Chess Tournament Quotes & Sayings

Memorization of variations could be even worse than playing in a tournament without looking in the books at all. — Mikhail Botvinnik

Every time I win a tournament I have to think that there is something wrong with modern chess. — Viktor Korchnoi

But how difficult it can be to gain the desired full point against an opponent of inferior strength, when this is demanded by the tournament position! — Anatoly Karpov

The chess world is obligated to organize a match between the champion of the world and the winner of this Carlsbad tournament - indeed, this is a moral obligation. If the world of chess should remain deaf to its obligation, on the other hand, it would amount to an absolutely unforgivable omission, carrying with it a heavy burden of guilt. — Aron Nimzowitsch

All chess masters have on occasion played a magnificent game and then lost it by a stupid mistake, perhaps in time pressure and it may perhaps seem unjust that all their beautiful ideas get no other recognition than a zero on the tournament table. — Bent Larsen

In such circumstances there can be no argument; the necessary minimum of agreement cannot be reached ... It is as though in the middle of a chess tournament one competitor should suddenly begin screaming that the other is guilty of arson or bigamy. The point that is really at issue remains untouched. — George Orwell

A chess tournament disguised as a circus. — John Connally

I add status to any tournament I attend. — Bobby Fischer

I played tournament chess from fifth grade up into high school. — Chris Hardwick

During a chess tournament a master must envisage himself as a cross between an ascetic monk and a beast of prey. — Alexander Alekhine

I was very competitive growing up. I can't even play chess anymore because I used to play tournament chess in school. There's too much sense memory of sitting in front of a chess board and getting super intense about it. It's ruined the game for me. — Chris Hardwick

Theory regards this opening as incorrect, but it is impossible to agree with this. Out of the five tournament games played by me with the King's Gambit, I have won all five. — David Bronstein

Half the variations which are calculated in a tournament game turn out to be completely superfluous. Unfortunately, no one knows in advance which half — Jan Timman

It is as though in the middle of a chess tournament one competitor should suddenly begin screaming that the other is guilty of arson or bigamy. The point that is really at issue remains untouched. Libel settles nothing ... — George Orwell

Not winning a tournament is not an option for me, unless it's no longer theoretically possible - then of course winning becomes impossible. But up to that point, not winning is just not an option. — Magnus Carlsen

If I win a tournament, I win it by myself. I do the playing. Nobody helps me — Bobby Fischer