Perpetual Chess Podcast EP 480- GM Eugene Perelshteyn & NM Mike Mahoney: Chess Rocky-Taking on Nakamura & Niemann at the Naroditsky Memorial
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Apr 28, 2026 Mike Mahoney, a pharmacist-turned-National Master who rose late and thrives in online blitz. Eugene Perelshteyn, Grandmaster, opening expert and coach guiding Mike’s prep. They discuss Mike’s leap into a super-strong blitz field, Eugene’s coaching and opening plans, practical blitz clock management, and the Boston blitz stories that shaped Mike’s rise.
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Latecomer NM Enters Super Strong Blitz Event
- Mike decided to enter the Naroditsky Memorial after Eugene confirmed his blitz rating met the 2200 entry threshold and the pair viewed it as a rare chance to play top GMs.
- He framed the trip as an experience worth documenting and learning from, expecting to "lose 12 out of 11 rounds" but have fun.
Playing Wesley So Felt Like A Brick Wall
- Mike recalled playing Wesley So for blitz at a St. Louis venue; the match felt like hitting a brick wall and exposed the gap in practical strength.
- Despite losing, Wesley agreed to a second game and Mike left impressed by how uncompromising top pros are.
Train Into Natural Strengths With Graded Sparring
- Eugene plans to exploit Mike's natural attacking instincts by training openings and positions that lead to dynamic play rather than many unfamiliar mainline structures.
- He schedules in-person graded training matches culminating in a very strong GM to simulate tournament pressure and rebuild OTB muscle memory.
