“NFL Players Compete in Chess Tournament for Charity”
BlitzChamps is now in its fourth year, where NFL athletes vie for a prize pot of $30,000 donated to a charity of their choice. “We discovered more NFL players on Chess.com than we realized,” shares Danny Rensch, Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. The idea for this tournament, featuring NFL players, stemmed from Rensch’s friendship with Larry Fitzgerald, a former Arizona Cardinals player and chess enthusiast. The first tournament was organized in 2022, with players trading the field for the chessboard. Last year, Kansas City Chiefs’ Justin Reid emerged as the champion. The tournament continues to grow in competitiveness, with players like Awuzie noting its impact on their strategic thinking in football. Chess has become a tool for coaching athletes, with Seth Makowsky using it to train players like Jalen Hurts. The strategic skills learned in chess also translate to other sports like basketball, where players such as Luka Dončić and Derrick Rose are known to enjoy the game.
Discussing the intricate nature of chess, Rensch reflects on the intriguing paradox it presents: the game is an unsolvable puzzle, yet in every position, there exists an optimal move waiting to be discovered. This enigmatic quality of chess captivates professional players, prompting a deep sense of obsession. The dichotomy between knowing that the best move exists and the challenge of finding it creates a unique and formidable aspect of the game. The pursuit of perfection in each move is a daunting task, highlighting the immense difficulty inherent in playing chess at a high level. To stay updated with the latest CNN news and newsletters, be sure to create an account at CNN.com.
