Around 1920 there was a Soviet study of chess masters that revealed 16 skills and strengths that the master possessed to a high degree:<br><br>
1) A good reserve of physical strength and good general health<br>
2) Strong nerves<br>
3) Self-control<br>
4) Ability to distribute attention over many factors<br>
5) Ability to perceive dynamic relationships<br>
6) A contemplative turn of mind<br>
7) A high level of intellectual development<br>
8) Ability to think objectively<br>
9) Ability to think concretely<br>
10) A powerful memory for chess matters<br>
11) Powers of synthetical thought and imagination<br>
12) Conbinative ability<br>
13) A disciplined will<br>
14) A highly active intellect<br>
15) Disciplined emotions<br>
16) Self-confidence<br><br>
This list from Garry Kasparov's <i>Child of Change</i>
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