Physical Health and Chess
“Stress leads to altered — and disturbed — sleep patterns, which cause more fatigue — and weight loss. A brain operating on less sleep, even by just one hour…requires more energy to stay awake during the chess game.
“Some grandmasters report dreaming about chess, agonizing over what they could have done differently for hours in their sleep, and waking up exhausted.
“To combat it all, today’s players have begun to incorporate strict food and fitness regimens to increase oxygen supply to the brain during tournaments, prevent sugar-related crashes and sustain their energy.”