Classical Chess Needs a Lot of Effort: Pragg

Teenage Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa believes players like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura gradually moving away from classical chess has to do with the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with playing the long format for a long time.

- Agencies

NEW DELHI:

Magnus, the five-time world champion, and world No. 2 American Grandmaster Nakamura have played fewer classical games, and instead focused on freestyle, rapid and blitz formats.

Praggnanandhaa, who has won three major classical titles this year, feels players don't really enjoy the hours of preparations that goes into classical chess, and find the rapid and blitz more gratifying.

"It's difficult to play classical chess because everyone is well prepared... the opening preparation part is huge in classical chess. If you compare it to freestyle, you don't have to prepare before a game, while in classical chess, you're basically forced to."