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Effects of Caffeine on Chess Performance and Cognitive Function in Professional Chess Players (GRANDMASTER)

8 de junio de 2026 actualizado por: Hossein Rafiei, St. Louis University

GRANDMASTER: Gauging the Role of Alertness and Neurostimulation With Dietary Caffeine in Master-Level Chess; A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Trial

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.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Aún no reclutando

Condiciones

Intervención / Tratamiento

Descripción detallada

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, centipawn loss, error rates, and time management. Secondary outcomes will include cognitive test performance, tactical reaction time, and self-reported alertness and fatigue. Chess games will be analyzed using standardized software-based evaluation methods.

The crossover design allows each participant to serve as their own control, minimizing variability related to individual differences in skill level, caffeine tolerance, and playing style. The study aims to determine whether caffeine enhances sustained attention, decision-making, and competitive chess performance during prolonged gameplay. Findings may provide insight into nutritional strategies for cognitive performance optimization in mentally demanding competitive environments.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

12

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

Ubicaciones de estudio

  • Estados Unidos
    • Missouri
      • St Louis, Missouri, Estados Unidos, 63104
        • Saint Louis University
        • Contacto:
        • Investigador principal:
          • Hossein Rafiei, PhD

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

Sí

Descripción

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 disorders
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Current smoking
  • Shift workers
  • Use of psychoactive medications
  • Participation in another clinical trial within the previous 3 months
  • Known allergy or intolerance to milk proteins, dairy products, or soy
  • Known red-green color blindness or other color vision deficiencies that may interfere with Stroop Test performance

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Ciencia básica
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación cruzada
  • Enmascaramiento: Triple

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Comparador activo: Caffeinated Coffee
Participants will consume one serving of 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 completion of cognitive testing and a standardized tournament-style chess game during the experimental visit.
Suplemento dietético: Caffeinated 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.
Comparador de placebos: Decaffeinated Coffee Placebo
Participants will consume one serving of black decaffeinated coffee prepared to match the caffeinated coffee in taste and appearance. The beverage will be consumed approximately 30 minutes before completion of cognitive testing and a standardized tournament-style chess game during the experimental visit.
Suplemento dietético: Decaffeinated 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.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Chess Performance Accuracy
Periodo de tiempo: 30 minutes after beverage consumption through completion of the tournament-style chess game at each experimental visit.
Chess performance accuracy will be assessed using engine-based analysis of tournament-style chess games. The primary reported metric will be average centipawn loss per move, with lower values indicating better chess performance accuracy.
30 minutes after beverage consumption through completion of the tournament-style chess game at each experimental visit.

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Puzzle Rush Correct Responses
Periodo de tiempo: Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
Tactical accuracy will be assessed using the 3-minute Puzzle Rush task on Chess.com. The outcome will be the total number of correctly solved tactical puzzles, with higher scores indicating better tactical accuracy.
Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
Puzzle Rush Response Speed
Periodo de tiempo: Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
Response speed will be assessed using the 3-minute Puzzle Rush task on Chess.com. The outcome will be average response time per puzzle, with lower values indicating faster response speed.
Approximately 30 minutes after beverage consumption at each experimental visit.
Stroop Test Performance
Periodo de tiempo: Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
Selective attention will be assessed using the Stroop Test. The outcome will be the change in Stroop Test completion time from before gameplay to immediately after gameplay, with lower completion time indicating better performance.
Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
Trail Making Test Performance
Periodo de tiempo: Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
Cognitive flexibility and processing speed will be assessed using the Trail Making Test. The outcome will be the change in Trail Making Test completion time from before gameplay to immediately after gameplay, with lower completion time indicating better performance.
Before gameplay and immediately after gameplay at each experimental visit.
Self-Reported Alertness
Periodo de tiempo: Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
Self-reported alertness will be assessed using a study-specific visual analog questionnaire. Higher scores will indicate greater perceived alertness.
Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
Self-Reported Mental Fatigue
Periodo de tiempo: Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
Self-reported mental fatigue will be assessed using a study-specific visual analog questionnaire. Higher scores will indicate greater perceived mental fatigue.
Pre-game and immediately post-game at each experimental visit.
Average Time Per Move
Periodo de tiempo: From the start of the tournament-style chess game until game completion, assessed over approximately 3 to 4 hours at each experimental visit.
Chess time management will be assessed as the average time used per move during each tournament-style chess game. This value will be calculated from the total game time divided by the number of moves completed by the participant.
From the start of the tournament-style chess game until game completion, assessed over approximately 3 to 4 hours at each experimental visit.

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

St. Louis University

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, St. Louis University

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

15 de junio de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

1 de junio de 2027

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

1 de agosto de 2027

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

24 de mayo de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

8 de junio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

11 de junio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

11 de junio de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

8 de junio de 2026

Última verificación

1 de junio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Palabras clave

Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • SLU-CHESS-CAFF-2026

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Descripción del plan IPD

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared because this is a small pilot study involving highly specialized professional chess players, and there is potential risk of participant identification despite de-identification procedures.

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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