THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-10

10) Healthy body, healthy mind

"Above all else, before playing i n competitions a player must have regard to his health,
for if he is suffering from ill-health he cannot hope for success. "
Mikhail Botvinnik
Being physically fit for competitive chess was vital even in Botvinnik's day. So
how much more true is it going to be in this day and age with the possibility of a
non-stop seven-hour session. I believe that this increased intensity is a major reason
why the average age of top players has diminished.
Being fit for competitive chess means having the stamina to concentrate over a
long playing session and indeed the duration of a tournament. It stands to reason
that if someone is ill or in poor physical condition their ability to do this will be
diminished. Indeed there have been several players whose bohemian habits adversely
affected their careers, most notably Mikhail Tal.
Tal was probably the most gifted player in chess history but his lifestyle led to
frequent hospitalization for kidney problems. His greatest achievement came in
1960 when he defeated Botvinnik in a match for the World title. Yet he lost the
return match the following year and was hospitalized during the 1962 Candidates
tournament in Curacao. Here is one of his games from this event, where he is
beaten by the underdog Pal Benko.


THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-1
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-2
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-3
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-4
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-5 
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-6
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-7
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-8
THE RULES OF WINNING CHESS Part-9