The Chess Lounge

Ep 18. All 50 States with Megan Chen

This week Elaynah and Dylan talk to Megan Chen, the female recorder holder for visiting and playing chess in ALL 50 U.S. states. They talk about some of her favorite places to play, playing in Alaska, what it means to be a degen, playing chess all night, chess books and more. She also announces that she is now chasing the record for playing in all 10 Canadian provinces as well. This is definitely a hilarious episode so listen now!
 
Megan Chen's ICA Profile
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 17. Multi-talented Kamryn

This week in the Chess Lounge, we will hear an amazing interview with the multi-Talented rising YouTube star, Kamryn Heidi aka Kamryn. In 2023 she was named best creator in the ChessPunks annual awards. She has built a great niche audience in chess all the while pursuing a masters degree, working a full time job and improving her classical tournament skills. Dylan & Elaynah delve deep into her life on learning chess in a small town, planning to write a book, playing for the first time in Vegas, the support of her parents, balancing all of her pursuits, and her meticulous planning. Definitely listen to the end as she has wisdom to share all the way through the episode!
 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep 16. Jules Gambit

Content creator, writer and streamer Julia Schulman, aka Jules Gambit joins Elaynah and Dylan in the chess lounge this week to talk about all things content.  They talk about a range of topics from seeking the WFM title and finding time to study, writing on the Botez Sisters, the Botez Invitational tournament, GM Hans Neimann's role in popularizing chess and the popularity of chess in general. She has a great sense of humor and will entertain you the entire hour!
 
A great chess.com article on her - https://www.chess.com/article/view/streamer-of-the-month-julesgambit
 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 15 - FM Canty in da Car

FIDE Master James Canty is no stranger to media. This Detroit based chess legend steps into the Chess Lounge to talk about his career as a streamer and commentator. Elaynah and Dylan ask him about his workout regiment, chess in the Black community, the road to FIDE Master, future goals, his 5 year Chessable streak and much more. Check this episode out and hear from one of the absolutely hardest working people you will ever meet in the chess world. 
 
Check out Canty on Twitch and beyond - https://www.twitch.tv/gmcanty/about
 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 14 - National Master Sarathi Ray

Marshall Club President, National Master and lawyer Sarathi Ray steps into the lounge to talk about his rise in the chess world. Elaynah and Dylan delve into how he learned how to play chess in college becoming a "professional" 1600 club player and how he got serious when he moved to New York. As an adult learner Sarathi's love of chess pushed him to become competitive with the New York City elite. They talk about learning tactics, endgame, managing the Marshall Club, chess governance, dealing with unruly players, women's events, GM Irina Krush and much more!
 
Check out the Marshall Club website for more info - https://www.marshallchessclub.org/
 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 13 - Director Gloria Iseli on the documentary King Chess

Director of Film, TV & Stage, Gloria Iseli, steps into the lounge to talk about what it is like to be married to a chess professional (Dylan) and make a film with them! They delve into the making of King Chess, the documentary about 2018 World Championship cycle. Elaynah and Dylan ask her about the production, post production, timelines, funding, what it's like to spend time with top chess pros, Grishuk's antics and comedy, story in film, the process of dubbing in post (ADR), and much more! 
 
AND, if you haven't, go watch King Chess! It's on all of your favorite platforms plus free on youtube!
 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 12 - SimplyDevina aka WFM Devina Devagharan

Streamer, coach and chess master SimplyDevina aka Women Fide Master Devina Devagharan steps into The Chess Lounge this week for a leisurely chat about her career. Summer and Elaynah discuss the intricacies of her unique tournaments, growing up as a dedicated chess student, coaching styles, learning judo, make up & self care tips, mental health and much more! Don't miss Devina talk about her podcast, Honest Vibes Only, where she is open about the family struggles she experienced. 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Elaynah's Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@elaynahhh
Dylan's Documentary - https://www.kingchessfilm.com/
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 11 - GM Ben Finegold & Karen Boyd

The streaming duo Ben & Karen come into The Chess Lounge with two big intentions: roasting the chess world and getting canceled. Ok, that's just the bonus. Ben Finegold is a Grandmaster with a depth of wisdom and a dry humor with his wife Karen brings a fun balance to their streams. In this episode we talk about a wide range of topics from Ben & Karen's early chess life, playing poker and the crossover between the games, what it was like in the 80s, Hans Niemann, Kramnik going crazy, different play styles, how to get bad at chess and more. 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move

Ep. 10 - 2x US Women's Champion Jennifer Shahade

The chess world has been shaken up by a big lawsuit that was recently filed by WGM Jennifer Shahade against US Chess. Shahade blew the whistle in early 2023 on a top Grandmaster that was abusing women and girls and helped to push him out of US Chess. Elaynah & Dylan briefly introduce the lawsuit and present an interview that Dylan did in August of 2023 with Shahade. She talks about her life, growing up in a chess family, winning the US Women's Championship, becoming an author, her books and much more! 
Hosts - Elaynah & Summer Dylan
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Produced By - Brilliant Move
For press inquiries regarding the Shahade case please contact:Attorney Tamara Holder – 847-651-7222 – press@tamaraholder.com
 
 

Ep. 9 - Chess Can Learn from Science ft. Dr. Cassidy R Sugimoto

This week in The Chess Lounge, Dr. Cassidy R Sugimoto introduces her book, Equity for Women in Science and discusses how these lessons can apply to the chess world. She relates the shocking information that many disciplines in sciences have not reached gender parity which means that we are still far away from equity for women in science. Elaynah and Dylan look for lessons on how to apply this important work to the gender imbalance in the chess world. This fascinating conversation has many lessons to learn from history, funding, institutional changes needed, whether women's titles are useful, and many more topics.
Hosts - Elaynah & Dylan
Talk to Us on X (Twitter) - https://x.com/elaynahTV & https://x.com/coachqchess
Special Thanks to Dr. Cassidy R Sugimoto from Georgia Tech for joining us
Produced By - Brilliant Move