“Caissa, the goddess of chess, had punished me for my conservative play, for betraying my nature.”

“My dream is chess played in every school in India. The Soviets would include a chessboard along with the bride’s trousseau to ensure that the children born of that marriage knew the rules of chess.”

Viswanathan Anand (1969) Indian chess player

“I'm a chess player; I play chess.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (1977) American boxer

“When I retired from professional chess in 2005 to join the Russian pro-democracy movement against Putin, I was frequently asked how my chess experience might help me in politics. My answer was that it wouldn’t help much at all, because in chess we had fixed rules and uncertain results, while in Russian politics it was exactly the opposite.”

Garry Kasparov (1963) former chess world champion

“Well, I kind of split my life into two pieces. One was where my chess career lies. There, I kept my sanity, so to speak, and my logic. And the other was my religious life. I tried to apply what I learned in the church to my chess career too. But I still was studying chess. I wasn't just "trusting in God" to give me the moves.”

Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) American chess prodigy, chess player, and chess writer

“I'm not Machiavellian. I don't play chess with my life, you know. I respond in the moment, which is what makes me a good actor. It makes me, sometimes, a good interview subject but it also makes me a very easy target.”

Russell Crowe (1964) New Zealand-born Australian actor, film producer and musician

“It's not that the Democrats are playing checkers and the Republicans are playing chess. It's that the Republicans are playing chess and the Democrats are in the nurse's office because once again they glued their balls to their thighs.”

Jon Stewart (1962) American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian

“The best of my nature reveals itself in play, and play is sacred.”

Karen Blixen (1885–1962) Danish writer

“Sheriff Bart: Since I am your host and you are my guest what are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
Jim "The Waco Kid": Oh you know, play chess…screw.
Sheriff Bart: Well let's play chess!”

Mel Brooks (1926) American director, writer, actor, and producer

“Endeavors that help me satisfy you, my goddess of desire, pleasure, and corny one-liners.”

Sylvia Day (1973) American writer