Introduction

Sometimes in life, you get to know to meet and develop a relationship with complete strangers in a totally unexpected way.

Back in 2020, I had a phase during which I read exclusively chess-related novels. ¹ Among other things, I stumbled on the book The Greenbecker Gambit which is a character novel revolving around a completely delusional and mentally deranged chess player who is way past his prime, but who is totally engrossed in his own greatness and who still believes he has a shot of becoming the World Champion. ² I really liked all the grotesque and humour, but also the pain ingrained in the novel and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

So, after finishing the book, I did the perfectly natural thing any self-respected chess blogger would do – I reached out to the author of the novel, Ben Graff, and asked him whether he would do an interview… which then I delayed and procrastinated over taking forward for almost a full year.

Fortunately, in the end, I did manage to come up with a set of questions and Ben – an extremely likable and approachable guy – decided he still wants to have something to do with an unreliable millennial and agreed to do the interview – which I am happy to bring to the light of the sun today!

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Ben Graff is a man with a very rich biography and an impressive and inspiring life story. He describes himself primarily as a writer and chess journalist – he has written two books (one chess-related and one non-chess related) and has been a regular contributor to Chess Magazine, he writes for The Chess Circuit and The Gazette (The Blind Chess Association Magazine) and also for Authors Publish and a number of other publications.

But the incredible thing is – writing is not his only (or even primary) profession – for the last 20+ years, he has been working as a Corporate Affairs Professional at the National Grid, where he currently holds the position of Senior Executive Advisor. He is also – by his own admission – a complete chess addict ³ Ben has been playing the game for several decades on the club level.

Considering he is also very open, verbose and approachable and that we share a lot of similar interests (for example, he extensively wrote about mental health and chess), I once again found myself in the position of wanting to ask too many questions in a too short amount of time.

This will, therefore, most probably turn out to be another very long interview. However, we can hear and learn a lot from Ben’s rich experience as a chess player, chess writer, manager and father, I hope that dear reader, you will forgive me and that you will be as excited to read this interview as I was when preparing the questions and reading Ben’s answers!

Hope you will enjoy it!

About Ben’s job and writing

Q: Hi Ben and welcome to Chessentials! It is my big pleasure to have you for the interview and I want to thank you for being so approachable and willing to share your rich experience and expertise and for being patient for how long it took for this interview to unfold.

Given your diversity, it was very hard for me to structure this interview and decide on the very first topic. I usually start with chess, but in this particular case, I thought it might make some sense to reverse the order and start by talking a little bit about yourself and your writing.

I have briefly mentioned your writing credentials in the introduction, but perhaps we could kick off this interview by presenting the readers with a more overall overview.

Therefore, to begin with, let me ask you. How and when did you first get into writing?

A: Thanks for having me, Vjeko. I really admire your work and it is great to talk with you and to be on Chessentails!

I always wanted to be a writer. That and chess have always been my two passions. I did start writing at quite a young age. In my twenties, I wrote a novel, but it did not get published. Over the years I wrote a few short stories and articles for club chess magazines, but I was not ready to take on a bigger project. I just could not see a pathway for myself into writing for a long time. So, I would say the writing was a long-standing dream, but one that I did not make a reality for years.

More recently, I finally got going and published my first book, Find Another Place. This was really the story of my family, albeit it does have some chess in it. Last year I wrote a chess-based novel called The Greenbecker Gambit, which charts the course of a delusional chess player who is convinced that he is the rightful world-champion.

Q: Aha, so there was a long period from your first serious endeavor into writing and publishing your first book. How come that happened at a “relatively late” point in your life, considering you have always wanted to become a writer? Was there anything preventing you from becoming a writer earlier? 

A: I think probably a lack of confidence stopped me from becoming a writer earlier. Like many people who want to write, I spent far more time talking about writing than actually writing. It is easy to inadvertently hold yourself back. I certainly could have got myself more organized a little sooner.

I would say to anyone who wants to be a writer, that there is no magic formula. There probably is never going to be a perfect time either. I would just encourage everyone to go for it. The hardest thing is to start, but once you take that first step, everything that follows becomes easier.

