Chess, Cognitive Development and Mental Health – A Literature Review on the Occasion of the 23rd Polish Physicians’ Chess Championship

<ns3:p>The article presents a review of current literature on the impact of playing chess on cognitive development and mental health, framed in the context of the 23rd Polish Doctors’ Chess Championship. It summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of chess training on the cognitive abilities of children, seniors, and psychiatric patients. It highlights specific benefits of practicing the royal game for these groups – in children, chess supports the development of executive functions, concentration, working memory, as well as mathematical and language skills. In older adults, regular chess playing may reduce the risk of dementia, improve quality of life, and slow cognitive aging processes. In psychiatry, chess training can be used as a supportive tool in the treatment of ADHD and psychotic disorders, although the number of studies in this area remains limited</ns3:p>