Plates in the sink

‘Chess is a constant struggle between my desire not to lose and my desire not to think.’ I’m fond of that wry insight, neatly expressed by German grandmaster Jan Gustafsson. For a select few, such as the late, irrepressible Viktor Korchnoi, the desire not to lose burns through life like the Olympic flame. For the rest of us, only youthful naivety makes it easy to summon maximal mental effort. Thereafter, the struggle is perennial, like a pile of dirty plates in the sink; sometimes you can’t bring yourself to care. But letting this notion occur to you too early in life is a career-limiting move for a chess-player.

Upon reaching the final of the World Cup, Teimour Radjabov spoke frankly, reflecting on the tension endured by the players. ‘It’s part of the professional life so, I mean, either you are here and you play or you just don’t play chess… which was the kind of thing I am considering for the last ten years!’ Having resolved to show up, Radjabov admitted his temptation to gamble desperately in his matches just to hasten their conclusion, come what may.