When it comes to the health of your brain, there are a lot of ways you can take good care of it. Brain health depends on many factors, be it by consuming the right food items, exercising your body regularly, and ensuring that you get an optimal amount of sleep.

Along with these, developing a habit of solving complex puzzles and opting to learn a new language can also keep the human brain sharp and agile. Now the critical question is, ‘Does chess make you smarter?’ If we go with popular imagination, chess has long been associated with intelligence and a good grip over strategic thinking.

Numerous studies by academics and scientists throughout the world have grappled with the same issue – ‘Does chess make you smarter’, and have primarily concluded in the affirmative.

If you are an avid chess player, you will be overjoyed after reading this article, as we have picked up ten ways chess can make you smarter!

Chess Helps Raise Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

People have linked chess with super imaginative brainiacs and nerds for the longest time. This is, however, far from the truth. It is somewhat true that the more intelligent kids tend to gravitate towards chess.

But modern research has shown that it does not matter if a child has been previously exposed to chess, and only four months of chess training can significantly increase their overall IQ.

Chess can Prevent Early Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease

Chess can be particularly beneficial for the older populace, who tend to be more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease. As human beings get older, their brain cells begin losing neuroplasticity – the ability of brain cells to change their structure in response to new data. Chess can make a massive difference in this context by aiding in the preservation of the health of the brain cells.

Along with problem-solving games such as sudoku, crosswords, puzzles, and riddles, chess too can reduce the chances of a person contracting Alzheimer’s or any other form of neurodegenerative disease by adding chess to their regular routine.

Both Sides of the Brain Gets Exercise When You Play Chess

A German research team has found out that when we play chess, both sides of our brain – the logical half and the creative half, get engaged in solving the problems on the chessboard. This revelation stands opposite to what earlier posited with regard to chess. It was said that chess only stimulated the logical half of the human brain, which is the left hemisphere of the brain.

And in extension, the right hemisphere, or the brain’s creative side, was not that involved while a person played a chess match. However, this has been debunked by German researchers, and we can confidently say that chess is an excellent tool to train both hemispheres of the human brain.

Chess can Spark Creativity in Human Minds

As has been mentioned in the previous section, chess activates both sides of the human brain. This means that if you play chess regularly, you will have a better chance of becoming a more creative person. In other words, by spending time with chess, one will have a more powerful shot at giving birth to original ideas in their minds. 

A school-level study by a man named Robert Ferguson tested students’ creative prowess in grades seven to nine. All the students were asked to take up one extra-curricular activity and give time to it at least once a week for 32 weeks. After the 32 weeks were up, the same students were made to sit for a series of cognitive examinations.

The results showed that the group of school children who took up chess as their after-school activity ranked the highest in the exams.

Chess Enhances One’s Concentration Levels

We live in an age where focusing on a single task at hand can be the most challenging thing to do. With so much distraction around us all day, we are losing our mental strength to just sit and concentrate on one job. This can all change with chess, playing which can drastically elevate your concentration levels.

As you have noticed, playing chess requires a very high focus and concentration. If you play chess every now and then, you stand a chance to magnify your attentiveness to a whole new degree. This can be used in other areas of life, where a decision made with a focused mind can go to great lengths to ensure that the right choice has been made.

Chess Aids in Planning and Foresight

The prefrontal cortex is the part of the human brain that starts developing much later, and this is the brain region responsible for self-control, planning, and judgement. In humans, it is till the age of 25 that the prefrontal cortex keeps growing.

Strategy games like chess can therefore stimulate the growth of this part of the brain and transform kids and young adults into better decision-making individuals.

Does Chess Help in Real Life?

Chess, in many ways, is like food for your brain. It can enhance your concentration levels and develop memory, intuition, and creativity. It can also aid in sharpening the skill of extracting valuable information from a set of given principles.

Studies in recent years have shown that chess has the potential to increase the capacity to make better decisions, solve intricate problems, and learn new things at a faster rate.

Does Chess Increase Brain Power?

A broad set of research has been conducted in the last few decades to find out how far chess can elevate the power of the human brain and answer the question – ‘Does chess make you smarter?’

From what has been found in these studies, it is now an established truth that chess can sharpen cognition, maths skills, and memory power. It is, however, too early to conclude whether chess can help someone attain higher test scores in all sorts of exams.

