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

8 de junho de 2026 atualizado 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.

Visão geral do estudo

Status

Ainda não está recrutando

Condições

Intervenção / Tratamento

Descrição detalhada

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 estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

12

Estágio

  • Não aplicável

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

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

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Descrição

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

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Ciência básica
  • Alocação: Randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição cruzada
  • Mascaramento: Triplo

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Comparador Ativo: 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 Placebo: 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.

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Chess Performance Accuracy
Prazo: 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 resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Puzzle Rush Correct Responses
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

St. Louis University

Investigadores

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

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

15 de junho de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de junho de 2027

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de agosto de 2027

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

24 de maio de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

8 de junho de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

11 de junho de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

11 de junho de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

8 de junho de 2026

Última verificação

1 de junho de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Palavras-chave

Termos MeSH relevantes adicionais

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • SLU-CHESS-CAFF-2026

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Descrição do plano 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.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .

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