This episode follows IM Gauri Shankar’s long, stop-and-start path to finally earning the IM title—balancing full-time teaching and content creation, struggling with USCF–FIDE rating disparities and nerves, reflecting on modern chess improvement and work–life balance, and discussing with Jesse and Kostya what it would really take to push on toward GM.

Check out the game between Gauri and Jesse mentioned in the episode here: https://www.chessdojo.club/games/2300-2400/2024.09.26_01343cb4-e508-44fe-8b82-9046cc189d79

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00:00 – Live classes announcement

00:28 – Gauri’s early chess story

02:50 – Growing up in Chicago chess scene

04:50 – First norms and long break from chess

09:30 – Rating struggles and USCF–FIDE disparity

13:20 – Life as coach, streamer, creator

18:40 – Identity as player vs teacher

40:00 – Crossing 2400 and emotional breakthrough