Carlsen revises his opening habitually while jogging on a treadmill which keeps him mentally sharp and physically fit. As Carlsen describes, “These long tournaments are quite tiring and long games are very tiring, especially at the end.” He recently told The Associated Press, “If you are in good shape and can keep your concentration you will be the one who will profit from your opponents’ mistakes.” Adding, “In general towards the end of the tournaments younger players have that advantage so the other players will have to try to equal that by having good fitness as well.” As we get older, it becomes more important for all of us all to stay physically fit to maintain a competitive advantage in a cut-throat world.
Carlsen’s physical fitness supports his style of favoring the middle and long game while he avoids over-thinking opening exchanges. “I do focus quite a bit on the opening,” Carlsen said. “But I have a different goal. Some people try to win the game in the opening. My goal is to make sure I get a playable position and then the main battle is going to happen in the middle game and the later game.”
Frankly, Anand is over 40 and he is surely not the fittest person around. I know he goes to the gym but I’m not sure of his energy levels. After all, Anand is an overweight middle-aged man and that could reflect in his game at some stage
Chess is not a 100 metre race and fitness is a minor issue. However, in a match of high intensity between players with equal talent and skills, fitness could turn out to be a factor. I thought the eighth game loss for Anand was because of fatigue. He defended impeccably after choosing a strange line but he committed a horrible blunder… That move was not for lack of understanding or knowledge. It looked to me as fatigue...
I found this here:
And this here: