The Adult Improver Series returns with the remarkable story of FM Nick Matta, a five-time Louisiana State Champion who made one of the most unusual rating climbs in recent memory. Nick returned to tournament chess as a college freshman and went from roughly 1400 to 2400 USCF over the next decade. In our conversation, he breaks down the habits and mindset shifts that fueled that rise, including:
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How complete immersion in chess during his college years accelerated his progress
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Why the mental game became increasingly important as he climbed the rating ladder
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The books, videos, and tools that helped him at each stage
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Nick’s improvement in his 20s may be rare, but his insights are applicable to players of a wide range of levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.
Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
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And you can check out their new offerings here:
<a href="https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/">https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/</a> 
00:00 – Intro & AnnouncementsFInd out more about the teaching job opportunity at IS 318 here:
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 <li>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/796878173716685/posts/32637324772578611/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/796878173716685/posts/32637324772578611/</a>
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Join the Perpetual Chess discord here!
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             <a href="https://discord.gg/27AXnaUr">https://discord.gg/27AXnaUr</a>
03:20 – Who Is FM Nick Matta?
Mentioned
Nick was also interviewed in episode 450- Hikaru in Louisiana
<a href="https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/9/9/ep-450-hikaru-in-louisiana-stories-from-his-surprise-appearance-in-the-louisiana-state-championshipnbsp">https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/9/9/ep-450-hikaru-in-louisiana-stories-from-his-surprise-appearance-in-the-louisiana-state-championshipnbsp</a>
 Check out Nick’s USCF Rating History here:
<a href="https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12845401">https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12845401</a> His rapid rise from 1480 → 2390 and return to chess after Katrina.
Also Mentioned: Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis, IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess, Pawn Power in Chess 
08:30 – How the Improvement Started Immersion, study habits, book recommendations, and developing a love for feedback.
Mentioned: Kasparov’s My Story with GM James Plaskett
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeEY66T0q80">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeEY66T0q80</a>
GM Melih Khachiyan’s Evaluation and Planning Series on <a href="http://chess.com">Chess.com</a>
<a href="https://www.chess.com/video/player/evaluation-and-planning---part-1">https://www.chess.com/video/player/evaluation-and-planning---part-1</a>
23:50 – Openings, Training, and Evolution Why he constantly changed openings, how his training shifted as he reached master level, and learning from top coaches.
Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, IM John Bartholomew, GM Jacob Aagaard’s Thinking Inside the Box 
30:40 – Time Trouble & Mental Game Breakthroughs Aagaard’s tough feedback, decision-making, cold-plunge training, meditation, and building emotional resilience.
Mentioned: Karpov in a cold plunge:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAhtMKhvG1A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAhtMKhvG1A</a>
53:20 – Coaching, Pursuing the IM Title & Final Advice Balancing coaching with personal ambition, whether he’ll chase the IM title, and his distilled guidance for adult improvers.
1:15:00- Thanks to Nick for joining me! Here is how to reach him:
 Lichess coaches page:
<a href="https://lichess.org/coach/nickmatta">https://lichess.org/coach/nickmatta</a>
<a href="http://chess.com">Chess.com</a> coaches page:
<a href="https://www.chess.com/member/nickmatta">https://www.chess.com/member/nickmatta</a>
Email- 
Nickmatta13 at gmail.com
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EP 463- FM Nick Matta on Immersion, Mindset, and a Remarkable Decade of Chess Improvement (Adult Improver Series)

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