Nothing disturbs me here. It is a INTERVIEW/ unique tournament. Not many tour- naments do we get these kind of conditions. The hotel is fantastic and the place is interesting. It is 'I am not afraid the only tournament in the world where you can play blindfold. This year they reduced the of Kasparov' appearance fee and added the prize money. Did you like it? ARVIND AARON This favours those in the top. So, I don't complain of course! It is not WILL be playing in room, past midnight. Excerpts: a bad idea. It creates more fighting Kazakhstan, I have no reason Question: Congratulations. You spirit. to be afraid of him," said the have won this tournament for Do you think they tried this Braingames world champion the fourth time. Any difference in because there were many draws last Vladimir Kramnik while counter- your approach as well as your year? ing the argument put forth by No. 1 new status as (Braingames) world I don't remember the games ranked after win- champion? played last year. It is possible. ning the Linares tournament earlier Answer: Now I feel that I have FIDE had a World Cup of Rapid in March. more responsibility. It is more diffi- Chess. Do you think they should Kramnik, 25, was the joint-win- cult to play. Of course in about a let it clash with this tournament? ner of the Amber . year you get used to it. You will know In the World Cup it will be bet- He had won the tournament in how to do it and gain some experi- ter if everybody played from the top. 1996, 1998 (jointly) and 1999 and ence. Somehow I feel I have more May be they had scheduling prob- his fourth title now makes him the fighting spirit nowadays than before. lems and could not change it. There winner on most occasions. May be I am not in good'Shape as the organiser was the French Chess Kramnik, who did the seeming- I was for the match. I prepared for Federation. For me, more tourna- ly impossible in November 2000, is so long for the match that my chess ments, the better. Of course you perfect with his English today. was not the best here but my fight- can't play them all. Having maintained the same frame ing spirit helped and it was okay. I Do you play league games, like with which he defeated Kasparov was fighting most games till the very the Bundesliga? in London, Kramnik has now got end. I prefer normal tournaments, back his favourite habit: smoking What's your programme for the not the German one. I play in the and drinking. Kramnik is a busy per- rest of the year? Spanish league. I played in the last son these days giving scores of I am going to play in an exhi- two years but this year I am not interviews. But his company of bition tournament at Zurich sure if I would play. Our team friends and with those whom he commemorating the 70th birthday became champions last year. In played cards at the nights remains of . It is more like Germany where you play during the the same: Karpov and Gelfand. a show and rapid chess. Then I would weekends (home and away). In Until last year Kramnik did not like to play in Kazakhstan if the tour- we play nine games in one carry a mobile phone. As a cham- nament takes place. Then probably venue and it's over. We had big plans pion, he now does and is busy in Frankfurt in June. I haven't signed in Spain and to fight for the receiving several calls a day, even the agreement yet but probably it European Club title. I played for between his two games at Monte will happen. In July, Dortmund for Las Palmas and the President of Carlo. During this interview he sure. the Club is my friend. received a call and told this writer Which was your best game in How did you like India and your that it was from , for- this tournament and which was the experience there? mer world chess champion. most difficult match? I did not have much experience Kramnik, given the same pro- I liked the game I played against because I was mostly in the hotel tocol as Anand as world champion Ivanchuk. It was a positional game during the event in New Delhi. The in the western circuit, has turned which I won. Also the game against day after I lost to Adams, I left. India in a super performance for his fourth Gelfand when I played with white is a fascinating country and I like title at Monte Carlo. He has turned pieces. I managed to win the to see more of it some time in future. this event his own after making a endgame which was not so easy. I Silvio's (trainer ) wife historic impression at Dortmund played very well against Leko with went to Taj Mahal but we did not over the years. black. It was a winning position go. I was concentrating on the tour- Immediately after the victory and but probably due to tiredness I could nament. Of course I would love to the closing dinner, Kramnik spoke not win. Some games I did not play be there again. in his first interview at the press- well and some I played very well in

