Photo of Magnus and GM Andrew Tang at the 2021 FIDE World Cup, via Andrew’s Instagram
21 year old GM Andrew Tang (aka “PenguinGM”) is a former National High School champion chess player, popular Twitch streamer and Princeton University student. He is best known as one of the strongest “bullet chess” players in the world. Andrew is quite possibly the fastest moving Grandmaster in the world and has had many epic online battles with other elite bullet players like GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, and GM Alireza Firouzja. In our conversation, Andrew shares some great stories from his bullet battles, and talks about the origins of his chess skills. Other highlights of the interview include the lessons he learned from his childhood coach IM John Bartholomew, the feeling of playing GM Magnus Carlsen in person in the World Blitz championship, and his professional plans when he finishes college. This was a fun conversation with a very talented young man. More details and timestamps below.
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2:00- How is Andrew so fast at chess? When did he realize he was good at bullet? What kind of mouse does he use?
Mentioned: IM Ali Mortazavi, Azio Exo1 Gaming Mouse
10:00- Does Andrew play video games?
Mentioned: Video of Andrew playing 2D Aim, Cloud9 Gaming
12:00- How did Andrew learn to convert winning endgames so quickly?
Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky
13:30- Who, in Andrew’s opinion, are the best bullet players in the world?
Mentioned: GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Daniel Naroditsky, FM OrangeGhost (not OrangeCrush, as I said)
16:15- How does GM Andrew Tang describe his exchanges with GM Magnus Carlsen ?
Mentioned: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz, Watch Andrew’s OTB Blitz Match with Magnus here
20:00- What are Andrew’s goals in Classical chess, if any? What are his professional plans for life after college?
23:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
24:00- Chessmood offers a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
25:00- How seriously does Andrew take his blitz game? How did he develop his tactical vision?
Mentioned: Episode 164 with IM John Bartholomew
29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Do you have any advice for getting better at time management in blitz?”
33:00- Does Andrew plan on playing in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz if it happens?
39:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.
New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com
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40:00- Who is the strongest player Andrew has ever played in classical chess?
Mentioned: GM Le Quang Liem, GM Wesley So, GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Nikola Mitkov
44:00- What was it like to have IM John Bartholomew as a coach?
47:30- What are Andrew’s most memorable online bullet escapades?
51:00- Quick hitter round. Andrew answers Twitter questions relating to browser tabs, playing chess against prisoners, blindfold chess, and his upcoming schedule.
Mentioned: Video of GM Andrew Tang playing blindfold UltraBullet
1:10:00- Thanks to Andrew for coming on the show! Here is how to keep up with him:
Twitch-
https://www.twitch.tv/penguingm1
YouTube-
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJxY7NovRrYCsxyl6qaFLA
Twitter-
https://twitter.com/penguingm1
Email-
Penguingm1 at gmail.com