Somebody once said to me that the difference between writers and non-writers is that writers stick at it and finish their books. I think there is a lot in that. In many ways writing is about 95% perspiration and 5% inspiration. It tends to reward those who persist and are prepared to put the hard-yards in. I wish I had realized this a bit sooner!

Q: Do you ever regret not becoming a writer earlier?

No regrets. Things generally work out for a reason. I really enjoy what I am doing now, and it feels like the right time. I certainly hope to do a lot more writing in the years ahead. All any of us can really do is to seize the day. Look forward, not back.

Besides, I am a mere youngster compared to David Jenkins who published his first chess novel Spurious Games in his eighties! It is never too late for anyone to make a start.

Q:  That is a very healthy and mature way of looking at things, even though this ‘zen’ / ‘delayed gratification’ / ‘being content with what you have’ mindset is sometimes very difficult to achieve. ⁴

So, with all the above being said – what WAS the thing that “finally nudged” you in the right direction? How did you get from “hoping to write more” to actually “writing”?

A: A few things happened that finally got me started. Sadly, I lost both my parents within a six-year period. Both died quite young and somewhat unexpectedly. I realised that I knew a lot of stories that would eventually be lost unless they were written down and I thought this might be something that I could do.

My mother had always encouraged me to write more. I saw a counselor for a bit after her death, who would always say to me “life is now”. I recognized that I could not keep putting off starting to write forever. Somehow, I was not scared anymore. I just wanted to write come what may.

Q: Now that you mentioned your job – you have told me before the interview you have worked at the National Grid for more than 20 years. You started immediately after college, right? Could you tell us what your job is and what activities does it entail?

After University, I knew I had to find a way to earn some money, so I got myself a job at National Grid. I guess I am unusual in doing over twenty years at one company. The world has changed so much, I cannot imagine many millennials starting out now who will stay so long with one company!

I have spent more time in Corporate Affairs than anywhere else, but I have also worked in commercial, regulatory and other policy-based jobs and as Chief of Staff for several Board Members.

I get to work with great people, and I enjoy what I do. A lot of my day job in National Grid entails corporate writing, such as press releases and internal comms announcements as well as policy papers. This isn’t creative in the sense that writing a novel is, but it helps me hone my technique. I think as well as reading a lot, getting plenty of words under your belt one way or another is a great way to develop as a writer.

I think having a day job, chess and writing gives me a nice balance and I am lucky in this regard.

Q: Hmm, I know from experience it is very difficult to balance a day job with any serious endeavor/hobby. Do you think your job got in the way of your writing? How do you manage to find a healthy balance between writing, job and all other challenges life blesses us with?

A: It can be a challenge. Perhaps there are times when I am busy at work and I find myself writing a little less, but essentially, I have a good routine. I am a morning person and will get up early most days (and at weekends) to write. I am quite disciplined, and I find I do my best creative work before the normal day has started. It never feels like a chore to me.

People often say writers should try and write a little bit each day. I am not 100% sure this is essential. You must listen to your body a bit. Sometimes a writer needs space to recharge the batteries, but equally finding the time of day when you write best and structuring things such that you can carve out this space to write reasonably regularly, is important. It is like everything else, once you form the right habits it becomes easier.

I generally feel the early morning is for writing, the day for my job and the evening for chess and relaxing. It seems to work!

I should also just mention that my day job has given me some interesting experiences. I have worked with some fantastic people and I fear I would become too introverted without it. Work has also given me a stack of material I might write about in the future!

About Ben’s first book, Find Another Place

Q: I am sorry you had to endure such a personal tragedy. You actually talk about it in greater detail in the book itself. But before we get to that question, could you tell us a bit more about the book Find Another Place itself? How did the book come to life and what is it about?

A: When my father was very ill with cancer, I spent a lot of time on the motorway driving to and from his house to spend time with him. I thought a lot about the past and the future. I think subconsciously the idea for the book was seeded on those drives.