74 The Sportstar April 21,2001 this tournament. You had a 2-0 score against 1 Shirov. Did you beat him at I the board or in your mind? Now I don't have any- thing against him. We played chess. I don't come to the board to beat him because of something. His results against me have started to be poor. It was the other way round before. In serious (Elo rating games) chess, I think I have 4.5/5 in the last five games. There is nothing there. You received two points: Shirov blundered his , Gelfand blundered the . Were these your easy points here? How do you see the blindfold blunders this time? With Gelfand it did not matter because I was already winning at that point. Against Shirov, yes, it was some kind of a gift. But it hap- pens in blindfold. Normally I play the blindfold quite well. I don't . Very rarely. Okay, you get tired and it hap- pens. For me it is easier to play blindfold. If it is difficult to see a position in blindfold, then you start to blunder. For me it is not tiring at all. In a second I get the exact posi- tion in my mind. It was a bit too many blunders this year, but I don't know the reasons. Kasparov had said in Linares that Anand and you are avoiding him. Your response? Okay, it is a usual media statement. I would say he is also avoiding us. He didn't play here say these because I know it is non- offered more money to play at the and he refused to play in Dortmund sense. same time I will choose this one. I where also Anand and I will play. In your closing speech you said like it here, the atmosphere, the peo- So (laughs), I have the right to say if there is any other tournament ple. I think they will organise the the same. In fact it is nonsense. It clashing with the Amber tourna- tournament in Cannes but it would is purely my decision whether to ment, you will prefer to play here. be better if there is no clash in dates. play in a tournament or not. If I Did you keep the tournament (FIDE How useful was having Miguel am playing, I don't care who else World Cup of Rapid Chess) in Illescas as your second in a rapid is there. If Kasparov is playing good, Cannes in mind, while saying this? and blindfold tournament? I am not avoiding him. I will be play- In a way, yes. I believe it is impor- Illescas is not exactly like a sec- ing in Kazakhstan (in May 2001). tant to keep traditions in chess. This ond here. He is here as my friend. I have no reason to be afraid of (Amber) is a traditional tourna- You gave the skip to Linares. Did him. Unfortunately he likes these ment, and I believe everybody is it help you? kind of statements. Normally I don't fully satisfied to play. Even if I am Not really. Because I had many

April 21,2001 TheSportstar 75 other engagements. I was not phys- announce. Believe me, something ically very well prepared. I played big will come from them probably some simultaneous games and some in one month's time. meetings in France. It was like 10 How do you take the news from days before the tournament. I was FIDE Commerce about the Grand not completely fresh. But that was Prix cycle they are going to organ- my own problem! ise? It will be eight tournaments in What do you like to say about a year. If it happens will you par- Veselin's performance this time? ticipate? Did they approach you on He played very well. He was the this? best player here. May be I won more Yes, of course I would partici- with class and experience but pate. What I don't like about FIDE Veselin was the best. I really liked is that they don't seem to have a the way he played here. For a cou- concrete plan. They had earlier ple of years he was showing average announced things but nothing hap- results. He is definitely a top play- pened. They announced the Grand er. That is for sure. For some reason Prix. Show me what's it like? Where? he couldn't realise his strength. Now How much money? It should be he is really coming back. I like the clear on paper. Not in the newspa- way he does it... very serious chess per! (laughs). It must carry Inland Postal Subscription Rates player. signatures of sponsors, guarantees Quarterly Rs. 98/- 13 Issues Did the change - of Leko and etc. They made an announcement Half Yearly Rs. 195/- 26 Issues Almasi replacing Lautier and that I will play against Vishy. They Annual Rs. 390/- 52 Issues Nikolic - make any difference to announced the Grand Prix. Nothing is happening. So, I like to look at Overseas Subscription Rates (Annual) the tournament this year? Well, it made the tournament the facts and respond. The idea to By Air Mail stronger. Each year this tournament do something is good. If they do it, Pakistan US $ 70 is getting stronger and stronger. It of course I will play. Other countries US $ 90 or Br £ 58 is difficult for us to show the same Did you get to meet the FIDE By Sea Mail results every year. President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in Pakistan US $ 24 Then are you saying the 15 points this hotel? Other countries US $ 40 or Br £ 2 6 scored by you this time is much No. I did not even know that he more than the 15 points scored by was here. I did not see him and Write to: Alexei (Shirov) last year? they (FIDE officials) did not con- The Circulation Manager, The Sportstar, Yes, you may say so. Also in tact me. 359-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002 19941 scored plus 10 (16/22) actu- How is the response in Russia ally. It was only enough for second these days? Are you an idol, like place because Vishy scored 17. Okay, the best in any other sport would because we are talking about a be? much weaker tournament then. Actually I don't care much about Now it is a really top tournament. it. There are some positive improve- What about your games against ments in Russian chess for the last Anand? Both of you being cham- several months. I think soon there pions is there more pressure on each will be some new tournaments in of you? Russia. Some people are interested to This tournament has now com- see such a match. For me, it is the pleted a decade of organisation. same. I take it very easily. Okay, I Being a four-time winner what is could win 1.5-0.5 here. He could the most memorable thing you car- also win. It is just a game. I think ry from Monaco when you go back we live in a time where there is no to Moscow? rivalry. We are normal people. Vishy I am a professional. The most and I, I mean. We just play chess, memorable thing I carry is my nothing else. result. If I play any tournament, I Any news fromBraingame s about want to win the tournament. I a possible chess cycle? would love to come here very much, I have to say that they are now every year, and whatever happens very active. I do not want to leak I will be here. any information before they

76 Tie Sportstar April 21,2001