Surya Ganguly - A philosophical chess interview

by Arne Kaehler
1/30/2025 – Surya Ganguly recently visited the ChessBase office to record exclusive ChessBase Training videos. An ideal opportunity to interview a true chess legend. Known for his deep philosophical reflections, captivating anecdotes, and life-changing experiences, Ganguly brings the same mindset to both his chess and coaching career, allowing him to continuously find joy in the game and in guiding others.
In this video course, GM Surya Ganguly joins IM Sagar Shah and drawing from his colossal experience, shares some uncommon endgame wisdom. The material mostly features positions with rook against rook and a pawn, and starts by covering the fundamentals.

Surya Ganguly - A philosophical chess interview

GM Surya Ganguly shares his incredible journey from a mischievous child in India to becoming one of the country’s top chess players, a long-time second to Viswanathan Anand, and a passionate advocate for the beauty of chess.

Ganguly recalls his early introduction to the game, which stemmed from his parents' attempts to calm his hyperactive nature and engage his restless mind. Despite a humble background and financial struggles, his natural talent quickly became evident as he won numerous youth tournaments, setting national records in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The conversation takes a personal turn as Ganguly reflects on his family's struggles, including his sister’s perseverance after losing a foot in an accident and his own role in supporting his family through chess. He details his transition from an ambitious young player to working as Anand’s second, a position that dramatically expanded his understanding of discipline, hard work, and opening preparation.

One of the most touching parts of the interview is Ganguly’s emotional recollection of his daughter Arya’s battle with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a life-threatening autoimmune disease. He emphasizes the importance of awareness and early detection, urging viewers to learn more about the condition.

Ganguly also shares his perspective on life, success, and uncertainty. He believes that true success lies in happiness rather than material achievements, and emphasizes the importance of gratitude. He recounts a personal story about a fish bone getting stuck in his throat during a tournament trip, which made him reflect on how our minds tend to fixate on immediate problems while taking life’s blessings for granted.

The discussion also covers his passion for travelling, his enjoyment of meeting new people, and how playing chess blends seamlessly with his lifestyle. His love for chess extends beyond competition—he actively contributes to the chess world through coaching, training platforms, and instructional courses.

The interview concludes with a discussion about the Bengali film based on his life, his upcoming projects, and his philosophy of embracing the uncertainty of life. Ganguly expresses excitement for the future, emphasizing that he thrives on unpredictability and remains open to new experiences.

This interview offers a deep, personal, and philosophical look into the mind of a grandmaster whose love for chess and life continues to inspire.

Everything is based on concept and understanding rather than memorising. Once you understand the concept of a fortress, it will stay in your mind. Let's unlock the mystery of the fortress now!

In this video course, GM Surya Ganguly joins IM Sagar Shah and drawing from his colossal experience, shares some uncommon endgame wisdom. The material mostly features positions with rook against rook and a pawn, and starts by covering the fundamentals.

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.