Find Another Place was based on the theme that “Families are their stories” and looked back at my parent’s lives (including my sometimes-challenging relationship with my father). It also drew on papers, letters, and the journal my Grandfather (who had always wanted to be a writer, but despite having talent never quite made it) had written shortly before his own death. While it is not a chess book, it does also have some chess in it. I did write a little about playing simuls against Korchnoi, Nunn and Norwood and gave some thoughts on Fischer’s and others. In some ways Find Another Place helped me to realise what an integral part chess also played in my life.

For the first time, I was writing something for its own sake. I was determined just to write it and was fatalistic that whatever happened would happen. This was a story I had to share. I showed it to a publisher, and they asked me if I would be prepared to write a little more about my own experience of being a parent to add to that of being the son. I did and they published it! That was really where everything started…

Q: So the book was an attempt to tell your family’s story and reflect on your parents’ deaths?

A: Yes. Of course, as well as being very personal experiences for me, events like this are also universal. Sadly, all of us lose people we are close to over time. We are all destined to continually revaluate and re-remember. To try and make sense of both the past and the future. I have been grateful that several readers have told me that in some small way Find Another Place has helped them to make sense of their own similar experiences.

Q: You mentioned you relied heavily on your grandfather’s diary when writing this book. It is apparent in itself, as some chapters are narrated directly from his perspective. Are those chapters of the book edited or direct quotations from his diary?

A: It is funny. My Grandfather had terrible handwriting. While his journal had been typed up, the typed copy was lost. I had the original handwritten version. I had to work with a handwriting expert to decipher it. Other than the odd word, we did manage to do this. There were places where I edited slightly, and I did not use all the journal within Find Another Place, but it was very important to me that I remained faithful to what he had actually written.

Q: You mentioned your grandfather always wanted to become a writer, yet never become one. Was this “unfulfilled” desire of his one of the factors that motivated you to write the book once you stumbled upon it within the diary?

A: Yes. My grandfather actually concluded his journal by writing:

“I tried to write stories about spies and criminals, a world of which I had no experience. Little did I realise that the family I have just described provided the material for any number of novels. By the time I did realise it, it was too late.”

This certainly affected me. I think it is good advice for any aspiring writer more generally. It is certainly much easier to write about what you know than what you don’t.

Q: What did the writing process look like? How long it did take? What were some difficulties you encountered when writing? Was there ever a moment when you thought you wouldn’t be able to complete the book?

A: It was strange in some ways. When you have not had a book published before, you always wonder a bit as to whether the stack of material on your laptop will ever turn into anything that anyone else will see.

The final chronology of Find Another Place is not how I first drafted it. I actually wrote the passages about my father’s illness and death first, as they were really the trigger for me: our experience as a family as we faced his terminal cancer together. Ultimately, I reordered it a bit.

I also wrote about childhood. Being a parent and what I learned from that about the way I had been parented. Christmases, summer holidays, work and play. The quieter moments and those that were more dramatic. Happy times and sad – all that extraordinary range of events we call family life. As well of course as writing about chess.

There were times when the writing would make me laugh. Typing the ending was not the only point in the process that made me cry. I remembered things I had not thought about for a long time. I saw some things from a different perspective, years on from the event, through the eyes of family members now gone.

Nothing stays the same, even the past. There were even times when I played a little less chess so that I could get the writing done, albeit not many. This is how Find Another Place came into being.

About chess and writing about chess

Q: So far we have talked about your writing and your first book. Now, since this is a chess blog it shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone that you are also heavily “invested” in the chess world. You have already mentioned there were points in your life where you played a little less chess. The game is also present throughout Find Another Place and your second book, The Greenbecker Gambit – a chess novel – was the main reason we started our interaction and decided to do this interview.

But before we get to the actual book, I would like to talk a bit about your more chess background and how you started writing about chess.

So, allow me to ask you the generic question I ask each and every person I interview: When and how did you first get into chess? 

I was taught to play chess by my father. He was not particularly strong, but he knew enough to get me started. I would have been seven or eight. I went to a primary school (for kids up to the age of 11) where the Headmaster was very keen on chess. He would organize an annual tournament, which would usually result in me playing my younger brother in the final! My secondary school also had a chess club, which I joined on my first day.  It was through the teachers there that I started playing for the school, then the junior county team and a local adult club. I played my first weekend at Congress when I was 12 and have been playing ever since.

