Dutch GM Anish Giri shared his thoughts on his habit of taking pieces from the table during tournament games. Giri explains that he returns the pieces, and notes that this habit has been with him for a long time.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Dutch GM

“Yes, I take some pieces from the board during a game… But I return everything!

I always return everything. In fact, I used to always take pieces. I’ve accidentally taken pieces into a hotel room a few times in my life.

But it was never a big deal back in the day. But now the Internet suddenly judges me for it… Somehow when I do it — it’s a crime. I always get some fair treatment by the media, the chess mafia.

For how much I’ve been growing the game throughout my chess career, I deserve to take some of those pieces home and never return them. I don’t see the problem and I still think it’s a normal thing to take some pieces.”

Dutch GM Anish Giri (2753) has a habit of fidgeting with or temporarily taking captured pawns and pieces from the board during his games. Fans on social media often call him a ‘chess necromancer’ or ‘pawn collector’.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE