C-Squared Podcast

C-Squared Podcast

byFabiano Caruana & Cristian Chirila

LeisureGamesNewsSports

The C-Squared Podcast is an in depth weekly discussion about the chess world with your hosts, Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Cristian Chirila. Bringing the biggest news and chess stars to your doorstep!

Episodes(40 episodes)

Episode 121
Hans Confesses After GCT Win: "I Felt The Turtle Closing In."
Fabi and Cristian break down a wild stretch in chess. Hans Niemann wins his first ever super tournament in Warsaw to kick off the Grand Chess Tour, but admits he felt like the rabbit being caught by the turtle as Fabi closed the gap in the final rounds. We dig into the American trio's standout performances, Alireza's secret conflict between the GCT and the Esports World Cup, and Magnus winning Tepe Sigeman in Malmo, ahead of Erigaisi and Erdogmus. Plus, 12-year-old Faustino Oro officially becomes a Grandmaster, the second youngest in chess history! Episode sponsored by our...
Published: May 12, 2026Duration: 46m 17s
Episode 120
GCT Warsaw Is Here, Carlsen vs Erdogmus Is HERE, Webster Kills SPICE, Red Or Blue Button?
Fabi and Cristian are live from Warsaw ahead of the Grand Chess Tour’s first leg, breaking down the biggest stories in chess. Magnus Carlsen returns to classical at TePe Sigeman in Malmo and faces 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus for the first time ever. Webster University shuts down the legendary SPICE program, ending one of the most decorated collegiate chess dynasties in U.S. history — and Susan Polgar isn’t taking it quietly. Plus the red or blue button debate splitting chess Twitter, and Fabi’s POV heading into GCT Warsaw. Episode sponsored by our friends at https...
Published: May 12, 2026Duration: 58m 45s
Episode 119
Hans Returns To Grand Chess Tour, Erdogmus Is 2700 (!!), Take x 3 Declares War On Chess.com
Fabi and Cristian break down the biggest stories in chess right now. Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus becomes the youngest player ever to cross 2700, smashing Wei Yi's record by nearly a year after a dominant 5-1 demolition of Topalov in Monte Carlo. Hans Niemann is back in the Grand Chess Tour with a wildcard slot in Warsaw. And Take Take Take's new Lichess partnership puts Magnus's app on a collision course with Chess.com.Episode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ — the fastest way to learn openings and actually remember them. Train smarter, play sharper....
Published: Apr 24, 2026Duration: 1h 2m 0s
Episode 118
Sindarov's Magical Run Stuns The Chess World, Fabi Opens Up About His Candidates Dream
The 2026 Candidates is over, and Javokhir Sindarov is heading to the World Championship match against Gukesh. Fabi breaks down Sindarov's magical run and insane opening prep, reflects on his own Candidates dream, and weighs in on Hikaru's opening disaster, the state of Titled Tuesday, and who takes the title in Gukesh vs Sindarov. Episode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitte...
Published: Apr 18, 2026Duration: 34m 56s
Episode 117
Fabi's Honest Take on Gukesh, Cheating & His Candidates Camp
Fabi gets real about Gukesh's controversial cheating comments, reveals how his Candidates camp is shaping up, and we dive into the E-Sports World Cup threatening to clash with the Grand Chess Tour. Plus: Why are Super GMs suddenly playing in open tournaments? And our full Prague Masters preview. 📌 The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament starts March 29 in Cyprus. Fabi plays White against Hikaru Nakamura in Round 1, an All American Clash! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes as we count down to the Candidates! ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 Episode sponsored...
Published: Feb 25, 2026Duration: 39m 17s
Episode 116
Caruana's Stunning Claim "He Can Do Something I Can Only Dream Of Doing"
The boys connect to talk about the biggest news of the week. The chaotic Speed Chess Championship is over, and we unpack everything that happed in London, and much more. Episode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : https://discord.gg/XeP3tENMTr 00:00 Intro 00:35 Overview of last week 03:15 Tata Steel Recap 15:02 Tata Steel B Group 22:50 Polgar Netflix Documentary 2...
Published: Feb 10, 2026Duration: 54m 2s
Episode 115
Gukesh And The Blunder That Shocked The Chess World, The Biggest Chess Prodigy Is Here
♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : https://discord.gg/XeP3tENMTr 00:00 Intro 00:42 Comeback 03:30 Grand Slam & Wimbeldon of Chess 04:44 Wijk aan zee History 07:50 Chess has become a young sport 16:00 Strongest 15 years old 26:55 Chess Engine Power 33:44 Candidates performance in Tata Steel 37:24 Who win Tata Steel? 45:25 Gukesh Blundered 52:45 Fabi reveals his Candidates Prep 56:49 Freestyle World Champ...
Published: Feb 10, 2026Duration: 1h 5m 41s
Episode 114
Matt Thomas & James Canty | Exposure Therapy, Breathwork & Turning Chess Brains Into Boxing Weapons
The boys are joined by @movingwithmat and @JamesCantyIII to discuss the recent happenings in the exciting world of Chessboxing. Matt is the moving force behind the Chessboxing movement in the US, while James just recently became the heavy weight Chessboxing World Champion after defeating his Russian foe in Serbia earlier this year. We discuss a wide range of topics, enjoy! Episode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ Support the channel :♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2...
Published: Nov 28, 2025Duration: 1h 25m 34s
Episode 113
Fabi Welcomes Two New Candidates To The Party | World Cup Breakdown
