English Chess Federation
Hosted by English Chess Federation
The official podcast of England's national chess body, interviewing the players, organizers, and event managers building the country's chess scene.
A video podcast from England's national chess federation that acts as a community noticeboard and promotional tool. Host Michael Green interviews the people running the English chess world—from Grandmasters to the managers of the British Chess Championships—to explain how to get involved. It's a practical, insider's guide to the national scene, using screen-shares of entry forms and schedules to walk viewers through participation.
“As the official voice of the national governing body, the podcast has unparalleled access to the key decision-makers and players in English chess. Its focus is less on abstract chess improvement and more on the practical logistics and personalities of the English tournament circuit.”
Who hosts this show
This is the official video podcast of the English Chess Federation (ECF), the governing body for chess in England. Hosted by chess coach and FIDE Instructor Michael Green, the show features interviews with key figures in the English chess community, including Grandmasters, tournament organizers, and charity leaders. The podcast serves to promote ECF initiatives, publicize upcoming tournaments, and share the stories of influential players and organizers.
Credentials & credits
- FIDE Instructor
- Chess Coach
- Chessable Author
- Former England U18 team member
- Co-founder of the PRO University Chess League
Other ventures
- ChessLifestyle (YouTube channel)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03#32 — The Greatest Chess Handyman: Nevil Chan! | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!Jun 12, 2026 · 24 min
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01#34 — The Journey to Grandmaster! (ft. Matthew Wadsworth)
A deep dive into the mindset and training philosophy of a new Grandmaster, covering topics like focusing on strengths vs. weaknesses and the evolution of opening preparation.
- 02#33 — Come Enter the British Chess Championships! (ft. Adrian Elwin)
A practical guide to England's biggest chess event, where the host uses the tournament website to walk through the dozens of events available for all skill levels.
- 03#32 — The Greatest Chess Handyman: Nevil Chan!
Explores major community initiatives like ChessFest in Trafalgar Square, featuring a 'human chess game,' and highlights the success of young stars at the local club level.
What you'll be asked on this show
Host Michael Green begins each interview with a detailed and often laudatory introduction of the guest's accomplishments. His opening questions typically focus on the guest's origin story before moving into the specifics of their work. Green frequently uses on-screen visuals like websites or schedules to structure the conversation, asking practical, clarifying questions for the benefit of the audience. He builds a warm rapport by relating his own experiences as a player and coach to the guest's journey, often sharing personal anecdotes about participating in the very tournaments or clubs being discussed.
A video-first interview show, often using screen-sharing of websites, schedules, and photos to guide the conversation. Host Michael Green is an active tournament player and coach who builds rapport by sharing his own relevant experiences. The tone is supportive, well-researched, and aims to encourage community participation.
Questions English Chess Federation keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when English Chess Federation reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“Tell me about your chess upbringing and how you got started.”
A frequent opening question to establish the guest's origin story in the chess world.
mindset
1- Q.01
“When did you realize you had a special talent for chess?”
Asked after an initial origin story to probe for the guest's early self-awareness and mindset.
process
4- Q.01
“Tell me more about [specific event] and how people can get involved.”
A core question used to explore the practical details of a tournament or initiative the guest is involved with.
- Q.02
“What were the key milestones where your playing strength leaped forward?”
Used in interviews with strong players to identify critical moments of improvement in their careers.
- Q.03
“How can people sign up for the events we've discussed?”
A practical closing question to provide actionable information for viewers wanting to participate.
- Q.04
“Can people sign up on the day for side events like the blitz?”
A typical clarifying question to get specific logistical details about a tournament.
advice
4- Q.01
“What events do you recommend for lower-rated or junior players?”
A common question to make the discussion relevant to a broader, less experienced audience.
- Q.02
“Do you focus on training your strengths or improving your weaknesses?”
A philosophical question posed to strong players to understand their training approach.
- Q.03
“How long does it take to really understand a new opening?”
Aimed at getting practical, experience-based advice for the audience's own improvement.
- Q.04
“What's your advice for other chess organizers or coordinators?”
Asks guests who are organizers to share wisdom with their peers in the audience.
craft
1- Q.01
“What's the main difference between an International Master and a Grandmaster?”
Asks elite players to explain the nuances of skill at the highest levels.
personal
1- Q.01
“Tell me about your local club and its recent successes.”
Connects the guest's high-level work back to their personal, local chess community.
Signature segments
- · It’s Your Move!
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are exclusively figures from the English chess ecosystem. This includes top players (Grandmasters), event managers for major tournaments, and leaders of chess charities and school programs.
- Matthew Wadsworthon #34 — The Journey to Grandmaster! (ft. Matthew Wadsworth) | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!
- Adrian Elwinon #33 — Come Enter the British Chess Championships! (ft. Adrian Elwin) | ECF Podcast - It's Your Move!
- Nevil Chanon #32 — The Greatest Chess Handyman: Nevil Chan! | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!
- Mick Ridingon #31 — ECF Grassroots: Kickstarting Chess Projects! (ft. Mick Riding) | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!
- Roman Zadvornyon #30 — Chess at Dulwich College: A Pupil takes the Initiative! (ft. Roman Zadvorny) | ECF Podcast
- Lan Yaoon #29 — FOUR Times Women's British Chess Champion: Lan Yao! | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!
- Neill Cooperon #28 — English Secondary School Chess! (ft. Neill Cooper) | ECF Podcast - It’s Your Move!
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by the English Chess Federation and appears primarily focused on community engagement rather than direct monetization. One episode noted a sponsor for a specific event being discussed (ChessFest), but the show itself does not seem to feature paid ad reads.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of the podcast?
- The host is Michael Green, a FIDE Instructor, chess coach, and active tournament player.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a video interview show where the host, Michael Green, talks to key figures in the English chess community, often using screen-sharing to show relevant websites and documents.
- Is this podcast still running?
- Yes, based on the recent episode dates, it publishes new episodes on a weekly basis.
- Who is the podcast for?
- It's for chess players in England who are interested in participating in the national tournament scene and community events.
- How can I find the events they talk about?
- The podcast descriptions and discussions often refer to the official English Chess Federation website (englishchess.org.uk) for event calendars and entry forms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]English Chess Federation Official Websiteenglishchess.org.uk
- [02]Michael Green FIDE Profileratings.fide.com
- [03]Michael Green (aka ChessLifestyle), Chessable Authorchessable.com
- [04]Michael Green - Chess Rising Starschessrisingstars.com
- [05]Coach's Corner: Michael Green - Chess.comchess.com
- [06]ChessLifestyle YouTube Channelyoutube.com
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