What is more taxing to train for and win, Olympic's marathon or the Chess Championship?

I agree, especially if you are playing with life-size pieces and pawns made of concrete.

Depends on earnings.

Yes. 100 pound pieces, 60 second limit for move. Ultimate test of a sound mind in a sound body

Magnus-r wrote:

Hands down chess is more taxing.

12 games some lasting over 6 hours. If the series is tied it goes on longer. The drive and perseverance of the winner of the Chess Championship is greater than that of the Olympic winner of the marathon. The current two chess competitors for the title are are 25 and 26. Its no longer an older man's game. Too taxing.

Not sure I agree about that age claim since Anand won the candidates the previous time around at age 45, And V Kramnik is into his 40s and will probably be a leading contender the next time around [if his back holds up].

As far as whether elite chess or elite running is more taxing, I completely defer to Avocado's Number, who has much more direct experience in both areas than I do.

thejeff wrote:

I agree, especially if you are playing with life-size pieces and pawns made of concrete.

MVL vs Rensch in life-size bullet (1 minute per player). Maybe I'll find the chess.com link.

I'm training for the Olympic Marathon. Chess is for wimps.

I was looking up elite chess after reading thus thread as i know nothing about it and I guess some elite chess prospect died falling off of a balcony. Seems oddly similar to wanjiru

...-..-.-.-.---..-...-....--.- wrote:

thejeff wrote:

I agree, especially if you are playing with life-size pieces and pawns made of concrete.

MVL vs Rensch in life-size bullet (1 minute per player). Maybe I'll find the chess.com link.

The pieces actually look rather light.

I'm going to die trying to get to the Olympics

Yeah, some 20-year old. I wouldn't call him a real prospect though, he was only about #200 in the world.

Earlier this year, another 20-year old (slightly higher rated) Bukavshin was poisoned(?) to death. I at least had heard of him prior to it.

http://chess-news.ru/node/21958

Mark Taimanov also died yesterday at 90 (same age as Fidel).

Mel Brooks style

dkny64 wrote:

Magnus-r wrote:

Hands down chess is more taxing.

12 games some lasting over 6 hours. If the series is tied it goes on longer. The drive and perseverance of the winner of the Chess Championship is greater than that of the Olympic winner of the marathon. The current two chess competitors for the title are are 25 and 26. Its no longer an older man's game. Too taxing.

Not sure I agree about that age claim since Anand won the candidates the previous time around at age 45, And V Kramnik is into his 40s and will probably be a leading contender the next time around [if his back holds up].

As far as whether elite chess or elite running is more taxing, I completely defer to Avocado's Number, who has much more direct experience in both areas than I do.

I will give you Kasparova, he was champion for 20 years so he was champion into his 40's. But he was the best chess player who ever lived.

But regarding age, imagine these 20 somethings winning the championship from grandmasters who have spent years studying openings and lines of attack. It just points to the edge young age gives in raw concentration power that allows them to overcome the superior knowledge and experience of the older players.

Also the next person in line is not Kramnik its Caruana. He has a higher elo rating and he beat Kramnik in heat to head competition. (Caruane is 25 too I think) In fact he should have played Magnus for the championship but he blew his last game.

The poster here have NO IDEA of the effort involved in championship chess.