Mental strategies this chess grandmaster uses
- Author: Maurice Ashley
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:
Best Motivational Speakers for a Nonprofit Annual Gala (and How to Choose the Right One) The keynote speaker at a nonprofit gala is not just a line item on the run-of-show. They are the emotional turning point of the evening. Get it right, and your guests leave inspired, connected to your mission, and ready to […]
- August 28, 2026
- (27)
Best Keynote Speakers for Tech Conferences in 2026 Introduction The best keynote speakers for tech conferences in 2026 bring more than a polished stage presence. They bring clear point of view, real-world credibility, and a talk that maps to the audience’s priorities, whether that means AI adoption, innovation strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, or leadership through […]
- August 18, 2026
- (13)
Top Finance Speakers for Financial Planning and Wealth Management Conferences Financial audiences are unforgiving. Advisors and wealth managers spend their days interpreting markets, navigating client psychology, and justifying every recommendation with data. When they sit down for a conference keynote, they expect the same rigor from the stage. A speaker who delivers generic inspiration or […]
- August 13, 2026
- (19)
Best Digital Transformation Speakers for Events: A Speakers Inc Shortlist for 2026 Most digital transformation events get the speaker brief wrong. The instinct is to book the most impressive futurist on the circuit, someone with a big TED Talk, a polished deck full of exponential curves, and a talent for making the future sound both […]
- August 10, 2026
- (16)
Best Futurist Speakers for Digital Transformation Events Digital transformation events carry a heavy burden. Attendees arrive skeptical, overwhelmed by buzzwords, and quietly wondering whether their organization is already behind. The keynote speaker you choose sets the entire tone. Either the audience leaves energized with a clear picture of what comes next, or they leave with […]
- August 4, 2026
- (39)
How to Evaluate an AI Keynote Speaker for Your Industry What Makes an AI Keynote Speaker Right for Your Industry? The AI speaker market has exploded. There are now hundreds of people positioning themselves as AI keynote speakers, and most of them will tell you they can speak to any audience. The reality is more […]
- July 30, 2026
- (12)
How to Choose a Motivational Speaker for a Sales Kickoff, Leadership Summit, or Annual Meeting Most corporate event planners start the speaker search the same way: a name comes up in a meeting, someone says “they were great at that conference,” and the shortlist builds from there. It’s a natural process, but it’s also how […]
- July 27, 2026
- (18)
Leadership and Management Speakers: Remote Work Culture, Generational Dynamics, and the Modern Workplace The leadership conversation has fundamentally changed. Managing a team in 2026 means navigating return-to-office tensions, a workforce spanning four generations with radically different expectations, and a hybrid reality that no playbook fully prepared anyone for. The old leadership frameworks, built for a […]
- July 21, 2026