About Perpetual Chess
Ben Johnson is the host of the Perpetual Chess Podcast, which since 2016 has become one of the most consistent and widely respected chess shows in English. Episodes typically run an hour or more and feature in-depth conversations with grandmasters, trainers, authors, and the steadily growing community of serious adult improvers.
The podcast occupies a particular niche: rather than chasing news cycles or top-tier tournament coverage, Ben focuses on the long arc of chess improvement, training methodology, and the culture around the game. The Adult Improver Series — recurring interviews with non-professional players chasing rating goals — has become a touchstone for amateurs trying to take chess study seriously.
He also publishes regular book reviews and recap episodes, turning major instructional titles into structured takeaways. Outside the podcast he is an active club player and a frequent collaborator with other chess content creators.
How his Chessiverse bot plays
Ben's Chessiverse bot is calibrated to 2206 Elo and plays a study-driven club style: ambitious as Black with the Sveshnikov Sicilian against 1.e4 and the Nimzo-Indian against 1.d4, balanced and classical as White.