Chess Column
By Lubomir Kavalek
Special to The Washington Post
Monday, June 29, 2009; 9:00 AM
40-Something
Give or take a few years, the successful career of a professional chess player lasts roughly a quarter of a century and goes through four stages. From the time we pick up the game to the early 20s, we are learning how to succeed. Around age 22, things get serious. We decide how big a part chess will play in our lives, and chess professionals are born. In the next decade, the great players separate from the large crowd and champions emerge. From then on to the age of 40, we reach our peak. After 40 it goes down for those who let it slip; some players retire, others hang on and just enjoy the game. But, of course, there are exceptions.
The world champion Vishy Anand of India is going to be 40 later this year. He seems to take it in stride and enjoys playing. The former world champion Garry Kasparov, who retired from professional chess shortly before turning 42, thought that it is difficult to compete at 40 even for such a brilliant player as Anand. To which the Indian grandmaster replied: “I find it strange that in October 2008 [after Anand beat Vladimir Kramnik in the world championship match], when I was 38, Kasparov said I had a great future. In December, after turning 39, I was too old to continue for long.”
A few years ago, the great Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk panicked. He was approaching 40, and the prospect of not being invited to elite tournaments weighed heavily on his mind. Trying to wage a war on aging, Ivanchuk played everywhere, going from one tournament to another as if each were his last. Not surprisingly, he began to slip, losing many rating points. During the last several weeks, though, Ivanchuk has started to climb back, beating the Czech grandmaster David Navara in Prague and narrowly losing to Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the final in Leon, Spain.
Here is the full article.
Seems like this article is making a big assumption as to why Chucky’s been playing so much.
Garry thinks he knows it all.
Chucky is immortal!
Aaaaaanaaaaand!!!!
Hmm ,well i clearly disagreed with garry on the chessdrum where i stated vishy just getting bettter and they told me garry has credentials cause he won a few tournaments so we will see whats right garry with the “old chess” thats bobby. hehe or Ultramodern! Hey Susan this is really fun!