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

8 juni 2026 uppdaterad av: 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.

Studieöversikt

Status

Har inte rekryterat ännu

Betingelser

Intervention / Behandling

Detaljerad beskrivning

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.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

12

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Studieorter

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

  • Vuxen

Tar emot friska volontärer

Ja

Beskrivning

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

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Grundläggande vetenskap
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Crossover tilldelning
  • Maskning: Trippel

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Aktiv komparator: 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.
Kosttillskott: 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.
Placebo-jämförare: 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.
Kosttillskott: 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.

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Chess Performance Accuracy
Tidsram: 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.

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Puzzle Rush Correct Responses
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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
Tidsram: 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.

Samarbetspartners och utredare

Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.

Sponsor

St. Louis University

Utredare

  • Huvudutredare: Hossein Rafiei, PhD, St. Louis University

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Beräknad)

15 juni 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

1 juni 2027

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

1 augusti 2027

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

24 maj 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

8 juni 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

11 juni 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

11 juni 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

8 juni 2026

Senast verifierad

1 juni 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Nyckelord

Ytterligare relevanta MeSH-villkor

Andra studie-ID-nummer

  • SLU-CHESS-CAFF-2026

Plan för individuella deltagardata (IPD)

Planerar du att dela individuella deltagardata (IPD)?

NEJ

IPD-planbeskrivning

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.

Läkemedels- och apparatinformation, studiedokument

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Nej

Studerar en amerikansk FDA-reglerad produktprodukt

Nej

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