Is chess mastery a product of genius or cognitive science?
In this Royal Institution lecture, cognitive scientist and International Chess Master Fernand Gobet explores the mental mechanics of grandmasters. Discover how elite players process information and why their ability to recognize board positions far outstrips that of even strong amateurs.
Recorded on 13 April 2026, the lecture dismantles common myths regarding talent and expertise. Professor Gobet, a leading authority on expertise and a member of the London School of Economics and Political Science, uses decades of research in AI, psychology, and cognitive science to explain the gap between skill levels. He demonstrates how a world champion can grasp a complex position in just 5 seconds, a feat that might take an amateur 15 minutes of intense focus.
The discussion provides a window into the grandmaster mind, examining what these players actually perceive on the board and how their cognitive processes differ from others.
Source: What makes Magnus Carlsen unbeatable? The psychology behind chess – with Fernand Gobet | Part 1
