant, is left with no option but to resign.

[@bobkreme2175]

my corona heroes are rosen, hansen and of course naroditsky ❤️❤️

[@sollertia_]

0:15:43 was Qxd4 a clean pawn? Neutralizes all the fork threats as well

[@eric-rosen]

Qxd4 almost works, but it's met with Qxf8! Kxf8 Nxd4

[@sollertia_]

@@eric-rosen Dah! I just saw that there were no forks after Qxf8 and forgot the queen was still hanging lol thanks

[@iguana5979]

Nykterstein's winning streak looks sexy

[@LeonelEBD]

51:48 noooo then yesss the time yesss hahahaha so dirty still so happy to c u win that

[@lucasgehrtsdeambrosispinhe8973]

Brazilian guy in 1:23:39 , you are a legend

[@thejazzcaptain]

Yooooo Todd and Holland is two blocks from me, quality place

[@ShionYTS]

39:25 Thank you Hairy Bum 😅🤣😂

[@Speedster___]

Against Pierrotface those fork misses were slightly painful

[@enLight78]

Wooohooo I just encountered playing a crab 🦀 opening. In bullet chess. Wasn't prepared. Though I sacked my Bisschop Bxg6+ fxg6 Qxg6+ etc. Having crab for dinner!

[@BrianRussell76]

FWIW, murder_bot may take their name from the excellent Murderbot Diaries scifi series by Martha Wells.

[@davidgustavsson4000]

On the pronunciation of "luft": same vowel sound as "looft", but short.

[@DaBoondocks7161]

1:06:42 free queen right? Or am I missing something

[@danielonline7181]

What defines Tea?- Master Eric *Master OOgway Joined the chat and left as he could not answer*

[@user-xl5ct2ou4m]

1:03:04 this is NICE

[@jwr1970]

just watched this, lot of lol's. thnx

[@mathgeniuszach]

1:45:49 qf4 would be a novelty XD

[@akkas3936]

5:43 how can it be a mate? Pls explain🤔

[@Squandarious]

Thumbnails are getting better, lets go.

[@agnisen25]

At this point Eric is just going out of his way to find En passant mate !!

[@yorickstrangefield2976]

40:12 Why does Eric play this 2-piece gambit? It's just ridiculously unsound, right? I guess he just figures he'll run out the opponent's clock?

[@liopp226]

as a german i can give you a hint on how to pronounce the word luft: just say it like the double oo in look! great content as always

[@LeonelEBD]

Or remembering the german air force :)

[@ChessJourneyman]

It's pretty common knowledge in Europe, doesn't take a native...

[@mlsanica7618]

DAHH MY SLEEP SCHEDULE!!!

[@georgeconstantin1913]

1:07:00 wtf was this game dude... such an amazing game lol

[@misteryosano2966]

11:44 missed the fork

[@ZenPossum]

16:04 "Supposed to help with focus" *Camera focuses*

[@mdnazeer6025]

1:03:44 why not queen H4?

[@otomarrudolph651]

11:43 isn't there a fork of the King and Bishop?

[@infectedfox9345]

Yh but it’s easy to miss in time trouble

[@asliuf]

2:14:50 "you are better than 99.9% of blitz players" I'M SO PROUD

[@jonathanleonard1152]

Are you familiar with “The Second Empire Strikes Back”?

[@alonshafran4466]

The hand sanitizer XD

[@TheMotogee]

"Let's play a London ... I have a knife" -IM Eric Rosen, 2021

[@self-righteousideologue9398]

I laughed out loud at that part. I shouldn't have, because knife crime in London is pretty bad, but I don't think Eric gets political too often, so it's funny when he does

[@matteur11]

1:13:01 there’s queenxa3?

[@luqman7107]

Missed the fork 11:45

[@Andrew-vy6rr]

I saw Eric streaming this and I tried too late to get in and play him!

[@leadnitrate2194]

You're a titled player?

[@Andrew-vy6rr]

@@leadnitrate2194 I saw late that it was titled players only, it wouldn't let me join cause it said it was too late, but i'm not titled so it wouldn't have worked anyways

[@Amoeba_Podre]

I was hoping for a Grand Prix

[@AnteSocial86]

"I have a plan to- ..nevermind." should be on a shirt.

[@TheDannytaz]

19:30, the birth of a meme?