Everything in this world has a beginning and an end. Some things end soon, some end late. It’s all a matter of time. So it will be with this virus and this whole mess.
But when it’s over not everything will be the same as before.

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.

Many things will be changed. Even the chess world will be different. Unfortunately, some of the biggest chess tournaments will not be organized anymore, as organizers will be financially broke (hopefully temporarily), some chess clubs will be closed down because of the same reason… Many-many things will not be the same as before.

Of course, there will also be positive changes, as some individuals will find opportunities in crisis and bring new cool things to the chess world.

The fascinating thing is that even chess players will no longer play at the same strength as before the virus. Some will become better, some worse.

Absolutely everyone! From club players to the world’s top players.
There will be lots of changes in the top 100 players in the world.
Many will lose their positions, many will join the top 100 list.
After tournaments resume many will raise their ratings, many will lose.

Many chess lovers who used to crush their opponents in their clubs or in friendly games, will not crush anymore.
Many chess players who used to be beaten by their more experienced opponents, now will change places.

Why is this going to happen?

The answer is very simple. During this lockdown period, we all spend our time differently.

I see Grandmasters who are bored of being stuck at home and spend the whole day on Netflix.

I hear from many Grandmasters things like “I don’t know why to train when I don’t have any upcoming tournaments” or “I can’t find motivation when I think my next tournament will be in 2021”...

On the contrary, I see Grandmasters, professionals, who find this a great time to improve their opening repertoire, learn new openings,  improve their endgame knowledge, to work on their calculation techniques...To get closer to their goals…

I see amateurs and club players, who just play online blitz games every day, even when they don’t enjoy it anymore... Consciously or unconsciously killing their days.

On the contrary, I see chess lovers who think this is a good opportunity to get better at chess, as they have more free time. They buy books and video-courses, hire coaches or subscribe to educational chess platforms like ours.

People spend their time in very different ways, and when the tournaments resume, their results will be different as well.

Do you know what the most common phrase will be that we’ll hear all the time then?
“I wasn't in good shape!"

We will see people keep saying, that because of this virus they forgot all their openings, they blunder every now and then, they can’t calculate as before.

But this all will be just an EXCUSE… A very bad excuse.

This virus is spread all over the world, in all continents. Everyone is locked down. There are no offline tournaments anywhere. Everyone is in the same situation.

The only difference?
Yeah, how they spend their time.

We have a choice

Many of you reading this have a goal to get a 2000 rating, maybe become a Master or Grandmaster.

Now if you spend your time productively, effectively and smartly, you will definitely be able to enjoy your rise when the tournaments are back to life again.

But if you spend your days by just killing your time, there are 2 possible outcomes:

a -  You’ll be one of those, who will keep saying “I’m not in a good shape”.

Or…

b  - You’ll find strength in yourself and instead of looking for excuses will try to fix the situation, come up with a plan on how to get back to good shape and continue beating players you used to beat before.

The worst thing you can do now is to kill your time and then find excuses when you are crushed by people you used to crush.

The best thing - to continue the COGRO (constant growth) and start crushing people who used to crush you.

Do you know why it will be the perfect time to raise your rating?
Because 90% of people (if not more) will be busy saying that they are not in good shape…

He who laughs last, laughs best.

When all this COVID-19 stuff is over and we get back to our normal lives, PLEASE, make sure not to find yourself in the group of people, who will make excuses.
Be the one, who makes smarter decisions now, spending his time productively.
And the one who’ll beat their opponents when the tournaments resume...

Then you’ll have all the right to laugh… Remember this article every time you hear someone saying  “I am not in a good shape!"

P.S. You can share your thoughts in our forum.
And don't forget to share with your friends, whom you want to see in 1%.

Originally published Apr 14, 2020