French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave participated in a video with content creator Dina Belenkaya. Dina asked Maxime whether top chess players have autism. MVL says some players have traits associated with autism, gives an example of the ability to focus on the game for a long time, and notes that obsession with chess may be associated with the condition.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

French GM

“Are most chess players autistic? The top 100? I’d say agree, but maybe not ‘most’ players. Still, you do see only some traits associated with autism. That doesn’t mean having the full condition, the ‘full package’.

There are certain traits you can recognize in many players, especially at the top. Even if they don’t show it openly, many players who seem completely ‘normal’ still display certain sensitivities. Something a bit on the Asperger spectrum, for example.

I’ve never been tested in my life, but I know that sometimes I have behaviors that relate to that. You have to be careful! I know people who are truly affected by autism, and it’s a completely different reality. For example, when you can focus on a game for 8 hours straight, or switch between games — that kind of thing.

I don’t know if this helps you play chess better, but I think it’s more of a reverse causality. You need to be somewhat obsessive to become really strong at chess. Because it requires a huge investment. So, that obsessive side can resemble traits associated with autism.”

Czech GM David Navara has repeatedly stated that he may have Asperger’s syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum. He often discusses in interviews that he has many traits associated with the syndrome. David Navara is Czech Republic’s No. 2 and World’s No. 110.

Credit: Lennart Ootes