Following a routine can do two things; either make you a master of it or have monotony kill you with boredom. Athletes who follow a strict routine and a balanced lifestyle, face the latter often. To get out of it, they indulge themselves in different activities. The three-time world champion figure skater, Nathan Chen, recently revealed how playing chess helped him focus better on his skill.

In an interview with GQ, the American figure skater said that they’re a ?huge chess family,? and playing chess has benefitted his game a lot. Chess, for him, is a metaphor to deal with the obstacles he faces in life. Instead of getting emotional, he tries to solve them as he would solve a puzzle on a chessboard.

When asked about his chess ranking in the family, he said, ?Oh, dude, I’m on the bottom.??However, as long as playing chess is having a positive impact on his lifestyle, his ranking hardly matters.

Nathan Chen, the three-time world champion

Along with the three world championships and an Olympic Bronze medal in 2018, the 22-year-old American has won three Grand Prix and six U. S National Championships. He is the first figure skater ever to land five types of quadruple jumps in toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, and lutz.

From 2018 to October 2021, Nathan Chen was undefeated in every competition he performed at. He is a champion skater who started competing in the U. S skating championships at the age of 10 and today he is one of the best skaters in the world.

READ MORE- Magnus Carlsen Once Destroyed NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Over His Chess Skills: ?Chess is Tough?You Can?t Just Be 7 Feet and Dunk Over Everybody?

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Chess is a perfect mental exercise

Like Nathan said, chess is more than a game. It indulges all your mental faculty and trains your mind for better decision-making. Players often play other sports to ease their minds or sometimes just for the change, but different things are often interlinked. Practicing one thing can make you better at the other.

Nathan Chen is not the only athlete who plays chess as a mental exercise. Many sportspeople, actors, entrepreneurs, and other celebrities also play chess to sharpen their minds and develop analytical thinking.

Chess could be a perfect pass time for everyone, coupled with some remarkable benefits to enhance your lifestyle. What are your thoughts on chess, not as a separate game but as a mental exercise?