Gambit Underground Podcast

The untold stories, forgotten masters, and dark corners of chess history—where strategy meets survival, and every move hides a motive.•checkmatestories.substack.com

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Gambit Underground delivers immersive video content that complements our written deep-dives—perfect for players, fans, and storytellers alike. We’re building a global chess brand that celebrates not just the moves, but the minds behind them.

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Episodes

🎙️ The Silent Grandmaster: The Forgotten Genius of Mir Sultan Khan

He came from the fields of colonial Punjab, spoke no English, and had never played chess with a clock—yet within months of arriving in Britain, he was defeating world champions. This episode uncovers the extraordinary and little-known story of Mir Sultan Khan , the humble servant who stunned the Western chess elite in the 1930s. Why did he vanish at the peak of his powers?What does his story reveal about colonialism, lost genius, and the politics of recognition?And why do so few today know his n...

May 04, 2025•15 min

🎙♟️ The Violent Genius: John Healy’s Escape Through Chess

From prison cells to chess halls, John Healy's life defies belief. In this episode, we uncover how a man forged in violence found fleeting peace across 64 squares—and why his story still rattles the soul of the chess world. Get full access to Checkmate Stories at checkmatestories.substack.com/subscribe

May 04, 2025•13 min

🎧 Podcast Ep. 1 — The Grandmaster Who Cheated Death

Some stories demand to be heard. In this narrated edition of The Grandmaster Who Cheated Death , we bring the legend of Ossip Bernstein to life in voice and atmosphere—where every pause is a footstep into history, and every sentence a move in the final game. 🎙️ Listen now or read the full story here:👉 https://checkmatestories.substack.com/p/the-grandmaster-who-cheated-death Get full access to Checkmate Stories at checkmatestories.substack.com/subscribe...

May 01, 2025•28 min

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