Chair-fully chosen: Importance of posture & comfort

FOR something as mundane as a chair, it has had a colourful history in the world of chess.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

This most basic of furniture has been the subject of multiple subplots including political intrigue bordering on espionage.

In the 1978 World Championships between Viktor Korchnoi and Anattoly Karpov, the chairs were even x-rayed to check if there were any attempts at skullduggery. In the infamous 1972 encounter between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, the latter imported a chair from the US after being very unhappy with the ones that were shown to him. That's why no two players have the same chair -- it all depends on the individual. One of them might prefer to sit on a high-end gaming chair while his/her opponent would be content with a simple office chair.

While scandals concerning the chair have thankfully not received much airtime in the 21st century, its importance cannot be understated. World champion Magnus Carlsen, for example, rates the chair as one of the most important pieces of chess equipment. You can see why. In a game where players could spend more than five hours sitting, posture and being comfortable is of utmost importance.