Does Chess Make You Smarter? – Final Verdict

The evidence showing chess as a friend to the human brain is rather substantial. In a number of studies, it has been concluded that making chess a part of your lifestyle can be rewarding in more than one way. 

From better cognitive capabilities to sharper neuro-transmitters, chess can make your brain live a healthier life of its own. But it all comes down to how much time you spend with the game.

With that, we have come to the end of our discussion on the topic – ‘Does chess make you smarter?’ We would like to help you in your quest to become a stronger chess player. To that end, SquareOff has brought forth a premium set of automated chessboards. These AI-powered boards are absolute trailblazers in the chess board industry.
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Like any other game, one needs to dedicate time and effort to get better at chess. It does not matter if you are a complete amateur and have no prior experience in the game. Following regular practice, you will find yourself leveling up in chess with time.

How to Get Better at Chess?

When it comes to the question, – ‘How to get better at chess?’, there is no concrete answer. Every person is unique and will experience a different chess-learning journey than everyone else.

But the most crucial aspect of learning is the deep desire to get to the next level, which is the driving force behind all significant accomplishments. And the same applies here while tackling the thought, ‘How to get better at chess.’

In the following paragraphs, we will discuss seven ways to scale up your chess skill set over time. Under no circumstance shall these seven-pointers be considered the only way to improve chess skills under no circumstance.

There are different schools of thought upholding various chess philosophies, and each has legitimated means stocked in its arsenal, enabling chess players to sharpen their skills.

If you want to know how to get better at chess fast, look at the seven tips we have shared below. These will surely make you a better chess competitor.

Recommended Read: Chess Books That Every Chess Lover Should Read

7 Tips To Get Better At Chess

Learn the Rules of the Game Thoroughly

Chess is a relatively easy board game to pick up. Most of us began playing chess at a very young age. After only a few brief talks, we started matching our wits against our opponents.

However, even if you are confident that the game’s rules are at your fingertips, it is always a great idea to go back to the drawing board and review the fundamental laws of chess one more time.

On several occasions, people find that they need to catch up on the nitty-gritty of the game. Therefore, it will be worthwhile to peruse through the basics of the game before you take up chess on a more serious note.

Recommended Read: Rules Of Chess

Keep Playing Chess Matches at All Times

Can you get good at chess just by playing? As the old maxim tells us – practice makes perfect. Likewise, you can only improve your chess skills by playing as many matches as possible.

Take the chance to practice your skills on the chessboard without fearing losing the game to a less deserving opponent.

Remember to put your pride locked up while working on your skills on the chessboard. You may lose some games initially, but the benefits would be enormous in the long term. In chess, like in every other skill-based endeavor, repetition is paramount.

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Keep Reviewing and Learning From the Games You Play

Nothing beats revision when striving to get better at chess. Once you have played a particular match, keep it from your memory, and make some time to get back to it to analyze it. To do this, knowing algebraic chess notation can be highly valuable.

With chess notation at your fingertips, you can record all the moves a game witnesses. Then, after the game concludes, you will have the entire progression of the match by your side. Reviewing a chess match with the help of chess notation is a fantastic path to mastery of the game.

If you have yet to learn chess notation or are on the verge of learning it, you can use online chess portals such as Chess.com and Lichess.org to analyze your game on your behalf.

These days, online resources provide significant assistance to chess enthusiasts during their training phase., So, use internet tools to your advantage.

Recommended Read: Chess Notation – The Language of Chess

Practise Daily with Chess Puzzles

While learning any craft, mixing up one’s study schedules is a wise choice. For example, one day, you may be testing yourself by playing a few games against actual people. In other instances, you could bring some much-needed diversity by incorporating chess puzzles into your practice module.

Chess puzzles are small-sized chess problems that are supposed to be solved by using one’s wit and intelligence. These puzzles are real match situations, and solving them gives one a chance to end a match.

When you solve chess puzzles, you find yourself jumping to the critical moments of games where one brilliant move will turn you into the victor. On the other hand, a false move will make you lose the game. Solving chess puzzles is vital to every successful chess player’s practice regimen.