Fabiano and Cristian react to the World Cup semifinals craziest moments. The blunder that changed history and handed Wei Yi his candidates ticket, as well as the tense clash between the two Uzbek superstars are discussed. Here is our full breakdown of the 2025 World Cup Semifinals! Watch the episode with video analysis directly on our Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@csqpodEpisode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy...
Published: Nov 24, 2025Duration: 1h 24m 47s
Erigaisi Channels His Inner Tal Against Levon, Leaves Fabi In Shock
Follow this Masterclass analysis by checking the video on our Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@csqpodCheck this episode's sponsor, Chessreps, at chessreps.com
Published: Nov 22, 2025Duration: 34m 56s
Episode 112
Caruana's Reaction To The Insane World Cup Results
Consider Donating to the Daniel Naroditsky Memorial Fund | https://givebutter.com/naroditsky Fabiano and Cristian react to the World Cup's most insane matches and unexpected upsets so far. Almost all the top favorites are out, and the intense final battles for the Candidates are underway, here is our breakdown as we go into the semis! Episode sponsored by our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitt...
Published: Nov 20, 2025Duration: 1h 20m 51s
Episode 111
Fabiano Caruana Predicts Who's Going To Win The World Cup
Want to get your reps in and play the perfect opening? Make sure you check our friends at https://www.chessreps.com The World Cup is one of the most exciting events of the chess calendar, and this year's edition has not disappointed. The boys get together to chat about the favorites, give their predictions, and discuss the big surprises of the first rounds. ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod🐦T...
Published: Nov 7, 2025Duration: 1h 5m 46s
I Confronted Hikaru About The US Championship
♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : https://discord.gg/XeP3tENMTr
Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 8m 5s
Magnus On His Return To St. Louis, Fatherhood, And Changing Diapers
Magnus stops to chat with Cristian after returning to St. Louis for the first time since the infamous episode from Sinquefield Cup 2022. He tells us how fatherhood changed him, his training for Clutch Chess, and more. ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : https://discord.gg/XeP3tENMTr
Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 8m 11s
New Move In The King's Indian Defense SHOCKS Fabiano Caruana | FM #003
Episode 3 of Fabiano's Masterclass focuses on the incredible King's Indian idea shown by Grandmasters Maurizzi MarcAndria in his game against Luca Moroni Jr. This idea, when implemented in your games, will allow you to get dynamic position that will surely prove difficult to handle for your opponent.Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Chessreps.com !Want to learn openings faster and more efficiently? Our friends at https://www.chessreps.com/ have the perfect tools to help you with your goals!♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqp...
Published: Oct 11, 2025Duration: 33m 15s
Episode 110
Fabiano Caruana Reacts To Hikaru vs. Gukesh Drama , GCT Insane Comeback
A rollercoaster ride that started in Brazil and finished in Arlington, Texas, comes to an end. We got together for an in depth reaction to the chess world's new controversy, Hikaru's King toss against Gukesh, as well as the comprehensive analysis of the Grand Chess Tour's finals. ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : ht...
Published: Oct 7, 2025Duration: 1h 35m 3s
Fabiano's Masterclass #002 | The Perfect Game
Welcome to Fabiano's Masterclass! This new series aims to provide the highest level of chess analysis, presented by none other than one of the greatest chess players to ever play the game, Fabiano Caruana. Episode 2 focuses on the battle between Grandmasters Anish Giri and Hans Niemann, who met in the last round of the FIDE Grand Swiss, with a candidate ticket on the line.♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸I...
Published: Oct 1, 2025Duration: 32m 38s
Episode 109
Faustino Oro, The New Face Of Chess?
♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/csqpod/ 💬Discord : https://discord.gg/XeP3tENMTr 00:00 Intro 00:57 Grand Swiss Recap 09:10 Alireza skips World Cup 14:30 Chess World Cup Participants 15:48 Faustino Oro becomes the youngest 2500 23:39 Grand Chess Tour Finals
Published: Sep 27, 2025Duration: 27m 25s
Episode 108
Fabiano Predicts Who Will Go To The Candidates
The final round of the crucial FIDE Grand Swiss is upon us. With everything on the line, we discuss the journey so far, the possible scenarios, and who is the most likely to become the next Candidate. Enjoy! If you'd like to support the channel, these are the best ways: ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https://www.instag...
Published: Sep 15, 2025Duration: 22m 5s
Fabiano's Masterclass #001 | What Is Happening With Gukesh?
Welcome to Fabiano's Masterclass! This weekly new series aims to provide the highest level of chess analysis, presented by none other than one of the greatest chess players to ever play the game, Fabiano Caruana. Episode 1 focuses on the battle between 16 yo Abhimanyu Mishra, and WC Gukesh. Consider supporting the channel: ♟️Play With Us: https://www.chess.com/join/csqpod?ref_id=207174611 👕MERCH: https://c-squared.shop/ 🌐 Website: https://c2pod.com/ ☕Buy Us A Coffee : buymeacoffee.com/c2pod 🐦Twitter/X : https://x.com/CSQpod 📸Instagram : https...
Published: Sep 13, 2025Duration: 59m 1s