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:

  • (62)

Why Felicia Pizzonia Is the Sales Speaker Your Next Conference Needs In today’s competitive market, sales isn’t just about closing deals, it’s about understanding human behavior, adapting your mindset, and building authentic connections. That’s exactly where Felicia Pizzonia excels. A best-selling author, dynamic entrepreneur, and sought-after keynote speaker, Felicia brings a powerful blend of science-backed […]

  • May 15, 2025
  • (10)

The Cost of Neglecting Customer Experience in today’s competitive events industry, customer experience (CX) has emerged as a defining element of success. Event planners and bookers are no longer evaluated solely on logistics or creativity; instead, they are judged by the overall experience they provide—from the first point of contact to the post-event follow-up. Neglecting […]

  • April 23, 2025
  • (16)

The Art of Selecting the Perfect Speaker: A Step-by-Step Guide for Event Planners In an age when live and virtual events compete for attendees’ limited attention, the value of an outstanding keynote speaker has never been higher. The right speaker can energize a room, bridge knowledge gaps, and spark meaningful conversations that last long after […]

  • December 11, 2024
  • (19)

Tom Goodwin: The Trends Futurist Redefining Marketing and Innovation In a world obsessed with following trends, Tom Goodwin stands out for questioning them. He’s not the kind of speaker who walks on stage to reaffirm what everyone already believes. Instead, Tom challenges assumptions, pokes holes in comfortable narratives, and demands that we look at the […]

  • May 1, 2025
  • (30)

Speakers Inc is available to offer you our All American Speakers who offer Motivational Leadership keynotes to open or close your next leadership and medical event or conference. Speakers Inc is a leading All American Speakers Bureau for motivational speakers that delivers keynotes over 400 times per year. Our All American Speakers are available to […]

  • January 16, 2023
  • (22)

How to Find Keynote Speakers can be the difference between a good event and a memorable one. Whether you’re a meeting planner or a corporate booker, securing the right speaker is crucial for engaging your audience, delivering a powerful message, and ensuring your event’s success. The process, however, can seem overwhelming due to the vast […]

  • August 19, 2024
  • (70)

The Psychology of Attendee Behavior: What Drives Engagement? In the ever-evolving world of event planning, one question remains at the core of success: What truly drives attendee engagement? Understanding what keeps people interested, active, and returning to events is both an art and a science. By leveraging The Psychology of Attendee Behavior science principles, event […]

  • February 19, 2025
  • (29)

Mastering Success: The Art of Business Strategy Speakers In the high-stakes world of modern business, success doesn’t happen by chance, it’s the result of clear strategy, innovation, and relentless execution. At the center of this movement are business strategy speakers: thought leaders who don’t just talk about transformation, but drive it. What Makes a Business […]

  • July 9, 2025

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.