It sharpens one’s problem-solving skills and builds strong decision-making capability. You will find free chess puzzles waiting to be solved on online chess portals. Do not forget to make use of those free exercises to your advantage.

Recommended Read: 41 Terms Of Chess Every Chess Player Should Know

Spend Adequate Time Studying Endgames

The ‘endgame’ is the final phase of a chess match, and it is when both parties have completed setting up their individual chess pieces on the chessboard and are now looking to finish off their opponents.

The endgame arrives after the ‘opening’ and the ‘middle game’. True to its name, competitors start looking to launch vicious attacks on rivals during this game stage to eke out a win. But it is not easy to defeat an opponent if one’s endgame skills are weak.

To strengthen one’s endgame tactics, studying and practicing endgame moves regularly becomes all the more important. The internet offers several chess portals where you will find endgame drills to run your mind through.

Make endgame practice a non-negotiable component of your chess training to see better results in the long run.

Spend Less Time and Energy on Chess Openings

A chess opening is that phase of a chess match where both parties slowly begin bringing out their chess pieces on the playing field of the chessboard.

A lot can be learned from following a particular chess match’s opening rounds. This is where the character of the ensuing game develops, and on deeper perusal, one can tell if the competition will be on the offensive or the defensive side.

However, one of the most common mistakes rookie chess players make is that they need to spend more time memorizing opening moves and patterns. As far as chess opening is concerned, you will do well by simply integrating the seminal principles governing the same.

Focusing too much on the set of ‘good opening moves’ given in numerous chess books will make the learning process unnecessarily complicated and needless.

Recommended Read: 4 Most Aggressive Chess Openings That You Should Know

Always Check Twice Before Making a Move

The most crucial point to remember while competing in a chess match is to be doubly sure about a move you are about to make. At times, even the foremost chess professionals fail to complete all the calculations before committing to a movement.

Terms such as a ‘chess mistake’ or a ‘chess blunder’ come to the fore under such circumstances. So, if you want to play a good game of chess, be sure to check the safety of your king and other pieces before going ahead with a move.

Although you may get away with the game if you make a ‘mistake’, ‘chess blunders’ can cost you the whole match. Caution should always reign supreme in your mind during a game.

Recommended Read: Smartest Chess Middle Game Strategies

For more information on this theme, you can type in the words – ‘how to get better at chess for beginners’ or ‘how to get better at chess openings’ on the internet and find good suggestions.

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In this article, we will share our pick of the list of chess books that every genuine chess lover should read at least once in their lifetime. These top chess books have maintained their lead in the charts of the world’s most favorite chess books for a long time.

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9 Chess Books That You Should Read

1. How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman

A brilliant book demonstrating, among other things, how to be in a stronger position during a chess game’s middle game phase, Jeremy Silman’s 2010 book is one of the best chess books for beginners. Easy to follow due to the author’s deep understanding of the amateur chess player’s mind, How to Reassess Your Chess comes packed with a lot of in-depth analysis of all aspects of the game accompanied by a humorous tone to make readers enjoy every single page.

Directed at a larger audience, this book is meant for the absolute beginners of the game and the advanced players. A great companion for anyone seeking to brush up on the basics of chess, Silman helps readers get a hold of the fundamentals of chess through this beautiful book.

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2. Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein

Primarily seen as being the most extraordinary book dedicated to the iconic chess tournaments of the past, David Bronstein’s Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953, is a pure delight for serious chess enthusiasts. Written mainly during the lead-up to the 1954 world championship bout featuring Mikhail Botvinnik, this book encompasses all of the major chess tournaments of that era in a single volume.

The manner in which the book has been written can be accessed by the average chess competitor. Anyone having a chess rating between 1200 to 2000 and above can draw a lot of valuable information from this work. As is common knowledge, to develop one’s chess skills, studying the great games of the past is imperative. And by having this book in one’s corner, one can effortlessly get access to the same. Plus, the writer has added critical notes along with the game progressions.

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3. My Great Predecessors by Garry Kasparov

When one of the greatest chess players of all time publishes a series of chess books, one is bound to turn around and notice. Such is the case with Garry Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors series of chess books.

This five-volume set carries an analysis of past chess games, coupled with legendary world chess champion Kaspariv’s personal remarks on each and every one of them. He also talks at length about the general history of modern chess. This attribute makes these complete books page-turners.

