This is for all you chess fans here: With the World Championships coming up, I thought about comparing elite chess players with NFL quarterbacks and wrote out my pairings and thoughts for each. Remember that these are just analogies and not everything fits, and I’m looking forward to the follow-up discussions!
NFL: Tom Brady Chess: Garry Kasparov This is the pairing on which pretty much every other comparison depends on in order to work. The virtually undisputed GOATs of his sport, Tom Brady and Garry Kasparov have been the best of the best for longer than any other great, which I feel is the most important quality of a GOAT. In addition to being at the pinnacle of greatness for many years, they are fierce competitors and have, in my opinion, the strongest drive to win. Even in Kasparov’s few post-retirement appearances, it is obvious how much he cares about playing well and winning. If Kasparov had continued playing competitively past 2005, studying modern opening theory and adjusting play style, there is no doubt that he would achieved similar successes to Brady at a comparable age.
NFL: Patrick Mahomes Chess: Magnus Carlsen Magnus Carlsen and Patrick Mahomes are similar in so many ways that despite the differing lengths of their careers, it would be illogical not to not to pair these two. They both clearly have an abundance of natural talent for their sport that very few other players demonstrate. They make everything about playing their sport seem easy, when in reality, they are constantly exceeding boundaries and breaking records. But more impressive than just being exceptional players is their longevity at the top—Carlsen has been World #1 for ten years now while winning 4 Word Championships, and Mahomes has firmly established his #1 status after winning MVP and OPOY in 2018, a Super Bowl the next year, first on the NFL Top 100 List, and countless other accolades. They also excel in all formats of the game; Mahomes can throw, run, and scramble, while Carlsen is currently World #1 in rapid and blitz chess and has held triple crowns (World Champion as well as World Rapid and Blitz Champion). You’d be a fool to bet against Mahomes or Carlsen in any game, a fact that will likely remain true for years to come.
NFL: Peyton Manning Chess: Anatoly Karpov Kasparov vs. Karpov. Brady vs. Manning. Rivalries that each dominated their respective sport for years. Like Peyton Manning, Anatoly Karpov rose to prominence a few years before Kasparov and had cemented himself as a top player. Both Manning and Karpov are always in conversation as the GOAT, due to their formidable play styles and plethora of successes and accolades. There’s even the parallel of Karpov becoming World Champion under FIDE again after Kasparov’s split just how Manning continued dominating the NFL after signing with the Broncos. And perhaps more impressively, soon after, Manning beat Brady on the way to winning Super Bowl 50, and Karpov smoked the competition in the 1994 Linares tournament, finishing 2½ ahead of Kasparov, who placed 2nd. Both Karpov and Manning’s legacies will undoubtedly be enshrined as legends who found longtime and resounding success in their sport.
NFL: Eli Manning Chess: Vladimir Kramnik Most of this comparison is based on the monumental achievement of Eli Manning beating Tom Brady (twice!) in the Super Bowl and Vladimir Kramnik beating Garry Kasparov in the Word Championship.
NFL: Drew Brees Chess: Viswanathan Anand Drew Brees and Vishy Anand are legends, with years of impressive stat lines, accolades, praise and respect from peers and contemporaries to back it up. Both are incredibly intelligent players, evidence by the way they’ve continually demonstrated mastery in their sport. Something not all NFL players and grandmasters have that Brees and Anand always have is humility; even while breaking and still holding the NFL passing yards record or being a five-time world champion, both have always been humble, down-to-earth competitors. While they are still going strong, you can never count them out to play strong and smart, and to win as they have for many years.
NFL: Russell Wilson Chess: Ding Liren When you want the epitome of consistency in football and chess, look no further than Russell Wilson and Ding Liren. Wilson has had winning seasons every year since joining the NFL in 2012. Ding Liren had a 100-game unbeaten streak during which he was still very active and played many strong opponents. Both Ding and Wilson also show remarkable resilience under pressure, with Wilson often finding the best option out of a collapsing pocket and Ding finding those key winning or drawing moves in critical positions. Consistency doesn’t mean mediocrity for these guys, however, as both have continually shown the flashes of brilliance that make them proven winners and top players in their sports.
