Decision-making: From chessboard to boardroom
Leadership Lessons from the 2025 FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship Corporate chess is thriving across global companies. Google boasts a community of 2,500 active players, including executives like Dennis Hassabis, and runs both online and over-the-board tournaments. J.P. Morgan started a global chess club three years ago and now has 500 players worldwide, with local clubs forming in multiple countries. UBS has a long-standing Zurich club with 400–500 players and is expanding its reach to the USA, India, and beyond. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic global marketplace, the ability to think strategically has become a defining feature of successful businesses and their leaders. While strategy is often associated with corporate planning and market positioning, it also lies at the heart of one of the world’s oldest and most intellectually respected games – chess. Chess is more than a pastime; it is a complex exercise in planning, risk assessment, and tactical execution. The parallels between chess and business are striking, showing how principles from the game can enhance leadership, improve decision-making, and drive long-term corporate success. Representing Morgan Stanley, Gabor Szamoskozi highlights these connections: careful consideration of each decision, anticipating the next steps, and managing time effectively are skills that apply equally to the board and the workplace. The 2025 FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship During the 2025 FIDE World Cup, held in India in November, eleven top companies from around the world converged in Goa to compete in the 2025 FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship. For a few days, this corporate tournament ran parallel to the main event. The championship highlighted the growing role of chess in modern workplaces, offering employee teams a global stage to represent their organisations. Participating teams spanned technology, finance, consulting, engineering, and fast-growing firms from emerging markets. Currently ranked seventh in the official world chess rankings, R. Praggnanandhaa pointed out the importance of the event during his visit: “Having more corporate companies involved in chess is certainly very positive for the game. I’ve noticed that most of them are large organisations, and it’s a unique opportunity for them to play in the same venue as the World Cup. When companies are excited, participate, and contribute even in a small way, it benefits the game and is appreciated by all the players.” After qualifying online against hundreds of other companies, Greco was crowned the 2025 Corporate Chess Champion, officially recognised as the smartest company in the world. Morgan Stanley finished as the runner-up, while Deloitte and Google secured third and fourth place, respectively. Decision-making Both chess and business involve making decisions with imperfect information and limited time. A chess player must evaluate multiple possibilities under time constraints, recognizing that hesitation can lead to lost opportunities. “You have one and a half hours for a full chess game, but you need to manage your time from the very first move to the last. It’s the same with work deadlines: you might have a month to complete a project, but if you don’t recognise the sense of urgency from day one and use your time wisely, you risk missing the deadline”, explained Filippos Stamos, Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft. Similarly, managers often face deadlines and must choose among competing priorities with limited data. The ability to make confident, timely decisions, without succumbing to stress, is a shared hallmark of both domains. Alongside his role as Senior Tax Manager at Deloitte, International Chess Master Mateusz Kolosowski has competed at a very high level in chess for many years. “It’s very difficult for chess players to handle time pressure – every single move can be critical, and you have to be ready to take responsibility for each decision. This experience has greatly helped me in my professional career”. Women in chess and business Hallgerdur Helga Thorsteindottir was the only female participant in the Goa finals. “It feels a bit lonely being the only woman on my board,” she said. “I hope more women get involved – there are many who play chess, and firms should actively promote inclusivity.” Playing for Deloitte was a major motivation. “Chess is respected within firms, but we want it to grow and become more visible. Events like this are a great way to connect chess and business.” Leadership Chess imparts numerous qualities applicable to leadership: Learning from mistakes: A mistake in chess may cost a piece; in business, it may cost market share. Reviewing what went wrong fosters growth. Stamos shared his own company experience: “Chess has helped me a lot with self-improvement. In chess, I analyse my games and learn from my mistakes, and that is the mentality we have at Microsoft, at least in my department: we always reflect, see what we could have done better, and strive to improve. This aspect of chess is excellent and directly connected to work”. Vision and purpose: A strong player always begins with a goal. Leaders must similarly articulate a clear mission to guide their teams. Resilience and emotional intelligence: Chess demands calm, even in the face of setbacks. Effective leaders remain composed, motivating teams and navigating uncertainty. Kolosowski talked about his role as team captain: “Primarily, it’s about taking responsibility for every decision you make. Leadership, though it may seem counterintuitive in chess, is also crucial. I hold a relatively senior position at Deloitte and am responsible for an entire team of professionals. While chess is often considered an individual sport, in team competitions you need to organize your team, ensure everyone is performing well, and foster team spirit.” Adaptability: No chess game unfolds exactly as expected. Likewise, evolving consumer preferences and technological changes require businesses to pivot quickly. Chess and business careers Many prominent executives emphasize the influence of chess on their careers. Some use the game to sharpen analytical skills, while others leverage it to teach employees the value of planning and patience. “In chess, you need to anticipate future moves, develop new strategies, and assess your strengths and weaknesses. In my line of work, learning something new is fine, but