Mental strategies this chess grandmaster uses
- Author: Maurice Ashley
- 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
Further articles you may enjoy:
- (10)
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
- (30)
Speakers Inc in November 2025 brings you our Top AI Keynote Speakers where artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept but a business reality, organisations are asking far more than “what is AI”. The real questions now are: How will AI reshape our industry? What skills will our workforce need? How do we innovate ethically and […]
- October 20, 2025
- (7)
Duane Rockwell: The Ideal Atlanta Wedding Emcee and DJ When planning a wedding, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is selecting the right Atlanta Wedding Emcee and DJ. The individual you choose will set the tone for your celebration, ensuring everything runs smoothly and that your guests are entertained from start to finish. […]
- June 19, 2024
- (8)
AI Powered Organisation will be different, just not in the ways you might expect. When evaluating the impact of new technology, business leaders often focus on the wrong criteria. The real issue is not whether there is a sound business case for cutting costs or increasing productivity through AI and automation, but rather, frankly assessing […]
- December 18, 2022
- (8)
How to Craft Powerful Stories that Can Drive Culture Change There is an old adage that says: IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT A CULTURE, LISTEN TO THE STORIES. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE A CULTURE, CHANGE THE STORIES. I had a first-hand experience with this very early on in my career. The MD of a […]
- January 16, 2023
- (8)
Want Your Audience to Master the Art of Influence? Bring in a speaker who turns “maybe” into “yes.” Because in today’s world, negotiation isn’t just a skill—it’s survival to Master the Art of Influence. 💼 Whether it’s closing deals, navigating conflict, or leading with confidence, your audience needs to know how to negotiate like pros. […]
- April 14, 2025
- (5)
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
- (9)
Driving Innovation in today’s fast-paced world, anticipating change has become a core business competency. Organizations can no longer afford to wait for disruption to happen—they must proactively identify signals of change and adapt before competitors. Whether driven by technological advancements, market volatility, or societal shifts, disruption is inevitable. The key to surviving and thriving lies […]
- December 16, 2024