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4. Life and Games of Mikhail Tal by Mikhail Tal

When it comes to aggressive and highly entertaining chess gameplay, few have reached the level of former world chess champion GM Mikhail Tal of the USSR. A beautifully crafted book detailing the life and times of one of the finest chess players of all time, Life and Games of Mikhail Tal reflects the author’s extraordinary mind.

This book has a gripping writing style, which gets the reader hooked from the very start. Known as the most aggressive world champion the game has ever seen, this book encapsulates Tal’s personality brilliantly. So, go ahead and read this book to learn about some of the most savage chess games ever played on the highest platforms.

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5. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess by Bobby Fischer, Don Mosenfelder, and Stuart Marguiles

Bobby Fischer is considered one of the greatest players ever to grace the game of chess. Naturally, the idea of being able to learn the game from this absolute chess genius is a top selling point. First published in 1966, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess has proven to be immensely helpful to an entire generation of chess players who have grown up watching or hearing about the exploits of the former world chess champion Fischer.

Counted as one of the best-selling chess books of all time, this book is like a bible for chess aficionados. Even if you are looking for a good list of chess books for beginners, this book should be on your list.

The magic of this book remains intact after several years in circulation. If you have no knowledge about the game, pick up a copy of this all-time classic and read through it. You will be amazed at the depth to which the author goes to explain all the aspects of the game.

6. Think Like a Grandmaster by Alexander Kotov

Much like the title of the book, Alexander Kotov’s Think Like a Grandmaster gives a detailed study of the thought process involved in chess. If you are looking for a book that will show you how to approach a chess match, as well as the mindset required to make the right decisions during the course of a game, this is the book that you should read.

One of the pointers to keep in mind while purchasing this bestseller is its aim at the above-average to advanced sections of chess players. In other words, beginners may sometimes find this book difficult to comprehend. However, with the correct guidance and training, this book has the potential to add some firepower to the amateur-level player as well.

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7. My System by Aron Nimzowitsch

Another classic chess book, My System by Aron Nimzowitsch, was published in 1925, almost a hundred years ago. Still considered a classic chess learning book, My System has maintained its status as one of the top five chess books of the last century.

One of the earliest chess books to be considered an essential read in order to master positional chess play, this book explains in detail concepts such as ‘pawn chains’, ‘prophylaxis’, ‘blockading passed pawns’, and ‘utilizing the center’.

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8. Silman’s Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master by Jeremy Silman

We have one more book written by Jeremy Silman in our list of chess books that everyone should read. This work by Silman focuses on the final phase of a chess game – the endgame. Silman has smartly discussed many types of chess endgame strategies to enable the reader to inculcate those tactics in their gameplay.

Silman’s book brilliantly discusses, illustrates, and elaborates an extensive array of endgame patterns that you can integrate into your style of play without much difficulty. Without having a solid endgame tactic, it becomes tough to upskill one’s chess prowess in the long run. The author has identified this dearth in the amateur chess player’s game and has successfully attempted to address the issue with the help of this remarkable book.

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9. Karpov’s Strategic Wins by Tibor Karolyi 

Last but not least, we turn our attention towards former multiple times world chess champion Anatoly Karpov and the finely written two-volume set based on his legacy.

These chess books demonstrate why Karpov was known as the master of positional play. All aspiring chess players will gain priceless insight into the world of grandmasters and top chess tournaments by skimming through the pages of these highly accessible books.

Now that we have come to the end of our list of top chess books every chess enthusiast should have next to them, it is time for you to know more about the history and origin of the hugely popular strategy game known as chess. Click on the link to find out more about the same.

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1. How The Popular Netflix Show ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Introduced The Game To The Current Generation
2. Why do 83% of Households Own A Chessboard?
3. What New Chess Moves Have Been Invented in the Last Year?

Having a chess set is a respectable affair. Anywhere you go, a house with a chess set is understood to be occupied by more intelligent, knowledgeable, and classy folks.

Chess is arguably the most popular board game on the planet today, and it has a global reach that is hard for any other game in its category to reach. The rules and regulations of the game are relatively straightforward, making chess well-liked by people of all age groups.

