GRANDMASTER: Gauging the Role of Alertness and Neurostimulation With Dietary Caffeine in Master-Level Chess; A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial
St. Louis University
Summary
This study will examine whether caffeine improves cognitive and competitive performance in professional chess players during tournament-style games. In a randomized double-blind crossover design, participants will complete two experimental sessions in which they consume either caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee before playing a standardized chess match. Cognitive performance will be assessed using attention and reaction-time tests, including the Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, and Puzzle Rush task. Chess performance outcomes such as move accuracy, time management, and error rates will also be evaluated. The study aims to determine whether moderate caffeine intake enhances focus, alertness, and decision-making during prolonged competitive chess play.
Description
This randomized double-blind crossover trial will evaluate the effects of moderate caffeine intake on cognitive and competitive performance in professional chess players. Twelve FIDE-rated chess players will complete two experimental conditions in randomized order: caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee placebo. During each visit, participants will complete standardized cognitive assessments and a tournament-style chess game under controlled laboratory conditions. Primary outcomes will include objective chess performance metrics derived from chess engine analysis, including move accuracy…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female professional chess players aged 18-50 years * Current Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) standard rating between 2300 and 2600 Elo, or achievement of a standard FIDE rating within this range during the previous 12 months * Habitual caffeine consumers consuming ≤2 cups of coffee per day * Willingness to comply with all study procedures and study visits * Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Non-caffeine users * Habitual caffeine intake exceeding 2 cups of coffee per day * Cardiovascular disorders * Metabolic disorder…
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementCaffeinated Coffee
Black caffeinated coffee prepared from 15 g of ground coffee brewed in 200 g of water, providing approximately 100 mg of caffeine. The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before cognitive testing and tournament-style chess gameplay.
- Dietary SupplementDecaffeinated Coffee Placebo
Black decaffeinated coffee prepared from the same batch of coffee beans and matched for taste and appearance to the caffeinated condition. The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before cognitive testing and tournament-style chess gameplay.
Location
- Saint Louis UniversitySt Louis, Missouri