I interviewed Ian Nepomniachtchi 

You both need to workout. The faces look huge compared to bodies

Speakers: Russians Interview: English Location: Canada Hotel: Trivago

Nepo's hilarious. "It wouldn't cost that much to get me to chessbox. I've been practicing boxing for cardio, and beating people up is fun. Maybe if I liked them, it would cost a bit more."

Levy: "How much to chessbox?" Fabi: "10 million" Nepo: "I'd beat someone's ass for free, what are you talking about?"

This interview is the reason why I think Levy should bring his podcast back.

Nepo in the Candidates is something else 👑

Every time Nepo answers he always humble himself and acknowledges his mistakes or his shortcomings, he also keeps on empathizing with Ding . This man is truly a gentleman i'm glad i'm a fan

Ian is super chill. The first time that levy is not wearing a full suit😂😂

Big thank you to Ian for interviewing Magnus

Credit to Ian for proving all the critics wrong 💪

My brain completely refuses to process reality after watching Levy give an interview in russian and interview Ian in english back to back

"That's fair " Levy

Extremely rare footage of Levy not mentioning Cagnus Marlsen in a video

I really want to see this guy becoming a world champion.

"It's the process of hurting someone" I nearly fell off my chair laughing. He not only wants to win, he also wants to hurt someone in chess boxing. Great interview! I enjoyed more than the Magnus one. His decency and honesty are so clearly evident!

Levy never fails to kidnap GMs

Fun fact, Nepo was also playing Dota professionaly, even got a win against 1st international -NAVI. He had Frostnova nickname. He also commented couple of matches on Starladder as an play-by-play commentator(searchable in RU-vid)

I’m rooting for Ian, seems like a chill and humble guy. Feel bad that he’s been through so much. Hope he wins the Candidates and the World Championship!

Levy catching these GMs like Pokémon

My money is on Nepo. I would also be happy if Fabi wins as he is a class act. I feel like Nepo is the most naturally talented chess player in the field but he loses patience or has anxiety sometimes and loses. He has proved many times that his best is better than everyone.

Ian actually seems like a really chill person, i know hes been in controversy before but here he just seems really cool

Don't ask me why but I was expecting this interview to be in Russian Edit: in case you're wondering, I don't speak Russian

Besides being an insane player, he looks a very calm and great person. I am very happy to watch his fandom getting bigger and bigger. Best wishes for him

We need the drunk Nepo vs. Levy match fr

My favorite player. Cant wait to see how he wins candidates once more and gets his well deserved crown in the championships

looking back, I think Ian deserves to be world champion even though I've routed for the opposite side both times, dude is always dominating in the candidates and still is, wish him the absolute best

Is it me, or is Nepos English much better than it was a year ago? (Language, not the opening).

Ian gave us one of the most painful visuals in recent memory during the rapid tiebreaks. I’m just glad to see him playing at his best again.

Hope Nepo wins the candidates, if anyone deserves to be a World Champion, its him.

I must say, Ian always impresses me with how he expresses himself. He and Fabi always share very interesting and honest insights into that level of competition. Also, great interviews Gotham! Enjoyed them all.

When a dota player meets with chess nerd.😂

34:30 ‘no no no no just the process of hurting others’ 😂😂

Hope Ian wins the candidates,he deserves it

So kind of levy to be welcoming aspiring chess players onto his channel. So humble and inspiring😊❤

Great to see this new format continued! I hope you bring back your Gotham podcast, loved listening to it before it went on hiatus!

i love the both Guys but it is just hilarious the cultural differences, Jan is such an honest and no bullshit guy and then Levy acting in the most American way ever. really hoping that this Time Jan will close the Title

Ian is probably the chillest chess dude out there

Ok it’s settled. I want a round robin competition with top GMs 10 shots in, playing against a bunch of lower titled players.

Thank you Gotham for helping us keep up to date to the candidates and get to know more about these players inside and outside their chess, hope to see more and more of these interviews ❤

The best part - Levy and Ian both speak Russian

Nepo is always such a chill guy. Seems like one of the few super GMs that aren’t ego maniacs.

"Depending on the opponent it would be for free" Now I´m curious who Nepo wants to punch in the face

You know for me chess players like him are great and so fun to wach mainly beacause they look so human, you emphatize with them so much, but still they are genious, facinating

"Yeah I have my own unique way of qualifying" guy is a genius :D

"I have my own unique way of qualifying" 😂 love you Ian

I was so much looking forward to this interview. Thank you Levy and Ian !

My favorite interview so far, can't really tell why but you seemed to connect with him quite well compared to what we see from him in more formal interviews. Great job!

i LOVE how Levy lets the other person talk. I have never once see him take the talking stage away from anyone. As normal as that sounds, a lot of interviews get lost because of overtalking or cutting the other person off. This is chill, smart and insightful. Wonderful job, Levy. Huge respect. Ian, kudos and all the best. Bring it home!

i love this dude, such a cool guy really hoping Ian makes it to the big stage again and wins it

I am so glad you finally interviewed Ian Neapomniatchchtechichi!