Having its origins in the country of India, chess has evolved over at least one and a half millennia to morph into the shape we witness today. Very little to do with luck, like we get to see in board games such as monopoly and ludo, chess depends wholly on the player’s skills and competence.

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Millions of internet users indulge in chess online daily, and these factors combine to make chess one of the top board games worldwide. What makes chess so versatile is the compatibility it shares with players of varying capabilities.

In other words, children as young as three or four can learn to play the game relatively quickly. In fact, many chess competitions are organized targeting only kids. Chess can also be a highly entertaining and nerve-wracking game.

Whether elite-level games featuring all-time greats like Bobby Fischer or Garry Kasparov or the national or junior-level tournaments, any match played with a chess set with vigor and style can reach heightened excitement levels.

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If you notice a live chess game, the player’s faces would be ripe with nervousness, focus, and a tinge of happiness, all mixed together to give a unique look. However, two chess players competing against each other can go through all these emotions just for fun and not simply to win and prove a point.

Reasons Why 83% Of Households Own A Chessboard

Ease of Procurement

A chess set is one of those things that are readily available in the market. Most shops dealing with toys, sports items, and allied objects will have a chess set at their disposal. A chess set takes very little space to be arranged on a surface. 

Apart from the board and the black and white chess pieces, nothing else is required to start the game. At times, however, one may have a dedicated chess set mat to go along with it.

But, apart from these, you do not need anything else to play chess. The portability factor of chess is one of the chief causes behind its popularity. 

Related Read: 50+ Chess Stats That Will Blow Your Mind

Covid-19 Lockdown

One of the best things that have happened in the last few years in favour of chess is the Covid-19 pandemic. With people everywhere asked to stay indoors for a long time, no wonder many turned their attention toward chess.

What came as a shock to millions, including professional chess players, soon morphed into a new sensation in the form of online chess. As more and more chess enthusiasts entered the zone of the 64 squares, sales of chess boards also shot up tremendously.

The latter half of 2020 saw the surge in sales of chess boards skyrocket towards exponential levels.

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and its Effect on Chess

As if destined to arrive at the right place and the right time, the explosively hit Netflix drama show ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ was released worldwide in November 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 crisis.

This was a win-win situation for chess and the Netflix blockbuster show. As a staggering number of people were locked inside their homes when the show hit the screens, it raised the already-surging popularity of the game to never-before-seen levels.

There was no looking back after that for chess. Several online surveys have taken place in late 2020 and early 2021, which have pointed toward the increase in the sale of chess boards across the planet.

The worldwide percentage of households having a chess set rose enormously during this time. It is no wonder chess observers have credited ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ with bringing a whole new generation closer to the chequered board.

Recommended Read: 5 Top Chess Movies With A Gripping Plot

Ease of Understanding the Game

Perhaps the most crucial feature of chess is the ease with which a person can learn to play the game. Almost anyone can become a decent chess player with some essential tips.

Therein lies the beauty of chess. It is no wonder then that, like the title of this article suggests, you will find that 83% of households worldwide own a chessboard. This makes chess a game that possesses the power to bridge cultural, cultural, as well as social divides among people of all ages.

Just imagining that wherever you travel, you will most likely see people engaged in chess games makes for the most excellent thought. 

These are a few reasons why people own a chessboard. And now that we have discussed this, why not become the proud owner of a professional chess set yourself? Treat your eyes to our highly-rated automated chess boards, and bring home the best ones available today!

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The ‘grandmaster’ or ‘GM’ title is the highest ground a professional chess player can step up to. This, along with other chess titles such as ‘International Master’ or ‘IM’ and ‘Candidate Master’, is conferred by the international chess governing body named the Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE).

Per the September 2020 official chess rating list released by FIDE on its website, 1721 grandmasters have made the cut in the sport’s history. Like in any other sport, reaching the highest level of chess takes years of practice and dedication. The game’s grandmasters invest a humongous amount of time, energy and resources to get to that coveted title of the ‘GM’.

This blog will give you an exact idea of how a chess grandmaster, active in the playing circuit, spends their week polishing their craft. Although not absolute, this exercise will illuminate the intense regimen that any grandmaster must imbibe into their system to stay on top.

Without further delay, let us find out how you can train like a grandmaster for a week. 

