“Perhaps the most important reason for my success is that I enjoy reading about chess theory and chess history – and I remember what I read.” – Magnus Carlsen
Botvinnik: Chess mastery essentially consists of analysing accurately
“Chess mastery essentially consists of analyzing chess positions accurately.” – Mikhail Botvinnik.
Korchnoi: No GM is normal…
“No Chess Grandmaster is normal; they only differ in the extent of their madness.” – Viktor Korchnoi.
Smyslov on chess secrets.
“Despite the development of chess theory, there is much that remains secret and unexplored in chess.” – Vasily Smyslov.
Magnus Carlsen: “You have to be merciless”
“Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it’s OK to lose. I don’t. You have to be merciless”- Magnus Carlsen lsen
Tal: “…the path leading out is only wide enough for one.”
“You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” – Mikhail Tal
Kasparov: “A GM needs to retain thousands of games in his head…”
“A grandmaster needs to retain thousands of games in his head, for games are to him what the words of their mother tongue are to ordinary people, or notes or scores to musicians.” – Garry Kasparov
Kramnik: “Chess is a matter of daily training.”
“Chess is like body-building. If you train every day, you stay in top shape. It is the same with your brain – chess is a matter of daily training.” – Vladimir Kramnik
Karpov: “Chess is everything…”
“Chess is everything: art, science, and sport.” – Anatoly Karpov
“All I want to do, ever, is play chess.” – Bobby Fischer
“All I want to do, ever, is play chess.” – Bobby Fischer