'NBA icon Derrick Rose opens up about his fervor for chess and its potential life-saving implications'
Derrick Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP, has proven his mettle on the basketball court. Yet, off the court, he finds himself battling a different kind of challenge - the game of chess. Despite his success in the NBA, Rose admits to feeling nervous when playing chess, even with friends.
Recently, Rose led a collaboration between the worlds of chess and professional basketball at the 2025 Chesstival in Las Vegas. The tournament brought together top names from both disciplines, including Quinten Post from the Golden State Warriors and Grant Williams from the Charlotte Hornets. Rose teamed up with Magnus Carlsen's Freestyle Chess for this unique event.
In the Head & Hand format of the tournament, NBA players partnered with chess grandmasters. The grandmaster named a piece, and the basketball pro decided where to move it. Rose, who developed a passion for chess during his basketball career, quickly turned this obsession into a mission. He plans to host a similar event in the future, aiming to bring the two worlds closer.
Rose finds losing in chess more heartbreaking than losing in basketball. However, he believes that chess can teach resilience, as it requires never to give up and to bounce back from mistakes. Chess can also teach strategy, organisation, and life lessons, which Rose encourages his own children to learn. He wants to open the game up to audiences that might not have had access to it before.
Judit Polgar, a chess grandmaster, played at the tournament and won the Head & Hand competition with Grant Williams. Polgar believes that chess can improve concentration skills and help athletes adjust to different situations. She also agrees with Rose that chess can help children from less privileged areas make better decisions and potentially save lives.
Several high-profile soccer and NFL stars have expressed their enthusiasm for chess, and Derrick Rose is no different. Chess is experiencing a huge popularity boom in recent years, and it's increasingly collaborating with mainstream leagues. This collaboration is not just about bringing two different worlds together; it's about teaching athletes and children valuable lessons that can be applied both on and off the field.
During his NBA career, Rose had to take a step back from chess due to it taking up too much of his energy and affecting his sleep. However, he now plays chess whenever he can, either online or on his numerous boards. He believes that learning the patterns and chess openings helped him see the basketball court differently and taught him to be mindful of every move.
In a world where athletes are often idolised for their physical prowess, Derrick Rose stands out for his intellectual pursuits. His passion for chess serves as a reminder that there's more to life than just sports. As he continues to make waves in both the basketball and chess worlds, Rose encourages everyone to embrace the game of chess and the lessons it has to offer.
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