Perpetual Chess Podcast

EP 475- Matt Biancuzzo (Byredofantome) on Keeping Chess Fun, Ignoring Rating, and Making Viral Chess Videos

Mar 10, 2026

Matt Biancuzzo, a NYC-based player and creator known as ByredoPhantom, rose from under 1400 to ~1800 USCF while building a lively chess social life. He talks about how clubs and pub chess made improvement fun. He also explains his quick, satirical short videos, using impressions, trends, and low-effort editing to make content go viral.

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ANECDOTE

Coaching Styles That Worked And Didn't

Matt tried two coaches with very different styles: a Russian-style IM who pushed long puzzle drilling, and IM Viktor Matviishen who built practical opening repertoires.
Victor's repertoire work led to immediate wins in events like the Foxwoods Open.

ADVICE

Desensitize Time Pressure With Pub Chess

Try low-stakes sparring to reduce time-pressure nerves: play pub chess or noisy bar events to desensitize to pressure.
Matt defeated nervousness by repeatedly playing stronger players in casual settings with music and drinks, improving practical time management.

ADVICE

Create Or Join A Chess Community

Do build local or online communities if your city lacks chess nights; use Discord and meetups to create the scene.
Matt suggests joining Discords, traveling to hubs like New York, or starting monthly meetups to replicate his community gains.

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