Can you handle the tension?: Inside the Mind of the Player

"Chess is a mental torture."

~Garry Kasparov

They say chess is a war, not a war of weapons, but of minds.

A war where failing to handle the tension can lead to a slow, painful defeat.

Have you ever joined a chess tournament and suddenly felt pressure just from watching players play so intensely?

Have you ever cried after losing a game?

If yes, I just want you to know, you're not the only one.

Some players might react about this blog differently. They might see us as overreacting, or just being weak.

But the truth is, there are players like me who truly love playing chess, but struggle to handle the tension well.

My dad was the one who taught me how to play chess.

Chess was one of our bonding time. we play classical games with no time limit.

Back then, I didn't even know chess was played with clocks.

We could spend almost an entire day just finishing one game.

Yes! I know!...... It sounds boring to others.

But that's how I learned the game.

As I explored chess further, I began watches historic matches, gameplays of late grandmasters like Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov, and modern legends like Hikaru.

But even now, playing can be so mentally draining for me.

I cannot easily move on after a tough match.

No matter how good we are at playing chess. We still need proper preparation to stay mentally ready.

Before playing in a tournament, you should eat and drink water so you won't get hungry or dehydrated during a match. Also, don't forget to go to the toilet beforehand, feeling the urge to go, or getting hungry mid-game, can be really distracting.

But the most important preparation is getting enough sleep.

Lack of sleep can seriously affect your performance.

Just look at what happened between Alireza Firouzja and Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 2022 Candidates Tournament.

FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2022 – R11 recap – Chessdom

According to many reliable sources, Firouzja's poor performance in that event was largely due to a lack of sleep.

Imagine playing over 300 online bullet games just before a crucial match! Reports say Firouzja logged into Lichess around 11 pm, played hyperbullet until about 5 am., and only had a few hours of rest before facing Ian.

He lost the game in just 35 moves.

Sounds rebellious, right? It's like showing up to a tournament but still drunk, lol. But seriously, this is a perfect example of why sleep is so important before playing big matches.

A good night's sleep improves our concentration, helps us control stress, nervousness, frustration and even strengthens our memory to recall what we have studied or practiced.

But still, even though Firouzja lacked sleep, at least he showed up and played the game. But what if he hadn't? 

It reminds me of Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky, Game 2 of the 1972 World Championship, where Fischer didn't show up and forfeited the game.

Have you ever seen the 2014 movie "Pawn Sacrifice"?

I's based on the true story of Bobby Fischer, focusing of the controversy of the 1972 World Chess Championship against Boris Spassky.

What I want to talk about is his mental struggle.

We can't deny that Bobby Fischer is one of the most controversial chess players in chess history, largely because of his battles with his own mind.

He believed he was being cheated, and he accused Soviet players of agreeing to draws among themselves to save energy so they could team up against him later.

He also accused U.S. Government and chess world being corrupt, claiming they were trying to rig his career, steal his money, spy on him and even assassinate him.

Fischer couldn't handle the tension. He thought his opponents were paying people to distract him, using hidden devices in the chessboard, flashing camera lights, strange noises and ticking from the clocks. He even requested that the chairs be X-rated to check for any sabotage or secret signals. 

Because of all this mental pressure and can't handle the tension, one of the most shocking blunders in chess history happened......29.Bxh2

Fischer vs. Spassky 1972, (Game 1) - Chess.com

this is how a genius mind... and our Lonely King falls under pressure..... Bobby Fischer became enraged and refused to show up for Game 2 unless his demands were met. his rage was often though walkouts and extreme demands, but what if his rage is the same way as someone slamming a table? xD 

just like Magnus Carlsen vs. Gukesh Norway Chess 2025 tournament.

This is normal.....It's natural to get upset, especially when you are winning in a game but end up losing it. That can be incredibly frustrating, to be honest.

There generally two kinds of rage in chess,

• Some players blame themselves and try to learn from the loss.
• Others become salty, blaming their opponents.

This kind of behavior is common in online chess, especially Chess.com. There are countless reports of players engaging in verbal abuse, cursing, racism and the most frustrating of all... stalling!, when losing player just stops making moves to waste your time instead of resigning.

A lot of players struggle with managing their emotions, when the tension rises, some cannot handle the pressure, and they lose control of their temper. Chess, after all, is a mental sport. It challenges not just our intellect, but also our emotional resilience.

This is why having emotional discipline is just as important as knowing openings or tactics. How you handle loss says more about your character than how you celebrate a win.

Don't blame your opponents, just blame yourself just like Magnus did.

Slamming The Table: A History Of Grandmaster Collapses - Chess.com

So yes, Chess really is a mental torture.

It's just not about playing the best moves, it's about staying calm under pressure, managing your emotions and trying not to break down even when evrything is falling apart on the board. 

I've had moments where I wanted to quit after a loss, times when I questioned If I was even good enough to play seriously, But I realized that even the best players go through that too. Firouzja, Fischer, Carlsen have all fighting with the same invisible opponent, The mind. We all have our own way of dealing with the tension.

What matters most is that we keep learning, growing and trying to be better, not just as chess players, but as people.

So if you ever feel like you're losing it, you're not alone! and trust me! you're doing better than you think. Thanks for reading.

-OhMyGhooost