The Adult Improver Series returns with a fascinating story that highlights the broad appeal of chess. Marcos Patricio Macedo is a Brasília-based forensic detective, dad, and chess enthusiast who rediscovered the game in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since. Chess has become a welcome escape from the pressures of his homicide-investigation work, and he’s helped build community both locally and among fellow officers.

Marcos believes in the game’s value so deeply that he helped restore chess as an event in the World Police & Fire Games, an international gathering for first responders. In our conversation, he shares:

What it took to bring chess back to the games
How it was received and what might come next
His mixed feelings about balancing chess with family, work, and improvement
Lessons from coaches, online study, and his first major OTB tournament

Marcos’ relatable story reveals both the rewards and the potential pitfalls of dedicating a lot of time to chess as a hobby.

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0:00- You can join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here:

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠

02:00- What got Marcos back into chess in 2018?

07:00- Similarities and differences between chess analysis and forensic analysis

10:00- Marcos’ approach to improving at chess

Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitão, Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, GM Daniel Naroditsky

15:00- Chess as a stress reliever for a first responder

20:00- Marcos tells the story of his successful advocacy to get chess included in the recent World Police & Fire Games

30:00- Why does Marcos think his interest in chess waned when he returned from the World Police & Fire Games ?

Mentioned: Silman’s The Amateur’s Mind, Coach FM Juan Cruz Arias

40:00- Marcos’ previous OTB experiences

43:00- The chess scene in Brazil

44:00- Marcos’ next move

49:00- Closing thoughts

Mentioned: EP 429 with Omar Mills

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/4/8/ep-429-omar-mills-chess-and-life-lessons-learned-from-not-improving-as-much-as-he-expected

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

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EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout