Chess and Life Expectancy

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-and-life-expectancy I always knew but its nice to have it confirmed. But only 2.7% longer!

[Hans Jung]

Now how much life expectancy is added if you live your passion? (like Leonard Barden) Question is open for discussion. Haven't found stats yet.

[Ken Craft]

A quick Google search brings up mixed results on whether or not following ones passion is a good idea in general. I assume search a few academic databases may yield some research on the question.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Now how much life expectancy is added if you live your passion? (like Leonard Barden) Question is open for discussion. Haven't found stats yet.

It would depend on what your passion is. Not every passion is consistent with living a long life.

I think the main thing is to live while you are here.

[Hans Jung]

It would depend on what your passion is. Not every passion is consistent with living a long life.

I think the main thing is to live while you are here.

I guess it would depend on how you would define - not living while you are here.

[Bob Armstrong]

If chess is in the mix here, then my passion, despite artificial heart-valve and being pace-maker dependent, plus many illnesses, means I could live on forever! (Very disconcerting to some).

Bob A

[Hans Jung]

If chess is in the mix here, then my passion, despite artificial heart-valve and being pace-maker dependent, plus many illnesses, means I could live on forever! (Very disconcerting to some).

Bob A

Shocking to others Bob! - maybe its the magic elixir! - by the way Happy belated Birthday! (I know it is sometime around now) its a milestone at 80.

[Brad Thomson]

I recall Kortchnoi writing that heart disease is the nemesis of professional chess players. He seemed to truly believe it. Thankfully most of us are not good enough at the game to bother worrying about it.

[Hans Jung]

I had a theory that the old fashioned chess clocks that you could hear tick would help your ticker along, but alas they are not used anymore.

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Hans:

Thx for the birthday wish.......yup..... 80 y.o. on 25/7/28.

This is quite different than 70 y.o., at least for me. It is in my mind definitely a milestone.

As with everyone, my goal in life now........to be the best 80 y.o. I can be.......I felt a little shy about going for the best 80 y.o. on the planet!

See you Sunday at the 2025 Canadian Inter-Generational Chess Challenge - Hans is holding down 1st board for our seniors' team.


Bob

[Hans Jung]

See you Sunday Bob. Should be quite the match.

[Dilip Panjwani]

Hi Hans:

Thx for the birthday wish.......yup..... 80 y.o. on 25/7/28.

This is quite different than 70 y.o., at least for me. It is in my mind definitely a milestone.

As with everyone, my goal in life now........to be the best 80 y.o. I can be.......I felt a little shy about going for the best 80 y.o. on the planet!

See you Sunday at the 2025 Canadian Inter-Generational Chess Challenge - Hans is holding down 1st board for our seniors' team.


Bob

Happy 80s, 90s...and on and on, Bob! All the best!!

[Bob Armstrong]

Thanks Dilip.

Bob

[Vlad Drkulec]

I guess it would depend on how you would define - not living while you are here.

Living your passion can take many forms. For some, it’s pursuing art, mastery, or personal goals. For others, it’s living by a code — even when that means stepping into danger. We see this in the former Doge member "Big Balls" in DC who stopped a carjacking, or the Cincinnati woman who intervened in a mob attack. Both suffered for their choices, yet both said they would do it again.

This mindset is related to the resolute acceptance of death described by Miyamoto Musashi and other Japanese writers: when you accept mortality, fear no longer rules you, and you can act decisively in line with your values. Whether or not this adds years to your life, it adds life to your years — and that, to me, is the essence of “living while you are here.”

[Hans Jung]

Thanks for the explanation Vlad. I learned something.