Begin by Loving the Game

First and foremost, playing like a grandmaster will require you to genuinely love the game. By loving the daily grind, grandmasters keep learning and improving their game. Since there is no end to learning new tricks and moves, you, too, will practice new techniques every day.

Most grandmasters active today started their chess journey at a very young age. Take, for example, GM Abhimanyu Mishra. He made headlines in 2021 by becoming the youngest chess grandmaster in history, and he achieved this incredible feat at just twelve. In his case, Abhimanyu Mishra began learning to play chess at the tender age of 2 years and eight months.

On a typical day, GM Mishra trains for at least eight hours, and this includes playing lots of chess games and seeking the help of coaches and mentors to sharpen existing skills. In case you are aiming to become the next chess grandmaster, you will also need to adhere to strict disciplinary standards every day.

It is estimated that a chess grandmaster has the knowledge of a minimum of a million chess patterns at their fingertips. Therefore, you will have to train yourself in those same patterns in order to get closer to the GM title.

Create a Proper Plan

It is said that more than working ceaselessly, it is more important to know how to work hard intelligently. The same goes for your chess training; you must chalk out a plan of how your training will take shape.

Playing chess like a grandmaster involves thoughtful planning and implementation. Chess is a game of wits, so it is imperative that you understand how the human brain functions. By inculcating this basic concept into your training, you will find yourself scaling new heights sooner than later.

The various techniques and patterns which all grandmasters memorise can be learnt by beholding the power of repetition. By going through a chess lesson a number of times, you would most definitely internalise the formula once and for all. This is precisely what chess grandmasters have done for a long time. Naturally, when they compete on the floor, the well-memorised moves come forth effortlessly.

By following this process of learning and relearning every new chess approach, you would mimic what every chess grandmaster does in a week. And with the help of AI-powered chess engines, it will undoubtedly become seamless for anyone to train like a grandmaster.

Get Strong with Chess Openings

Once you have set your plans straight, the next step will be to understand why chess openings are crucial in a game. One element connects them all: world champion Magnus Carlsen, the young French-Iranian chess sensation Alireza Firouzja, or Indian chess prodigy. They all vigorously practice chess openings whenever they sit for their training sessions.

You, too, shall get busy with this aspect of the game if you want to see your game develop. Having the knowledge of a plethora of chess openings will arm you with that edge. In competitive chess, good openings can make or break your chances of a win. Hence, a considerable amount of time every day should be spent engaging with this particular area of the game.

Analyse Games Played by Grandmasters

As is often said, if you want to train like a grandmaster, you have to think from their standpoint. It is essential to include sessions in your weeklong training regimen where you will study first-hand the famous games that grandmasters past and present have played.

You will develop your positional strategy, imagination, and tactical brilliance by getting an in-depth knowledge of the celebrated grandmaster games. This is what most grandmasters do on a regular basis during their training periods. Careful analysis of not only the game you have played but also those played by the masters of the game will raise your chess standards convincingly.

So, without further delay, get started on your week of training regimen. Keep in mind that a week’s work will give you an excellent idea of the intense work that grandmasters around the world put into on a day-to-day basis.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How are Chess Titles Awarded?

Chess titles are special awards that chess governing bodies confer upon players for significant achievements in the sport. A chess title is given to a professional when they fulfil specific benchmarks.

Chess titles, once granted, stay with the players for a lifetime, and only under the rarest of rare circumstances can they be revoked.

2. How to Become a Chess Grandmaster?

Many young chess players enter the big league each year to battle for the GM title. From the official standpoint, any budding chess player willing to grab the title of GM must prove their worthiness at the highest level.

FIDE states that a would-be grandmaster should have at least three GM norms under their belt. Next, an Elo chess rating of 2500 is the bare minimum before FIDE considers a candidate for the GM award. To fulfil the GM norm criterion, a prospective candidate should produce an Elo rating of 2600 worth of performance in a FIDE-certified chess tournament. 

Also, the candidate should do the same after competing in at least nine rounds. Finally, half of all the participants in a competition of this kind should be titled, players. Apart from these set standards, any player who wins a world championship is immediately awarded the GM title.  

