20th-century Chess Player Quotes

Garry Kasparov

Bobby Fischer

Alexander Alekhine

Anatoly Karpov

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Paul Keres

I see myself more as an ambassador of the game. And I hope to bring chess to a higher level in the United States. Making bigger tournaments, more interesting events. Making it a respectable profession for young people to be able to pursue in the future.

I get more upset at losing at other things than chess. I always get upset when I lose at Monopoly.

Never in the history of chess have so many moves been repeated so often so quickly by so many people who didn't really understand them.

I achieved more than I could dream of in chess and in chess composing.

Chess is a great game. No matter how good one is, there is always somebody better. No matter how bad one is, there is always somebody worse.

Israel Albert Horowitz

I do not know to whom the aphorism 'There are no sound studies, only ones that haven't been busted yet' belongs, but it has measure of truth in it.

As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of tactical possibilities.

Alexander Alekhine

Objectivity and presence of mind are essential in such positions where sacrificial temptations are not always resistable.

Leonid Shamkovich

Chess is like a delicious drug which offers such heavenly delights that they can never tear themselves away from it completely.

North of the 49th parallel we value equality; south of it, they treasure freedom.

Michael Adams (chess player)

By playing slowly during the early phases of a game I am able to grasp the basic requirements of each position. Then, despite being in time pressure, I have no difficulty in finding the best continuation. Incidentally, it is an odd fact that more often than not it is my opponent who gets the jitters when I am compelled to make these hurried moves.

Samuel Reshevsky

Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions where the players have castled on opposite sides.

Alexander Kotov

The cherished dream of every chessplayer is to play a match with the World Champion. But here is the paradox: the closer you come to the realization of this goal, the less you think about it.

However hopeless the situation appears to be there yet always exists the possibility of putting up a stubborn resistance.

Wilhelm Steinitz was the first man to appreciate the inherent logic behind the game of chess.

William Hartston

Chess reflects the real world in miniature. Endeavor, struggle, success, and defeat - they are part of each game ever played.

Bruce Pandolfini

Your practical results will improve when you play what you know, like and have confidence in.

The fact is he outplayed me. He just proved to be stronger.

Viswanathan Anand

They could start by removing some personnel: the head-butting, move-retracting, tournament-rigging, Zurab Azmaiparashvili for instance. He is a disgrace to the organisation. But never let it be said that he is a dunderhead.
He is warned by FIDE

Independence of thought is a most valuable quality in a chess-player, both at the board and when preparing for a game.

David Bronstein

Learn from each one of your defeats; your losses must be as close to you as your victories.

My first teachers were street players, guys who would hustle you, get in your head, break you down mentally before they did it over the board.

Joshua Waitzkin

Short of actual blunders, lack of faith in one's position is the chief cause of defeat. To be sure, it is easy to recommend faith and not so easy to practise it.

While some are as loathe to trade a Bishop for a Knight as a Cadillac for a Chevrolet, others are prepared to do so without hesitation.

Larry Evans (chess grandmaster)

You have to accustom yourself to practical study at home, you have to devote time to studies, to the history of chess, the development of chess, of chess culture.

Mikhail Botvinnik