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This week\u2019s guest is two- time Dutch Champion, eleven-time Olympian, author and former candidate for the World Championship Title, GM Paul Van der Sterren. Paul had an unusual career trajectory, in that after 15+years as a chess professional, his \u201cbreakout\u201d year occurred at the age of 37. What happened that year (1993)? That is one of the many questions tackled in his fantastic, newly-translated game collection/memoir In Black and White: The Chess Autobiography of a World Championship Candidate. In New in Chess Magazine, GM Matthew Sadler calls this book \u201csimply the finest chess book I\u2019ve ever read.\u201d After retiring from professional chess, Paul became a meditation teacher. His new book, Mindful Chess, traces the development of his mindfulness practice and offers reflections and tips for chess players interested in the topic. In addition to reflecting on the lessons from these books, Paul shares wonderful stories about his clashes with the Polgar sisters, Korchnoi, Tal and many others. I cannot recommend Paul\u2019s books highly enough, and I think that this interview will give you a good sense of the lessons they contain. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.\xa0\xa0\n\n\n0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out new courses like FM Dalton Perrine\u2019s The French Simplified.\xa0If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod!\xa0\nhttps://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro\n\n0:01- Free previews of Paul\u2019s books are available from New in Chess here:\xa0\nIn Black and White\nMindful Chess\xa0\n\n0:03- GM Van der Sterren achieved a legendary chess breakthrough in 1993 at age 37 . What changed?\xa0\n\n10:30- In his one career Candidates\u2019 match, Paul lost to a young GM Gata Kamsky. How does he reflect on that match now?\xa0\n\n16:00- For Chess in Black and White, how did Paul remember so many details from throughout his chess career?\xa0\n\n24:00- Aging comes across as a major theme of the book, Chess in Black and White.\xa0Was this by design?\xa0\nMentioned: GM Matthew Sadler, Sasha Chapin\u2019s All the Moves That Matter, GM Ben Finegold\xa0\n\n32:00- Patreon mailbag question:\n\u201cWhat is Paul\u2019s opinion as to why adults struggle to improve at chess?\u201d\nMentioned: The Facebook Chess Book Collector\u2019s Group\xa0\n\n41:00- We discuss Mindful Chess. When did Paul become interested in meditation and Western philosophy?\xa0\n\nMentioned; The Bhagavad Gita, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Vidit\n\n50:00-\xa0Patreon mailbag question: \u201cDoes GM Van der Sterren have any recommendations for connecting psychology and chess?\u201d\xa0\nMentioned; Mental Toughness in Chess, The Rider by Tim Krabbe, The Essential Sosonko\xa0\n\n55:00- Story time! What was it like to play the young Polgar sisters, Jan Timman, Korchnoi and Jan Timman?\xa0\n\n1:22:00- One more Korchnoi story!\n\n1:24:00- Paul discusses his work at the historic Max Euwe Chess Center.\xa0\nMentioned: You can help support the Max Euwe via this link:\nhttps://steunactie.nl/actie/het-max-euwe-centrum-gaat-verhuizen-the-max-euwe-centre-is-moving/-29071\n\n1:30:00- Will there be an update to Paul\u2019s excellent opening encyclopedia, Fundamental Chess Openings?\xa0\n\nThanks so much to GM Van der Sterren for joining me!\xa0\n\nIf you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:\nhttps://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess\n\n\n\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices