Chess - The Game of Kings John Grefe
"The more I am able to meditate while I'm playing chess, the easier it becomes. I can look at the chessboard for just a few minutes and see clearly what the right moves are. I can use my visual imagination to look ahead as far as necessary.
"There's a tremendous concentration that develops as a result of meditation, and this carries over into my game. I've been able to eliminate more of the thoughts and distractions that keep me from playing as well as I could.
"In chess, concentration is everything. When you become concentrated, you can see the chessboard and the pieces in a much clearer way. One great player said that when he played a game, nothing else existed but him, the person sitting across the board from him, the board itself, and the pieces, because that was where his whole attention was. More and more, as I get into meditation, I find my concentration is like that.
If you can just sit at the chessboard and meditate, and not worry about anything else, it all starts to happen. I've experienced that, but it's only grace that can bring us to that clear and perfect point."
John Grefe was joint chess champion of the United States in 1973. He recently shared first place in the Australian Championships in Brisbane. For his performances in recent championships, John has been awarded the official title International Master.
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