I love that whatever Nepo talks about, he sounds like he’s just analyzing yes ok

Mad respect for Ian after this one

Man poor Ian... my heart goes out to him. He's really fighting the sadness from everything being so unfair

Thank you Gotham for having this interview. Ian is a great guy 🙂

Great interview. Really like Nepo so nice to see him a bit more.

So informative. Love to hear the chess giants up close. Thank you both for agreeing to give the fans this treat.

Big thank you Levy for interviewing one of the big talents in chess. You will see that Ian will win again 😊

I don't know why Nepo always looks like a sweet guy to hang around

Готэм - первый американец, кто смог выговорить фамилию Непомнящего:) ps я знаю, что он русскоговорящий

You do a great job in interviewing. It's very fluent, relaxed, much better than the fide one. I enjoy it a lot more than your normal videos haha

Levy, in addition to digging all the chess content and your reactions, I thoroughly enjoy how you pronounce all the names so fluidly, regardless of what country, language or complexity of phoneme combinations are presented. Cheers!

The dynasty of poets fully explains Ian's charm and charisma. Top fan

Brilliant interview 👏 Nepo is a legend. Definitely a fan favourite. He will crush his opponent in Chess Boxing 👊

Ian is super chill, Rooting for him!

28:40 he won world cup and other classical events Also he played 63 classical games, he played more than %95 of super gm s

OMGGGG thank you for giving my Nepo an interview

levy never fails to talk to gms while not being one

Very candid interview - I am always surprised how openly Ian speaks out his mind. I wish him all the best to do the hat-trick of winning three candidates in a row!

He deserves to win the world chess championship He has a great fighting spirit to keep coming and trying his best every time I wish this year will be his best year Good luck for every player in the tournament ❤

Спасибо за интервью, Леви 😘

Ian never fails to include Magnus in his world championships.

You should add time stamps to section off parts of the interview (and future ones too). It makes it much more digestible.

Nepo is the actual chess genius! He is just too comfortable to try to win 😂 The guy literally chills and plays some chess.

So dominant. He needs to win this year

Ian deserves the championship and he has a great personality. Best wishes for him. He won our hearts❤

I do have to say that what Ian has accomplished is criminally underrated. It takes serious fortitude and persistence to do what he's done and doing*. Idc that he didn't win the world championship I have a ton of respect for Ian as a competitor.

For every like I’ll do 1 puzzle

*/ian is a whole vibe*

Thanks for the Interview Nepo is a humble but serious guy off to a good start here in his third candidates looking forward to some Great games coming up he’s got Pragg than Fabiano right after that those will be some telling games Good Luck

I love that unlike Magnus, Ian put real thought into the “how many drinks before you’d lose” question. I do get that they are all in the best in the world but Ian’s answer shows he’s still got humility and humor on top of that. Thanks for the interview!

My Fav player❤❤

Nepo is looking fiire ❤

Yooooo, thats the interview I was waiting for

Gotham podcast would be awesome. Even interviewing young, up-and-coming chess players would be really cool. Hope to see more of this!

Ian haircut looking fire 🔥

Levy get your podcast channel active, your interviews Are great

Great interview. Love Ian. Easy to root for, funny, willing to open up and share his thoughts and experiences. Thanks, Levy.

I tip my hat at you Levy for not tiptoeing around the issue of the pain it must have caused Nepo to lose the match against Ding. The great fellow that Nepo is, he answered the question in a calm and un-nuanced manner. I wish him well. Lovely chap.

Levi never fails to kidnap GMs

Now I want Nepo to win

"The process of hurting someone..." My man Ian couldn't be more ready 💀

It's insightful to hear from Grandmaster Yan and his experience in these competitions. Appreciated his openness about the physical and mental toll of such high-stakes games.

Favourite chess player, no cap он слишком крут🙏🙏

Nepo is one of my favourite personalities. He's a true gentleman!

Credits to Ian for attending the interview and good job to mr. Rozman

ian and levy hit those SLAPS

Ian is so likable

I really hope Ian wins the title this year. I don't want him to become another Korchnoi who almost had the title within grasp but could never win it

Hey Gotham! Congrats on the big interview! Great job! If you could do anything to improve I would suggest being more direct in your questioning so there isn't a ramble of him just talking. For example you asked the difference between first and 2nd candidates, that's pretty open ended and he went on and on . Instead you could have asked about his first candidates and more specifically most difficult opponents, specific positions. Then switch to 2nd... then ask about a comparison.. also, some opening questioning about how they got started in chess, their favorite foods, how much time do they spend preparing for the candidates? Does he have any special regimes when training for chess matches? He spoke a little about it but we really could have gotten a better look into how much they prepare. Need any help reach out!

Good timing on the Nepo interview with him leading Candidates.