NFL: Kirk Cousins Chess: Alexander Grischuk There’s no doubt that Kirk Cousins and Alexander Grischuk are great players and have repeatedly shown the talent and skill to shine in their sports. But interestingly, both share a similar weakness to making it to the absolutely top-tier of players: timing. Grischuk’s penchant for getting into time trouble has undoubtedly cost him wins and draws. Cousins leads the NFL in “time to throw”, and in a sport where getting the ball out quickly is crucial, Cousins’s ‘time trouble’ has cost him completions, TDs, and maybe even games. If both players made significant improvement in this areas, I believe it would show in their level of play.
NFL: Aaron Rodgers Chess: Levon Aronian There’s something incredibly special about watching Aaron Rodgers play football and Levon Aronian play chess. The best one-word description I can think of is “enlightened”. You can only shake your head in amazement at some of Rodgers’s throws and Aronian’s games. On top of that, their deep knowledge of the game and understanding of the opponent fuels their excellence. Both of their play styles are artistic yet deadly as they continue to shine and barely show any signs of slowing down.
NFL: Lamar Jackson Chess: Hikaru Nakamura Lamar Jackson and Hikaru Nakamura are undisputed top players in their sport, but both are perhaps better known for their speed. Jackson’s running ability has him rushing over 1000 yards per season, and his speed makes him a huge threat for opposing defenses to try and contain. Nakamura is definitely top 2 in rapid and blitz chess, is most likely the best in the world at bullet chess, and his ability to quickly calculate under pressure is second-to-none. Interestingly, just as Nakamura has always had trouble against Carlsen (1-14 record), Jackson has called the Chiefs “our kryptonite” and also has only once beaten the team quarterbacked by Mahomes. While speed isn’t everything, it certainly gives them a dangerous edge over anyone who tries to underestimate them.
NFL: Josh Allen Chess: Ian Nepomniachtchi Josh Allen and Ian Nepomniachtchi have had huge jumps recently, propelling them well into contention for top-5 in their sport. Both players play strong, fast, and physical (the over the board equivalent for Nepo), and just like how Allen can use his legs, Nepomniachtchi is also a beast at speed chess. With Allen coming off a breakout season and Nepo heading to his first World Championship, the world is eagerly watching to see how these two players will do this year.
NFL: Justin Herbert Chess: Alireza Firouzja Not much to say here, other than the astronomical rise of these two youngsters has been incredible. Both Justin Herbert and Alireza Firouzja will continue to dazzle on the field and on the board for a long time, more than likely picking up at least one (or more) championship along the way.
NFL: Dak Prescott Chess: Fabiano Caruana There is no shortage of talent for Dak Prescott and Fabiano Caruana, but then again, one could argue there is no shortage of talent for many QBs and grandmasters. What sets Prescott and Caruana apart is their immense work ethic and their tireless dedication to perfecting their craft. Caruana’s opening preparation has given him the advantage in many games, and even before his season-ending ankle injury, Prescott was known for his intense training that has allowed him to make a full recovery and play at an MVP-level this year.
NFL: Ryan Tannehill Chess: Leinier Dominguez Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need. Both Ryan Tannehill and Leinier Dominguez were more average, middle-of-the-road players with their previous affiliations, but after switching to the Titans and USA respectively, they’ve revitalized their gameplay and careers and are both clearly trending up.
NFL: Philip Rivers Chess: Vasyl Ivanchuk The biggest similarity between Philip Rivers and Vasyl Ivanchuk is perhaps the distinction of being regarded as the best players to have never won a Super Bowl or world championship. Nevertheless, over their long careers, they have certainly made a huge impact on the field and on the board. They have both also been described as somewhat eccentric in both their personality (“Planet Ivanchuk”) and play style (Rivers’s throwing motion). But that just made them that much more interesting to watch when they were completely dominating, and they will certainly be missed.
Also, had to do it: NFL: John Urschel Chess: John Urschel
I haven’t fully gotten to expanding these comparisons, but hopefully they make sense! Garappolo: Karjakin Winston: Rapport Murray: MVL Burrow: Duda Rivers: Ivanchuk Carr: Giri Stafford: So Mayfield: Wei Yi Big Ben: Radjabov Luck: Wang Hao
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