Q: What is your pure chess playing experience? 

Occasional moments of delight interspersed with lots of pain! My highlights include drawing with John Nunn and beating Tania Sachdev in simuls. I have also had good simul games against Korchnoi, Short and Norwood. I was third in the U-2000 section at the British in 2019, and I have won a handful of majors and done OK in some Opens.

I grew up idolizing the world’s best chess players and I hoped one day to join the ranks of the elite. The truth is, I am obviously not very strong. My current FIDE is 1860ish I think, but I absolutely love playing and the game has given me so much. I play regularly (pre lockdown OTB and currently online) in our local chess league. In normal times I would like to take part in some sort of OTB event once a month or so.

Q: Now even though you might be underestimating how difficult it is to achieve “even” 1860 FIDE (it may not be “strong” compared to the world elite, but it is definitely “strong” compared to an average chess player), it can be safely said you haven’t distinguished yourself as a chess player as you perhaps hoped to do in your youth.

However, you certainly managed to distinguish yourself as a chess writer, as over the last couple of years you have written extensively and regularly about chess in various publications and, ultimately, in your 2^nd book. Given your love for the game and writing, it seemed inevitable it would eventually happen, but I am still curious when and how did it exactly happen, following the publication of Find Another Place?

While Find Another Place was not a chess book, it did have some chess in it as we have touched on, and the publishers showed it to Richard Palliser at Chess Magazine. He liked it and let me write an article about the book.

I asked Richard if he would take more of my work and I started by writing pieces on playing in the British and being a spectator at the World Championship when it was in London. This morphed over time into me becoming a regular contributor. I generally write features on either my own chess experiences, chess history, book reviews and interviews and a few more varied topics.

For example, this year I have written pieces on “Chess anti-heroes”, the “Roaring Twenties,” (outlining why the 2020s will ultimately hopefully be as positive for chess as the 1920s ultimately were) and a look back at old chess magazines.

I am also interested in chess in the community (for example, I’ve written about the role chess can play in helping people with mental health challenges, and the blind and partially sighted chess scene.) There is certainly plenty to explore!

Q: Aha, so you basically knocked on some doors and one thing led to another?

Indeed. It is amazing how one thing tends to lead to something else. I now also write and do Podcasts for The Chess Circuit with Adam Raoof and I write for The Gazette (which is the Blind Chess Association magazine.) My mother was a teacher at the College for the Blind for many years, which is why I have always wanted to be a supporter of their fantastic work.

I have done a little bit of mainstream media and I am the chess consultant on a short horror film. (I’ve no idea if it will end up being made or not!) It is amazing what projects come along when you least expect!

Q: As customary for many success stories – it seems to me many of these opportunities happened due to people being willing to provide you with them. Apart from Richard and Adam, were there other people who helped you on your journey toward becoming a chess writer?

Yes, Richard and Adam were of great help!

I also must give credit to Carl Portman. He has written a well-known book called Chess Behind Bars and writes regularly for Chess. Seeing his work made me realise that you did not necessarily need to be a GM to write about chess. That other experiences and perspectives could also be valid. They always say you should write about what you know, and even if I was not a strong player, Carl gave me the confidence to see that I might still have something to contribute. Besides being a great role model, he was so encouraging when I talked to him about writing, and I do see him as a bit of a mentor.

Q: Circling back to your own chess game – do you have any goals in regard to it? Any willingness/motivation to improve? Or are you satisfied with where you are and trying to enjoy it as much as possible?

A: No real goals. Just to play and enjoy it. I am really looking forward to OTB chess starting up again in England (hopefully in the summer.) This last year of lockdowns has made me realize how important the camaraderie of a tournament or a club night really is, and I can’t wait to get back to these!

About Ben’s second book, The Greenbecker Gambit

Q: I think the previous part of the interview gives us a great context for the next topic your second, chess-themed book devoted to a delusional and part-tragic part-comical antihero Tennesse Greenbecker, titled The Greenbecker Gambit.

