Think about the sting of being so close to winning, only to have it slip away right before your eyes. This heart-wrenching scenario is a nightmare not only for chess players but also for participants in many high-stakes contests, including politics.
As a chess player myself, I once experienced this firsthand during our company’s tournament many years ago. I had prepared meticulously for my first game, mastering an opening gambit so effectively that it enabled me to gain a piece right away during the initial moves. A wave of relief washed over me as I felt victory within my grasp. My brilliant feat boosted my confidence, leading me to relax and become complacent, convinced that the road to victory was clear.
However, I had not anticipated my opponent’s resilience. The game dragged on, leading to endgame complexity. Although I ultimately won, I knew I had squandered my early advantage through complacency. This personal experience underscores a compelling lesson: Never presume victory until the game is officially over.
The Chessboard Drama
The 1978 World Championship in Baguio, was more than just a battle of wits. It was a psychological and political showdown between Anatoly Karpov, the reigning champion, and Viktor Korchnoi, a Russian defector. The match was fraught with tension both on and off the board. From accusations of hypnosis to the infamous yogurt incident, where Karpov received a blueberry yogurt mid-game, suspected to be a coded message – the match had it all.
Karpov initially took a commanding lead, but Korchnoi’s resilience was remarkable. He clawed his way back from a 5-2 deficit to level the score at 5-5. However, in the decisive 32nd game, Karpov managed to secure his sixth win, retaining his title. This match exemplifies the importance of maintaining focus and respecting your opponent’s abilities until the very end. Karpov’s victory was not just a testament to his skill but also his unwavering concentration and respect for Korchnoi’s tenacity.
The Political Parallel
Drawing a parallel to the political arena, elections, much like chess matches, are fraught with uncertainty and require unwavering focus until the very end. One misstep, especially in the complicated endgame, can change everything and leave a campaign in disarray. Consider a political candidate who, seeing a comfortable lead in the polls, underestimates his opponent’s ability to rally support.
Such cocksureness can lead to unexpected setbacks, snatching away the taste of victory that seemed so close, much like a chess player who assumes victory too early. The lesson here is clear: Never presume success until the final moment, whether on the chessboard or in the political arena.
A real-world example is the U.S. presidential electoral contest today. Enter Donald Trump. It was the night that was supposed to signal his triumph. John Nichols of The Nation narrates:
“Everyone else did their part. Speaker after speaker hailed Trump as ‘a hero,’ ‘a tough guy,’ ‘a champion,’ ‘a gladiator,’ and an ‘American badass’… But after that compelling moment, the expectation was that Trump would launch into an epic address.
The Speech
“Instead, Trump delivered a rambling 93-minute speech (by far the longest convention acceptance speech in history) that was strangely subdued – “much more muted than usual,” observed the Associated Press – and unfocused. The former president spun off in so many directions that the technicians running his Teleprompter struggled, without much success, to keep up with the twists and turns…
“[Trump], we were told, was going to position himself as a unifier prepared to bring a divided country together.
“But the speech didn’t deliver… Trump delivered a supremely self-congratulatory acceptance address, a “greatest hits” presentation cribbed from his similarly jumbled rallies. He even included weird references to fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter – “the late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’d love to have you for dinner” – that has caused actor Anthony Hopkins, who played Lecter in The Silence of the Lamb, to pronounce himself ‘shocked and appalled’ by Trump’s admiration.”
Robert Kennedy Jr., an independent 2024 presidential candidate who stood in a circus of red, white, and blue-painted faces, bedazzled MAGA jackets, and baseball caps just 20 rows back from the stage, recounts:
“Jean from Delaware agreed that [Trump’s speech] had all gone a little long, but added wisely: ‘That’s to be expected from a man who cheated death.’
“In more ways than one, Jean is right. Trump has escaped death – and now it feels like he’s just getting started again.”
An NBC News reporter claimed that several people seated around him fell asleep while Trump was speaking.
Ezra Klein of the New York Times says:
“Tonight’s speech is going to harden Democrats’ spines. The best argument against the party replacing Biden was fatalism: If you’ll lose anyway, may as well lose conventionally. But no Democrat watching that speech thought Trump unbeatable. It was an antidote to fatalism.”
David Axelrod, the former chief strategist for Obama’s election campaigns, told CNN, following the speech, that it was “the first good thing that’s happened to Democrats in the last three weeks.”
The Nation’s tagline depicts:
“Trump’s surreal, subdued, and unfocused address gave Democrats an opening to turn the tide of this campaign.”
Intermission
Marge, Homer, Bart, and Lisa are gathered around the TV, watching a chess tournament.
Marge: (Excitedly) Look, Homer! It’s the Springfield Chess Championship!
Homer: (Yawning) Chess? Isn’t that just a bunch of old guys moving pieces around?
Lisa: (Annoyed) Chess is a game of intellect and strategy, Dad. You should play it sometime.
Bart: (Smirking) Yeah, Dad. You might even win if you last more than five moves.
Announcer: (Voiceover) And it looks like Professor Frink is just one move away from victory!
Lisa: (Murmuring) It’s not over till the fat lady sings.
Homer: (Confused) Why would a fat lady be singing at a chess match?
Lisa: (Sighs) It’s a saying, Dad. It means you shouldn’t assume the outcome until the very end.
Announcer: (Voiceover) In a shocking turn of events, Comic Book Guy wins the championship!
Marge: (Smiling) Never underestimate the underdog.
It Ain’t Over Till The Fat Lady Sings
In the intricate realms of chess and political elections, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” resonates as a profound testament to the unpredictability and resilience inherent in both. In chess, every move is a strategic dance, a calculated risk that can turn the tide in an instant, much like the ebb and flows of a political campaign where polls and predictions are but ephemeral shadows of the final verdict.
Both domains demand perseverance and adaptability, as a seemingly insurmountable lead can be upended by a masterful gambit or a last-minute surge of voter support. The adage underscores the essence of waiting for the final moment when all possibilities have played out, whether it’s the decisive checkmate on a chessboard or the closing of the ballot boxes.
In this parallel, the chess player and the politician are reminded that the endgame holds the ultimate truth. So, whether you’re a chess player or a political candidate, always remember, that the game isn’t over until it’s over.
Content put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot
Head collage photos courtesy of Forbes & chessdotcom
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