Mental strategies this chess grandmaster uses

  • Author: Maurice Ashley
Reading time: 2 min
  • Word Count: 263
Read the news article

Imagine sitting down for six hours of back-to-back college final exams for nine days in a row with Mental strategies. That’s what playing in a professional chess tournament is like, according to chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley. The only difference is in chess, “the finals fight back,” Ashley tells CNBC Make It.

And no matter how much Ashley prepares, his opponent “figure[s] out how to out-prepare me,” he says. “It’s like a battle royal.”

Ashley is an international grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can achieve. In 1999, he became the first Black person to achieve the title of grandmaster, and today he is a chess commentator and coach.

Mental strategies this chess grandmaster uses

The game of chess requires intense mental concentration and stamina, especially at the elite level, where thousands of dollars of prize money is on the line.

“You have to try to control your emotions under that intense pressure as well, because you know if you lose this game, that can be your livelihood,” Ashley says. Although chess players seem calm and composed in their demeanor, it requires a lot of mental work to think ahead and stay present.

Even now as a chess broadcaster, Ashley says he has to keep track of multiple games at a time, and process what’s happening in real time. “Your brain has to be fresh for hours,” he says.

So, what Mental strategies, tips and tricks help Ashley stay in the game?

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE ON CNBC

Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on LinkedIn

Speaker Listing

Was this article helpful?

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (16)

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Customer Service. AI technologies, such as chatbots, machine learning, and natural language processing, are transforming the way companies interact with their customers, leading to more efficient, personalized, and satisfactory service experiences. This article explores how AI is […]

  • July 19, 2024
  • (34)

Mastering the Art of Emceeing: A Guide to Making Your Mark as a Great Host Introduction: The role of an emcee goes far beyond simply introducing speakers and keeping the event on schedule. A skilled emcee has the power to captivate an audience, set the tone, and elevate the overall experience for everyone involved. Whether […]

  • January 7, 2024
  • (37)

How much could your team accomplish if they felt safe they couldn’t fail with a SAFETY NET? In San Francisco on January 5th 1933 construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. The chief engineer assigned to the project was Joseph Strauss. Bridge building was extremely dangerous back then and the industry norm was one construction […]

  • January 15, 2023
  • (13)

Make Your Email Subject and Content Fun, Compelling, Curious, and Commanding To Get Quicker Responses that Pay Off! By Joy Baldridge Have you ever been surprised or frustrated by how few return emails you receive when reaching out to your prospects and customers/clients? Responsiveness is at an all-time low. Everyone is overwhelmed and inundated with emails. […]

  • December 19, 2022
  • (8)

Desiree-Anne Martin believes in the inherent ability of anyone to change. Her mantra is that there is hope, always, and she is a Change Catalyst and Inspirational Speaker. Desiree-Anne is a prize-winning published author and poet. Her writing on racial identification, GBV, the myths of parenthood, sex and feminism has appeared in numerous print anthologies […]

  • January 2, 2023
  • (6)

What are the warning signs of an empty resilience tank? HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO PAUSE In my experience, there are four primary indicators that tend to show up each time my resilience tank is running low. They don’t always show up in the same order but, without fail, they will show up […]

  • February 10, 2023
  • (13)

Speakers Who Spark Growth — Reignite Purpose. Re-frame Possibility. Realign Potential. As the season changes and the world blossoms into spring, it’s the perfect time for organizations to refresh their mindset, refocus their goals, and re-energize their teams. Growth—whether personal, professional, or organizational—starts with the right spark. And that spark often comes from hearing the […]

  • March 30, 2025
  • (11)

Over the last four weeks, I’ve elaborated on what I call the Closing the Loop. You can find the articles here. This consists of: Step 1: Recognizing the Unsaid – Unspoken things in your culture’s organization to recognize that your people aren’t telling their entire truth. Step 2: Seeking to Understand – Leaning in to […]

  • December 20, 2022

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2026.  Designed using Voxel

AI Assistant
Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.