When and how did you get the idea of writing a chess book?

I had always wanted to write a chess-based novel. The Greenbecker Gambit was really formed from two separate chess-related ideas. When I was covering the Carlsen – Caruana world chess championship match in London, I wondered what might happen if a member of the audience attempted to storm the event, claiming that they in fact were Magnus’s rightful challenger. Then I got to thinking, what kind of person might this be? Could such a claim be perfectly logical to the protagonist?

I also wondered whether someone could use chess as a way of giving their life meaning, even if how they described their achievements at the board did not necessarily accord with objective reality. I imagined somebody holed up in a late-night café with a copy of Bobby Fischer’s My 60 Memorable Games and a backstory about their chess which may or may not be true. Either way though, for this person, their sense of their chess was what kept them going and gave their life meaning.

So it was that I came up with Tennessee Greenbecker.

Q: How and when did you decide to put that idea on paper and start working on the book? When you started writing the book, did you already have an agreement with the publisher? Or did you sign a contract upon sending them the manuscript, as for the case with Find Another Place?

A: James Essinger is the proprietor of The Conrad Press and he has a keen interest in chess fiction, having co-authored The Mating Game with WIM Jovanka Houska, which is currently being made into a film. He has also published books by GM Jonathan Levitt, Mark Ozone’s Chess Fever and soon will publish Carl Portman’s Chess Crusader, confessions of an amateur chess player.

I did have other offers, but James really “got” the book. We agreed terms after it was finished but had talked prior to this and I was delighted to work with James.

Q: As mentioned above, the very idea of winning the World Championship match is at the center of the plot of The Greenbecker Gambit. But it is primarily a character-driven novel, at the center of which is the main protagonist, Tennessee Greenbecker, a former top (?) chess player who toward the end of his life becomes delusional and paranoid. What can you tell us about Tennessee Greenbecker? How did you build his character and come up with some of his traits (e.g. fascination with pyromancy, fear of “State”)?

A: I certainly started with the idea of a character who had somehow managed to convince himself that he was the greatest chess player in the world. I guess there was always the question, if someone believes this, what else might they also believe? I had a lot of fun building out his inner logic, such that things which might seem ridiculous to someone else appear perfectly logical from his somewhat confused perspective.

It was clear that Tennessee Greenbecker would need a chess hero, and Bobby Fischer was the obvious example. It goes beyond just owning a copy of his book. Tennessee Greenbecker is convinced that he had a close personal relationship with Bobby. The reader will of course need to draw their own conclusions on this.

I also wanted him to have other anti-social tendencies and I struck on the idea that he might have an unhealthy fascination with fire. Indeed, other than Bobby Fischer, Guy Fawkes is really the only other person whom Greenbecker admires.

Tennessee Greenbecker is certainly not an easy character, but he always remains true to himself.

Q: Was he partly based on certain real-life chess players? I did get certain “Fischeresque” and “Bronsteinesque” vibes when reading the book. ⁵ How much were you influenced by stereotypes about (famous) chess players when conceiving the character of Tennessee Greenbecker?

A: It is always a balance. You want your characters to be themselves really, but of course elements of Tennessee Greenbecker the troubled chess player are recognizable. Certainly, Greenbecker’s fear of the State and suspicion of authority, in general, is reminiscent of Fischer. Not for nothing is he Greenbecker’s role model and idol. That said, there are points in the novel where Greenbecker actually wants the State to be more vested in him than they actually are, such is his craving for attention, which is a bit different to Bobby.

There are undoubtedly elements of Greenbecker’s obsession and general behavior that most chess fans will have seen in players at all levels, albeit hopefully not in such an extreme form. I have never known a pyromaniac chess player for example, and this was very much a work of fiction! So worth stressing again, whatever similarities people see, he is a fictional character!

Q: Considering that The Greenbecker Gambit is a significantly different book than Find Another Place, how did you approach writing it? How was the process of writing a second book different from the process of writing the first one?

