"Not going to school is important to actually reach the top. It's always been a disadvantage of the American players that we actually attended school" — Hans Niemann

Hans Moke Niemann

American GM

“A lot of things need to go right to actually reach the top. Sponsorship is important, and invitations are important. Not going to school is important, although I’m not a great influence to say that.

It’s always been a disadvantage of the American players that we actually attended school. It’s just a huge disadvantage to have to attend in school your whole life. [Question: as a professional chess player?]. Yeah.

When the Uzbeks or the Indians, they don’t really go to school. So, they have a big advantage of having government support, having no distractions.

I would hope that, if Andy Woodward wants to really become the top player, he would stop going to school and will invest everything to chess. Because I don’t think there’s a margin now, with how competitive chess is. You have to really go all in or nothing.

Even my chess career was far from smooth. And my ascent at the late age of 18 was, let’s say, was a miracle in some regards.

I think that I would encourage people like Andy or Mishra not to go to college or just to ignore school. Because you can do great things now without an education.

To be a World Champion, you have to make some sacrifices, right? If Mishra and Andy will go to college, the chances of becoming a top 10 player go to zero.”