As Told
By Others.
Poison Pawn has been covered by the world's most recognized sports and performance publications.
In The Press.
C.J. Stroud: From Overshadowed to Ohio State Star, Thanks to Talent, Chess
The piece that put Poison Pawn on the map — detailing how chess-based decision training transformed one of the most watched quarterbacks in the country.
Read the Full Story →How a Chess Guru Became a Trendy Mental Coach for Rising NFL Quarterbacks
A deep look at how Seth Makowsky built a system that is quietly changing how the best quarterbacks in football prepare.
Read More →Seth Makowsky takes quarterbacks’ thinking from checkers to chess
A look at how Makowsky uses chess to sharpen quarterbacks’ processing, patience, and decision-making before the pressure arrives on the field.
Read More →Makowsky teaching Olympians how to make right moves
Reuters follows Makowsky’s work with Olympic athletes and the way chess-based training builds composure, pattern recognition, and better decisions under pressure.
Read More →The Quarterback Mind
Poison Pawn is featured as part of Game Plan: The Strategy of Chess & Sports — an exhibition at the World Chess Hall of Fame exploring the intersection of chess, decision-making, and elite performance. The exhibit features the NFL quarterbacks, Olympic athletes, and championship programs that have trained through the system.
View the Exhibition →
ESPN's feature on Poison Pawn and the philosophy behind training performers to think clearly when the board, the clock, and the pressure all change at once.