Want to be a grandmaster in chess? Choose your parents wisely.

If I hear another sports celebrity on TV say, “If you can dream it, you can achieve it- just like I did” after winning a championship in their respective sport- one more time, I’m going to scream. Take the case of Saquon Barkley’s recent Superbowl win with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. Saquon said something similar after winning the Superbowl during a TV interview. When I heard it, I thought to myself...whoa Saquon. Be careful what you say. Don’t be giving kids the impression, or false hope, that all they have to do is dream big and they can achieve anything in life, especially becoming a superstar running back and world champion in the NFL like he is. If you’ve never seen Saquon Barkley in person, he’s a unique specimen of a man. Saquon is known for his exceptional strength, particularly in his legs. He's been reported to be able to squat between 650-700 pounds and power clean 405 pounds. This strength is crucial for his running style, allowing him to break tackles and gain BIG yards. He can also run the 40y dash/sprint in 4.4 seconds. That’s fast.

(Saquon is my favorite American football player in the National Football League. Not only does he play for the Philadelphia Eagles (my hometown team), he played college football for my alma mater- Penn State University. I’ve been watching Saquon play football for close to 10 yrs. now.)

Can Saquon jump? I think mostly every football fan in America has seen this photo:

This is a photo of Saquon reverse-leaping over a defender to avoid being tackled. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time it’s ever been done (reverse leap) in a professional football game. That’s a pretty impressive leap for a 233 lb. man- wouldn’t you say?

Saquon Barkley is also widely recognized for his exceptional work ethic and dedication to his sport. He's known for his humble demeanor, relentless competitiveness, and unwavering commitment to improvement, both on and off the field. His work ethic is not just about physical training; it also encompasses his mental preparation and dedication to continuous growth.

What Saquon should be saying on TV is: “If you are blessed with good genes (i.e. with fast-twitch muscle fibers in my arms/legs that allow me to be as strong and fast as I am), and you work/practice hard (like I do), and you dream it (like I did since I was a kid), and your parents sacrifice things for you during your upbringing (like mine did to give me the opportunity to do what I do), you can achieve it too”. Yes, I agree, that’s a little long winded.

In sports, VO2 max and muscle fiber types, particularly fast-twitch fibers, play crucial roles in athletic performance. Endurance athletes, who rely on aerobic capacity, like a Tour de France cyclist, tend to have higher VO2 max and a greater proportion of slow-twitch fibers, while power athletes, who focus on speed and explosive movements, like an NFL running back, typically have a higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers. So, sorry kids, if you want to be a world champion NFL running back, like Saquon, and you have a higher percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers in your arms and legs, chances are very good- you’ll never be a world class football running back.

What does Saquon Barkley or sports have to do with chess? I believe becoming a ‘world champion’ in chess is no different than becoming a ‘world champion’ athlete. That is, you have to be blessed with good genes (albeit brains instead of brawn- although you can be blessed with both), be highly motivated, have big dreams, have a hard work ethic, and have parents that sacrifice things during your upbringing to allow you to fulfill that dream.

Regarding good genes, there’s no specific “chess” gene, but there are key cognitive traits that are heritable. They are:

1. Working Memory- which allows you to hold and manipulate multiple ideas or positions in your mind—crucial for calculating variations or visualizing a board without moving pieces.
2. Pattern Recognition- which helps you instantly spot tactical motifs, typical sacrifices, or positional setups- essential for fast and accurate decisions.
3. Long term memory- which helps you store opening theory, endgame patterns and remember model games.
4. Spatial Ability and Calculation Ability- which determines how far and accurately you can look ahead (visualization)- which is critical in sharp positions.
5. Decision making speed and judgment- which helps you make good, practical moves under time pressure.
6. Emotional regulation and focus- which helps keep you calm during tough positions and helps you recover from blunders or under intense pressure.