A: It was different. I had a clear idea that the novel would essentially start with Tennessee Greenbecker playing through a game from Fischer’s book, while holed up in a café deep in the night. I was also sure that it would culminate in Greenbecker attempting to challenge Carlsen for the world title, so I had two reasonably clear points in mind to chart between. So, unlike Find Another Place, the chronology was fairly settled from the start. What did change as I wrote it was really my understanding of Tennessee Greenbecker himself. His inner logic certainly developed as I worked through the various drafts.

Q: The underlying idea behind Find Another Place was very clear – reflecting over past events and sharing your family’s story. Did you have any specific goal in mind, any message you wanted to convey throughout the book?

A: I think to write a chess-based novel that hopefully the chess community and others would enjoy. There just aren’t enough of these. I also wanted to create a character in Tennessee Greenbecker who people would remember, and perhaps form a range of interpretations about.

Q: What was the general reception and feedback of the book? I personally enjoyed it a lot because I recognized many people, I know (especially from chess player circles), as well as myself, in some parts of the book (reaction to losses, inability to accept facts and reality, blaming other people for personal shortcomings, becoming too obsessed with chess to the point of identifying with it, etc).

Another thing that delighted me personally about The Greenbecker Gambit was its ability to invoke mixed feelings of pity, compassion and contempt and combine them with an almost comical effect of Tennessee’s thought process and his interactions.

Were there any negative comments and reviews?

A: I have been fortunate in that the reviews have all been kind. One chess player reviewer did mention the fear that Tennessee Greenbecker does not necessarily give chess players a good name! He liked the book though.

What I have found interesting, which really mirrors the point in your question, has been readers reaction to the character. I have noticed that younger reviewers seem to have more sympathy for Greenbecker. They tend to empathize with his obvious mental health challenges and see someone trying to make the best of a difficult situation. Older reviewers are more likely to actively dislike him.

I am personally somewhat torn. I think Tennessee Greenbecker would be a difficult person to know, but I admire the fact that whatever the challenges, he always finds a way to keep going. That said, his behavior is frequently appalling.

 Q: Last but not least – would you like to share with the readers what exactly does “Gambit” in the title of the book refer to? Or would you rather recommend them to get the book and find it out for themselves? ⁶

A: Please do get the book! I guess all chess players like the idea of having a chess opening named after them. The “Greenbecker Gambit,” is a sub-variation of the Kings Gambit that Tennessee Greenbecker has invented. Albeit, whether he has or not and whether his invention is any good or even acknowledged as his work is all a matter of conjecture within the book.

About life and other topics

Q: So far, we have found a lot about Ben as a worker, chess player and writer, but we haven’t found out much about Ben as a person. This is what I usually like to do in the final section of the interview.

Now, this interview turned out to be longer than expected ⁷ I will try to keep this last part somewhat shorter than usual. Yet, I still want to ask you the final set of questions.

Q: You have written about your experience as a father in Find Another Place, but I will still ask – what do you consider as the biggest challenge when raising your kids? What would be your parenting piece advice for all (future) parents out there?

A: I think you just have to do your best and take it a day at a time.

Q: Apart from parenting, reading, writing and chess, do you have any other hobbies and interests?

A: I am very interested in current affairs, particularly in the UK and US, so I watch a lot of political shows. I love following sport. I am a big Manchester United fan and I also watch England play cricket when I can, but most sports will grip me. I also enjoy watching sport-related documentaries. My favourite two are both on Netflix – Drive to Survive which has just released a third series going behind the scenes of formula one is compelling viewing. Sunderland till I Die charts the fortunes of a football club in freefall and that is also very good.

We’ve also got cats and a dog, so life is always very busy!

Q: You seem to be a very productive and busy man? What motivates you to keep going and to keep creating? How have you kept your motivation throughout all these years?

A: I think I am lucky to have reached a point where I can do the things that interest me. I don’t see writing as work as such. At least not usually. I certainly enjoy the process of writing. It’s the same for most writers, but by the time an article or whatever reaches print, I am usually working and emotionally vested in a new piece of work. There is always a new idea to explore.

