The Chess Dojo's annual Junior Draft is back! Jesse, David, and Kostya review last year's results, debate the world's most promising young chess talents, and draft their picks for 2026.

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00:00 – 2025 Draft Results 09:27 – Biggest Winners and Disappointments 14:25 – Jesse's Winning Strategy 29:47 – The 2026 Junior Draft Begins 43:12 – Drafting the Top Female Juniors 54:28 – Betting on Young Talent 1:04:29 – Trades and Roster Changes 1:18:13 – Final Teams and Predictions

Jesse, David, and Kostya preview the 2026 Chess Olympiad, breaking down the top contenders, Team USA, dark horses, board orders, and the notable players missing from the event.

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Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

00:00 – Olympiad Predictions 09:00 – The Top Contenders 18:00 – India’s Big Challenge 27:00 – Breaking Down Team USA 36:00 – Dark Horses to Watch 45:00 – Board Order Strategy 55:59 – Why Top Players Are Skipping 1:02:33 – Final Thoughts & Predictions

The ChessDojo sensei reconnect after a busy summer to recap recent tournament runs, European travels, behind-the-scenes FIDE election politics, and updates across the Dojo.

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Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

00:00 - Summer Catch-Up 01:35 - Tournaments & Prodigy Records 06:40 - US Senior Championship 13:50 - European Tour & FIDE Politics 19:57 - The GM Quest Reality 23:42 - 45-Minute Classical Time Controls 26:15 - 2700 Blitz Peak & Dojo Camp