I know I just said there are no specific “chess” genes, but there is a gene variant that’s associated with ability in chess and science. It’s called the KIBRA (Kidney and Brain) gene. Spatial ability is a highly heritable (84%) trait and is a predictor of success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and other mentally demanding fields. Studies suggest that a high level of spatial ability, working memory capacity, and other cognitive abilities (like the ones just mentioned) are necessary to reach a high standard of performance in chess. There are likely many more genes associated with ability in chess and science that remain to be identified. For more information on the KIBRA gene, here’s a link to a recent 2023 article entitled: KIBRA Gene Variant Is Associated with Ability in Chess and Science. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/1/204

In addition to having ‘good genes’ or natural talent, I believe that having a good/hard work ethic is essential to becoming a ‘world champion’ chess player. The hard work ethic I’m talking about is thousands upon thousands of hours of practice/training. Recent research shows that 11,053 hours of practice, on average, are required for achieving the ‘master’ level in chess. That’s ‘master’ level, not even ‘grandmaster’ level or ‘world champion’ level. To put it in perspective, that’s 8 hrs. per day of practice, every day of the year for close to 4 yrs. And, that’s just an average. Some chess players will require more time, as much as 25,000 hours. And, it’s not guaranteed you’ll reach ‘master’ level. Can you imagine training 8 hrs. per day, for 4 yrs, and failing to achieve master level?

There’s been a lot of debate/controversy (over the years) as to whether grandmasters are “born or made”. Some argue that natural talent provides a head start, while others emphasize that hard work and dedication are the primary drivers of success.

Yes, some of you reading this blog believe that natural talent has nothing to do with becoming a genius or reaching the master level in chess. i.e. anyone with average IQ can become a master level chess player. After all, isn’t that what Laszlo Polgar, a Hungarian psychologist, set out to prove with his 3 daughters? If you’re not aware, Laszlo wanted to prove that with the right training anyone with average IQ could achieve exceptional results. He believed anyone could become a genius in a specific field with the right training and environment. In Laszlo’s experiment, he advertised and found a wife, (Klara a foreign language teacher from the Ukraine) that would help him raise offspring (which turned out to be all girls). He home schooled his 3 daughters: Susan, Judit and Sofia, starting at age 4, while simultaneously spending 48 hrs. per week training/practicing chess with them.

Laszlo’s experiment was a success. He proved over time that with the right environment and training, any child could achieve extraordinary levels of success. Susan Polgar became a Grandmaster at the age of 21 in 1991, making her the first woman to achieve this title. Judit Polgar also earned the GM title in 1991, at the age of 15, becoming the youngest person to ever achieve it at the time. Sofia Polgar earned the title International Master.

But was Laszlo’s experiment really a success? What we don’t know about the Polgar sisters however are: were they ‘really’ just average IQ? Did they have any innate talent? Wouldn’t it have been a better/fairer lab experiment if Dr. Frankenstein chose known ‘average IQ’ babies rather than raising his own- which might have high IQs inherited by him or his wife? (Laszlo Polgar was called Dr. Frankenstein primarily because of his unorthodox and intensive training methods used to cultivate the chess genius of his daughters.) Here’s a great article on the entire Polgar experiment: https://elewa.substack.com/p/the-curious-case-of-the-polgar-sisters I highly recommend reading this article. It’s very good. By the way, Judit Polgar is alleged to have an (genius level) IQ of 170. So much for a ‘fair’ experiment huh?

Therefore, according to Laszlo Polgar, all I have to do (assuming I’m average IQ) is put in the requisite practice hours and I can become a grandmaster? A recent study of 72,000 amateur and professional chess players, conducted from 2015 to 2023 concludes otherwise, that natural talent predominates over practice for explaining the achievement at the highest levels in chess expertise. The study is entitled, “Talent, practice, and excellence. Dominance of nature over nurture in worldwide chess players. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://osf.io/u82za/download/&ved=2ahUKEwi-ponalZGNAxWFR_EDHQWbMzoQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw09HhlZ7QkC9r9G35E-hVr1

And, what about one of the greatest chess players of all time, if not the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), Magnus Carlsen? Was he born (w/ natural talent) or made (with lots of practice)? There’s no doubt in my mind he was both. His chess brilliance is a result of both innate talent and dedicated training. He was a child prodigy, displaying a strong aptitude for puzzles and memory from a young age. Just like the late great Bobby Fischer, Carlsen honed his skills through self-study, reading, and practice. Carlsen became the youngest GM at age 13 and achieved the World Champion title at age 22. Magnus Carlsen is the perfect storm of natural talent, work ethic, psychological strength, and love for the game.

How about the other chess greats of my time (I’m 65 yrs. old): Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov? Were they born or made?

