Wei Yi: CANDIDATES, Ding’s Comeback & Gukesh | PODCAST

Learn the rare Four Knights with a3 on Chessreps: https://www.chessreps.com/course-creator/mustreader-s-4-a3-in-the-four-knights-vbnf1t0Today my guest is one of the world’s top GMs and a 2026 Candidates participant — Wei Yi. We talk about his preparation for the 2026 Candidates, the mental struggles he had to overcome, and whom he sees as the main favorites. Wei also shares why Gukesh hasn’t looked as sharp lately, plus his honest take on Ding Liren — is he actually considering stepping away from chess? We finish with an intense blitz game with a surprising result — don’t miss it!Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreaderMy DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xbMy X: https://x.com/mustreaderMy channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClipsMy chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClubCollabs: [email protected] previous podcast with Wei: https://youtu.be/080CuetikLENepo’s 2026 Candidates Tier List: https://youtu.be/Kk1u6caPMW8My podcast with Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo?si=AtUforPE0YYsWbhiMy podcast with Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q?si=kJmwzyxph6XJ2JdpMy podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs?si=j_GBgdtZKywBKEfcMany thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus00:00 — Intro00:48 — Meet Wei Yi01:22 — Surprised to be in the Candidates?02:15 — The plan to reach the Candidates04:35 — Last year’s mental struggles05:35 — Why the World Cup "clicked"07:51 — Wei Yi's Candidates tier list10:35 — What matters most at the Candidates?11:49 — When did you start preparing?12:28 — Candidates prep plan13:26 — Does fitness matter in prep?14:06 — Chess training vs gym14:35 — Is Ding Liren helping?15:27 — What’s going on with Ding?17:06 — What happened to Gukesh?20:06 — Will Gukesh bounce back?21:43 — Wei Yi’s goals22:48 — Who beats Gukesh in a title match?24:48 — Chess as an esport26:55 — Blitz vs Wei YiWei Yi: CANDIDATES, Ding’s Comeback & Gukesh | PODCASTWei YiWei Yi podcastWei Yi interviewWei Yi Candidates 2026Candidates 2026FIDE Candidates 2026Candidates predictionsCandidates favoritesCandidates tier listhow to win the CandidatesCandidates preparationchess preparationchess trainingchess improvementmental game in chesschess psychologypressure in chessWorld Cup wei yiDing LirenDing Liren comebackDing Liren retirementwhat happened to Ding LirenGukeshDommaraju GukeshGukesh formGukesh strugglesWorld Championship matchwho beats Gukeshtitle match predictionchess as an esporttop chess playerschess podcastchess with mustreadermustreader chessmustreadergreg mustreadercwmMy name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.Don't forget to subscribe!#weiyi #candidates2026 #chess #candidates #dingliren #gukesh #chesspodcast #chesstraining #chessimprovement #chesspsychology #worldchampionship #blitzchess #chesstalk #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

What this episode covers

Learn the rare Four Knights with a3 on Chessreps: https://www.chessreps.com/course-creator/mustreader-s-4-a3-in-the-four-knights-vbnf1t0 Today my guest is one of the world’s top GMs and a 2026 Candidates participant — Wei Yi. We talk about his preparation for the 2026 Candidates, the mental struggles he had to overcome, and whom he sees as the main favorites. Wei also shares why Gukesh hasn’t looked as sharp lately, plus his honest take on Ding Liren — is he actually considering stepping away from chess? We finish with an intense blitz game with a surprising result — don’t miss it! Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader My DISCORD server: https://discord.gg/bXZN36xb My X: https://x.com/mustreader My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips My chess.com club: https://go.chess.com/MustreaderClub Collabs: [email protected] My previous podcast with Wei: https://youtu.be/080CuetikLE Nepo’s 2026 Candidates Tier List: https://youtu.be/Kk1u6caPMW8 My podcast with Caruana: https://youtu.be/1LMPYFf1iLo?si=AtUforPE0YYsWbhi My podcast with Giri: https://youtu.be/eFWwfFySx2Q?si=kJmwzyxph6XJ2Jdp My podcast with Pragg: https://youtu.be/LYURIPGuMjs?si=j_GBgdtZKywBKEfc Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus 00:00 — Intro 00:48 — Meet Wei Yi 01:22 — Surprised to be in the Candidates? 02:15 — The plan to reach the Candidates 04:35 — Last year’s mental struggles 05:35 — Why the World Cup "clicked" 07:51 — Wei Yi's Candidates tier list 10:35 — What matters most at the Candidates? 11:49 — When did you start preparing? 12:28 — Candidates prep plan 13:26 — Does fitness matter in prep? 14:06 — Chess training vs gym 14:35 — Is Ding Liren helping? 15:27 — What’s going on with Ding? 17:06 — What happened to Gukesh? 20:06 — Will Gukesh bounce back? 21:43 — Wei Yi’s goals 22:48 — Who beats Gukesh in a title match? 24:48 — Chess as an esport 26:55 — Blitz vs Wei Yi Wei Yi: CANDIDATES, Ding’s Comeback & Gukesh | PODCAST Wei Yi Wei Yi podcast Wei Yi interview Wei Yi Candidates 2026 Candidates 2026 FIDE Candidates 2026 Candidates predictions Candidates favorites Candidates tier list how to win the Candidates Candidates preparation chess preparation chess training chess improvement mental game in chess chess psychology pressure in chess World Cup wei yi Ding Liren Ding Liren comeback Ding Liren retirement what happened to Ding Liren Gukesh Dommaraju Gukesh Gukesh form Gukesh struggles World Championship match who beats Gukesh title match prediction chess as an esport top chess players chess podcast chess with mustreader mustreader chess mustreader greg mustreader cwm My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts. On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play). I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 32 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese. Don't forget to subscribe! #weiyi #candidates2026 #chess #candidates #dingliren #gukesh #chesspodcast #chesstraining #chessimprovement #chesspsychology #worldchampionship #blitzchess #chesstalk #chesswithmustreader #mustreaderchess #gregmustreader #cwm

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