Two different rhythms of thinking at the Candidates Tournament

At elite events such as the FIDE Candidates Tournament, it is not only opening preparation, calculating power or endgame technique that attracts attention, but also the behaviour of the players at the board. According to observations by FIDE Press Officer IM Michael A. Rahal, top grandmasters naturally follow exemplary professional habits: they keep evaluating the position both on their own move and during the opponent’s think, and especially in time trouble the tension in the playing hall becomes almost tangible. Even so, their thinking habits can broadly be divided into two groups: those who step away and think while walking, and those who remain almost permanently fixed to the board.

The first group is described as “pacers”—players who prefer to think while moving around the hall. These chess professionals often leave the board between moves in order to mentally reset. Physical movement is believed to help preserve concentration and reduce unnecessary tension during long games. One of the most striking examples is tournament leader Javokhir Sindarov, who appears notably calm and self-assured as he strolls around the playing area between moves. Anish Giri also fits the classic pacing profile, often walking with his hands clasped behind his back and occasionally idly handling captured pieces. Fabiano Caruana, meanwhile, has his own variation of the habit: he is frequently seen standing in front of the large screen displaying all ongoing games. From a distance, one might wonder whether he is reviewing his own position, following the other boards, or assessing the wider tournament situation.

In contrast, the second group consists of the “sitters”—the players who prefer to maintain constant visual contact with the position. These competitors conduct most of their calculation directly at the board, building variations without taking their eyes off the pieces and getting up far less often. This approach feels especially natural for players who want uninterrupted focus on piece placement in complex middlegames. Grandmasters who seem almost locked in to the board may also gain the advantage of closely tracking an opponent’s body language, hesitation before a move, and every subtle shift in the position. Of course, these categories are not absolute; many elite players move between both styles depending on the phase of the game, the character of the position and the time remaining on the clock.

Ultimately, this contrast is a revealing sign of the strong link between psychology and performance in modern chess. Making the right decision under clock pressure is not only about finding the best move; it is also about managing energy, preventing mental drift and maintaining emotional balance. In an event like the Candidates, where the road to the World Championship is at stake, both getting up for a short walk and sitting perfectly still with total focus serve the same purpose: putting the mind in its most productive working state. For that reason, behaviour at the board should be seen as one of the invisible yet decisive layers of top-level chess.