Let’s start with my chess idol growing up as a kid, Robert James Fischer. Bobby Fischer became one of the greatest chess players of all time because he was a once-in-a-generation mix of obsessive work ethic, raw natural genius, and total independence in thought and preparation. Fischer is claimed to have had an IQ of 150, although he was never officially tested. He didn’t just play chess-he lived it, reinvented it, and dominated with it. Fischer dropped out of school and studied chess for 10+ hrs. per day- mostly by himself. He read just about every available chess book in publication at the time. He even taught himself Russian so he could read chess books that were written/printed in Russian only. Fischer became the youngest US Chess Champion at age 14. His ability to calculate 10+ moves ahead accurately in complex positions was considered otherworldly. He wasn't just better than most chess grandmasters- he was miles ahead of his generation. Fischer won the world chess championship in 1972 by beating Boris Spassky. But, he just didn’t beat Spassky, he singlehandedly beat the Soviet chess machine that had dominated chess (worldwide) for years. Most, if not all, Soviet grandmasters of the time had teams of trainers, analysts, and state support. Fischer had none of this. Yes, Bobby Fischer had a second named William Lombardy during his 1972 World Chess Championship match against Boris Spassky. Lombardy was a well-known chess player and grandmaster himself, and he played a crucial role in assisting Fischer during that important match. (By the way, a ‘second’ is a highly skilled chess player or analyst who assists a player in preparing for a match or tournament). But, for the most part, Fischer trained in isolation, fueled only by obsession and genius. He never relied on others- just books, intuition, and endless self-analysis. Fischer didn't just win the world title- he changed the game forever. I believe Fischer was both born and made.

Garry Kasparov became one of the greatest chess players of all time because he combined raw natural talent, explosive tactical power, deep opening preparation and a relentless competitive drive. He dominated for two decades, reshaped modern chess, and left a legacy that still shapes how top players approach the game today. Garry had unmatched tactical vision and calculating power. He was known for spotting devastating tactical shots few others could even calculate. His games were aggressive, creative and fearless. He also had an exceptional memory and intuition. He could recall thousands of positions, games and lines instantly. Garry became the youngest world champion in history at age 22. He was world champion from 1985 to 2000 (15 yrs.). He was ranked World #1 for over 20 years. Like Fischer, Kasparov had a genius level IQ- although we’re not quite sure of the number. Some say it is as high as 190. In 1987 the German magazine Der Spiegel went to considerable effort and expense to find Kasparov’s IQ. They measured his IQ as 135 and his memory as one of the very best. I believe Kasparov, like Fischer, was both born and made.

Regardless of the IQ number, it’s suffice to say that World Champion chess players have/had high (genius level) IQs. Here’s a good article to support the claim: https://herculeschess.com/do-chess-players-have-high-iq/

While both innate talent (nature) and dedicated practice (nurture) play a role in achieving chess excellence, research (such as the 7 yr study of 72,000 amateur and professional chess players) suggests that ‘nature’, particularly in the form of innate talent, may have a stronger influence than ‘nurture’ in determining top level chess performance.

The debate of whether chess talent is primarily a result of innate ability (nature) or acquired through training and environment (nurture) is complex and ongoing.

I firmly believe chess skill is a result of both ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’. While dedicated practice is essential, individuals with a natural aptitude for chess may have a greater chance of reaching grandmaster level. To believe that one can achieve grandmaster level without some natural aptitude/innate talent for chess seems ridiculous to me. You need at least some level of natural cognitive gift, especially in pattern recognition, calculation, and memory.

For those of you that are aspiring to reach the grandmaster level in chess, I’m not trying to piss on your parade and tell you that you’re NEVER going to achieve the title if you’re not born with good (chess) genes. But, it's extremely unlikely that a person with a clinically low to average IQ, would be able to perform the kind of high-level pattern recognition, spatital reasoning/ability, long-term planning, and mental stamina that grandmaster-level chess demands. Like I tell my daughter all the time- no one said life is fair.

One last thing, please don't confuse 'stupidity' with 'low IQ'. i.e. they’re not the same. Using 'stupid' as a synonym for 'low IQ' is both misleading and unhelpful. I've heard many people in the chess world call Bobby Fischer- 'stupid'. Fischer wasn't stupid, he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia or a related mental illness, which affected his behavior and reasoning. That's not 'stupidity', it's a psychological condition. Fischer was claiimed to have had an IQ of 170 or even higher, despite no real evidence thereof.

If you’ve spent countless hours of practicing/training in chess, you have access to qualified chess coaches and mentors, and a supportive environment, including access to chess resources, opportunities to play in chess tournaments, and a positive chess culture, and you haven’t reached grandmaster level- blame it on your parents (bad genes). Ha.

Answer to the Viral IQ Test: 96