Polina Shuvalova: chess and boxing are similar

“In my opinion, chess is a unique sport. I play different sports and I can say that chess has always helped me to enter the world of another discipline, in terms of decision making, general strategy. Of sports, I can single out boxing, which is similar to chess, because, as in chess, there are many nuances, weaknesses and strengths of the opponent, psychology, technique, many components. In boxing, you can compete against a stronger opponent. And then you choose whether to pounce on him immediately or wait. It’s the same in chess, you choose whether to try to trap your opponent in the opening in a principled variation, or go into a long fight. Try to quickly end the game with a checkmate (knockout) or wear down the opponent, keeping the tension, throwing a lot of blows of medium force, ”Shuvalova told Sovetsky Sport correspondent Daria Savinova.