3. How to Become a Chess Master?

A ‘Chess Master’ title is one of the highest levels a professional chess player can go. To get to the level of a ‘FIDE Master’ or ‘FM’, one has to reach the Elo chess rating of 2300. The title below FM is the ‘Candidate Master’ or ‘CM’.

For this title, a rating of 2200 or above becomes mandatory. FIDE Master and Candidate Master titles are open to both male and female chess players. To attain any of these levels, you must follow the instructions shared in this article and train like a grandmaster.

4. Who is the Most Outstanding Chess Grandmaster of All Time? 

In a discussion involving the most outstanding chess grandmaster, it is difficult to zero in on one particular name. There have been several great chess grandmasters in the game’s modern era. Perhaps the first name that comes to the mind when talking about ‘greatest chess grandmasters’ is that of the American chess legend Bobby Fischer.

Bobby Fischer became the undisputed world chess champion in 1972 after defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. Fischer’s greatness lies in the fact that he was able to bring down a massively robust Soviet chess juggernaut that was bullying and dominating the world chess circuit in the early and middle decades of the twentieth century.

The second name that comes into the picture is Soviet/Russian GM Garry Kasparov. Kasparov is the youngest undisputed world chess champion in history, and he dominated the chess world for twenty years before retiring in 2005. He was the holder of the highest-ever chess rating of 2851 until future star Magnus Carlsen overtook him.

No discussion about the ‘greatest chess player of all time’ will be complete without mention of the current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen has displayed his superiority in all versions of chess by winning world championships in classical, rapid, as well as blitz chess.

Carlsen is the only man who has surpassed Garry Kasparov’s long-held Elo rating score of 2851. With a rating of 2882, it will not come as a surprise if he goes on to become the first person ever to cross the 2900 threshold.

This does not come as a surprise from the undisputed chess champion. He has dominated the elite level of chess for more than a decade and shows no signs of stopping his streak.

The enormous confidence Carlsen has shown while predicting the longevity of his grip over the number one ranking speaks volumes of the young man’s dedication to his craft. In Carlsen’s words, he feels that a lack of consistency on his rivals’ part could make it easier for him to stay at the top for a long time.

Magnus Carlsen belongs to that selected breed of professional chess prodigies who come along once in a while. Carlsen’s name stands beside other giants of the game, such as Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. These men have defined an entire generation with their gameplay.

A young Bobby Fischer was destined to become one of the greatest of all time when he arrived on the world stage. This was the same for Garry Kasparov. Carlsen happens to be the third person on the list who generates the same amount of awe and splendour when it comes to chess brilliance.

How many years has Magnus Carlsen been world champion?

Fischer and Kasparov outclassed all other players at the height of their powers. From the late 2000s, global chess has witnessed something similar in the case of Carlsen.

Magnus Carlsen was always destined for great things. Carlsen first burst into the scene when he grabbed the top position in group ‘C’ of the Corus Chess Tournament at 13. Since then, he has steadily climbed up the charts.

The monumental occasion of his career came in January 2010. This was when for the first time, he was ranked the number one men’s chess player in the world by the international chess governing body – Internationale Federation des Echecs (FIDE).

At that time, he was the youngest to achieve that milestone. However, he was intermittently brought down to the second position by world champion Vishwanathan Anand. It was July 2011 when Carlsen cemented his spot in the top place once and for all. Carlsen has held on to that position ever since.

Will Magnus Carlsen remain no. 1 for the foreseeable future?

A time comes when every chess player gives way to the next champion. It seems unlikely that Carlsen would leave his number one spot anytime soon. However, it would not be wrong to say that another emerging player would someday fill his boots.

Let us look at the possible challengers who have a chance to topple Carlsen for the top ranking in men’s chess. This batch of current chess grandmasters has been battling the wits of Magnus Carlsen for the past few seasons.

Alireza Firouzja

Suppose there is one chess master who can seriously challenge Carlsen for the number one rank. In that case, it is the French-Iranian Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja. The nineteen-year-old chess prodigy is being touted as the ‘next big thing’ of professional chess. Already showing great maturity and composure, Firouzja relishes his rivalry with Carlsen.

His contests with Carlsen in the game’s bullet format always entertain chess fans immensely. Firouzja is the current junior world number one and is steadily making his way toward the senior title. The last time he met Carlsen in a prestigious tournament, the latter won under controversial circumstances. This was at the 2019 edition of the World Blitz Championships.

