Norway Chess Magnus Carlsen R Praggnanandhaa Wesley So Vincent Keymer Bibisara Assaubayeva

Chess is a quiet battle of minds. It can test players’ mental toughness and take a toll on their well-being. Current players have turned to stress management with each having their own method to find a way out.

The World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen is known to use golf sessions for stress relief even during tournaments. The Norwegian is said to have enjoyed a game on the links during big-ticket events, including the World Cup.

If that’s Carlsen’s way of taking his mind off chess, German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer “doesn’t spend many hours on something else”. “Usually, my preparation involves mostly chess. To me, it’s important to find at least a few hours a day where you’re not thinking about chess, mostly for mental rest.”

For American Wesley So, it is about having a sound sleep and staying away from electronic devices. “Once a tournament gets going, I try to sleep well at night. During game days, I try not to look at electronic gadgets too much because it makes my eyes tired. On match eve, I listen to some music and prefer a walk.”

Indian GM R. Praggnanandhaa said: “We mostly prepare before the games and try to rest as much as possible to balance both.” Kazakh player Bibisara Assaubayeva felt that taking rest was the best way to prepare. “Sleeping a lot is the trick for resting and not thinking about the game”.