Q: Do you have a motto? Is it, Life is now?”. Or perhaps something else?

A: No motto as such. I think do your best and don’t take things too seriously probably just about covers it.

Q: Do you take any measures to avoid getting burnt-out? Have you ever experienced a real burnout? If yes – how did you deal with it?

A: I am conscious that with work, writing chess and family life I have to find time to switch off too. Work definitely gives me energy, but equally, I always find time to watch some sport or TV.

Q: You have mentioned that you – as basically every writer out there – read a lot. Since reading ⁸ is one of my favourite activities, I would like to ask you for some book recommendations.

What are your three favourite non-chess books and three favourite chess books of all time?

A: Wow, this is a really tough question! In terms of chess books, I would say: Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin, Russian Silhouettes, by Genna Sosonko, King’s Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World’s Most Dangerous Game, by Paul Hoffman and The Chess Artist: Genius, Obsession, And The World’s Oldest Game, by J.C.Hallman. (OK, that is four, but they are all terrific.)

Non-chess books is an even harder ask to whittle down! The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D.Salinger, Cancer Ward, by Solzhenitsyn and The Bonfire of the Vanities, by Tom Wolfe.

Q: Since your writing is very reflective and since you already hinted that there are numerous ways to enjoy chess, I was wondering what does chess represents for you today? What is your view on the game? What is chess really about?

I am hooked on the game itself, but chess offers all of us so much beyond the sixty-four squares. What I’ve been struck by this past year is the number of people who miss the connectivity that chess offers (me included). Yes, we can all play as much as we like online, ⁹ but it isn’t the same. Setting out on a freezing November night to meet teammates for a club match or spending a weekend amongst friends at a congress. That’s what chess is really about. Friendship in other words.

Chess is also quite a forgiving environment. It’s very accepting. You don’t need great social skills, and that draws a lot of people in.

For so many years, I was so results-focused, but I see now that that is only a small part of what chess has to offer. Perhaps the pandemic has taught us that chess is a bigger part of our lives than we realized.

Q: If someone asked you to provide them one piece of writing advice, what would that be?

A: If you work on a piece and don’t like what you have done when you return to it, this is a reason to be postive rather than disheartened. Essentially, you have just hit on ideas to make your original draft better. Writing is very iterative, taking the time to play about with your drafts is definitely a big part of the process. For most writers, writing is really a continual process of re-writing.

Q: And one piece of general life advice?

A: Don’t take anything too seriously.

Q: Last but not least – what’s next for you? What are some of your future plans? Is the next book already in plans?

I am doing a lot of journalism at the moment, but yes there will definitely be another book. It’s just a case of being sure that I care enough about the idea to want to spend the next two or three years living with it. I think I am now getting close to this point. Here’s hoping!

Q: Alright Ben, I will let you go know! Thank you so much on your time and your thorough answers and good luck in any future endavours! Looking forward to reading your next book!

You can get Ben’s books at the following places:

The Greenbecker Gambit

Amazon Link

shop.chess.co.uk Link

Find Another Place

Amazon Link

1. Yes, way before it was cool and before all the Queen’s Gambit rage ensued. In fact, I did read Queen’s Gambit and wasn’t too impressed with the book, to begin with, but that is a topic for another day.
2. Yeah, basically your average chess player :P
3. as his other half will also testify to. To quote Ben himself – “My wife will always rightly say I spend far too much of my time playing chess, but I am sure one day I will look back and wish I had found a way to play a bit more. “
4. As any self-respected millennial knows – If you can’t have it now, is it even worth having :D.
5. Whereas it is not difficult to find controversial stories related to Fischer – especially from his later years, Bronstein’s name might come surprising. But Genna Sosonko’s excellent book The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein paints a pretty raw and painful picture of the former World Championship contender.
6. Don’t hesitate to pitch the book here – readers of this blog are quite used to shameless self-promotion by yours truly. Right guys? Hey…guys?….Guys…?
7. Or more precisely, just as long as expected
8. And getting free Amazon Affiliate link opportunities
9. And god knows we do – Vjeko.