Chess

Watching the match between Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi reminds me of the term ‘mental disintegration’ as it has been used by Australian cricketers.

Through nine games, Carlsen has withstood every attempt by Nepomniachtchi to seize a decisive advantage. The steadily increasing pressure culminated in a titanic game six in which Carlsen essentially strangled Nepomniachtchi over the course of almost eight hours. That sort of victory is precisely the kind that can just mentally break an opponent, a...