Gambit Underground Podcast
Where chess meets storytelling. Every other week, Checkmate Stories delivers epic narratives from the world of chess—biographies of bold players, cinematic breakdowns of historic matches, and exclusive commentary. Whether you're a season
The untold stories, forgotten masters, and dark corners of chess history—where strategy meets survival, and every move hides a motive.
Show overview
Gambit Underground Podcast has published 3 episodes during 2025. Releases follow a near-daily cadence.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 14 min and 21 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language History show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1 year ago, with no new episodes in over a year. Published by The untold stories, forgotten masters, and dark corners of chess history—where strategy meets survival, and every move hides a motive..
From the publisher
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. checkmatestories.substack.com
Latest 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 name?Join us as we peel back the layers of a man once described by Capablanca as a natural-born chess genius—an enigma who may have become world champion had history dealt him a different hand. Get full access to Checkmate Stories at checkmatestories.substack.com/subscribe
🎙♟️ 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
🎧 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