Alireza Firouzja has shown a lot of courage by opting to leave his native Iran and taking refuge in France as the Iranian Chess Federation does not allow its players to compete against Israeli chess professionals. In a recent interview, Carlsen stated that he would like to face Firouzja in the next world championship title clash. This shows his respect and admiration for the teenage Iranian chess grandmaster.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

The Russian number one ranked player is another likely contender to snatch the global top rank away from Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen has already defeated Nepomniachtchi in the 2021 world championship contest quite comfortably. But it is predicted that the Russian will come back stronger for another challenge on the title.

Nepomniachtchi has been a consistent force in men’s chess over the last few years. After winning the Candidates’ Tournament in 2021, he was rewarded with a go at Carlsen’s world title. The clash between Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi, which took place in Dubai in 2021, was one-sided. However, drawing conclusions in chess has never been a wise step. There is always a chance that Nepomnichtchi can return with an eye on Carlsen’s title in the near future.

Fabiano Caruana

One of the most promising chess players of the current generation happens to be American-Italian grandmaster Fabiano Caruana. He headlined the chess world when he attempted to beat Carlsen for the world title in 2018.

Even though he did not buckle under the pressure of such a massive contest, he could not outwit Carlsen in the tiebreaks that followed a drawn series. Caruana was on the verge of becoming Cralsen’s challenger again in 2021 but lost to eventual contender Ian Nepomniachtchi.

He has remained a constant threat to Carlsen’s hegemony at the top by holding on to the world number two position for quite some time now. Already a winner of the US and the Italian chess championships, Caruana is a genuine aspirant to take over Carlsen’s number one spot.

Anish Giri

Born in Russia, the multiple Dutch chess champion Anish Giri is the best player from the Netherlands. Giri has made his mark in chess’s highest echelons by winning the 2021 Magnus Carlsen Invitational chess tournament.

With an Elo chess rating of almost 2800, Anish Giri can seriously threaten Carlsen’s supremacy over the men’s division in the near future. Having an attacking bent of mind, Giri can become a force to reckon with on his day.

Liren Ding

To keep out China from any sports discussion has become kind of a fallacy these days. As is common knowledge, China is the dominant force in many of today’s modern games. Chinese athletes have been topping the Olympics for the past few editions and making inroads into other sports such as football.

Under these circumstances, it does not come as a surprise when their number one ranked player is setting sights on Magnus Carlsen’s world title. Liren Ding is gradually gaining strength to become the next significant challenger to Carlsen.

Ding was one of the favourites to win going into the 2021 Candidates’ Tournament. A loss of form, however, made sure he could not earn the right to compete against Carlsen in the championship bout. Having already tasted victory against Carlsen in the 2019 Sinquefield Cup, Ding is aware of Carlsen’s relative weaknesses. Still, in his twenties, Liren Ding has the energy and expertise to make another title run.

Wesley So

There is one player on the current roster who Magnus Carlsen does not enjoy playing against. It is the Filipino-American grandmaster Wesley So. Their rivalry in the chess circuit is quite well known. 

Carlsen was beaten outright by So in the Fischer Random chess championships held in 2019 with a score of 13.5 to 2.5. So also got the better of Carlsen in the final match of the FTX Crypto Cup in 2021. In another instance, Carlsen tasted a hard-fought victory against So in the Meltwater Chess Tour in 2021.

These results show that Wesley So has the arsenal of tricks to slay Carlsen on his day. This makes him our last pick on the list of potential candidates who can pull down Carlsen from the apex.

The Future Looks Bright For Magnus Carlsen

Carlsen has been able to maintain his lead on every chess rating list since he officially became number one for the first time in July 2011. Given his current form, Carlsen could overtake Garry Kasparov’s all-time record of holding on to the top rank from 1986 to 1996 and again from 1996 until his retirement in 2005.

Kasparov was the world number for 255 months, which translates to 21 years and 3 months. Carlsen recently completed his 11the year at the men’s professional chess summit. By his own admission, he has no intention to lay down his crown any time soon.

If Carlsen keeps this incredible streak going for a few more years, he will not leave any doubt in the minds of his critics as to who is the greatest player ever to grace the game of chess.
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