He was obsessed with proving to himself that he wasn't aging uncontrollably and that he still had some hope for his future. It's an existential problem he is ar

He was obsessed with proving to himself that he wasn't aging uncontrollably and that he still had some hope for his future. It's an existential problem he is articulating, not a literal problem with beating his daughter in chess. He also has a very small window to still beat her before it never happens again because she will simply be too strong. Which is the story of every young chess player playing their parents.