An Interview with Wonder Kid Parimarjan Negi !

An Interview with Wonder Kid Parimarjan Negi !

Written by Cyber Chess Guru
Thursday, 07 June 2007

Parimarjan Negi broke the record of Grand Master Harikrishna to become India’s Youngest Grand Master at the age of 12! He shares many important views about his illustrious Chess career, the game that he loves with Cyber Chess! Go ahead and you will easily reason out why 14 year old Parimarjan is an young achiever!!

Cyber Chess ( CC) : Parimarjan you have just tied for first place in a World’s Youth Stars Tournament, a very strong tournament in Russia. Can you tell us more about it ?

Parimarjan Negi : It was a very well organised event, between many strong young players. Almost all the players were from the Russian region — I being the only non Russian speaker in the event.

It was very well fought tournament and there was high climax till the end. I was leading before the last round with Zaven Andriasian, but we both lost, and were joined by Rauf Mamedov and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Nepomniachtchi was first on tie-break. For me it was a good tournament, except the last round, and it was also very important seeing the fact that I hadn’t had fully satisfying performances so far this year.

CC: How do you play chess so well!

Parimarjan Negi : I Just try to put in my best during the games, and of course it’s very important that I’ve had good coaching from the start. My parents have encouraged me from the start, and continue to arrange for the right kind of training for me.

CC: What do you think of computers in chess? Are they really useful especially for a small boy like you.

Parimarjan Negi : Computers are essential for chess, as it now is. There has been a dramatic change with the emergence of ever more powerful computer programs in the game. I think it’s one of the reasons why chess players are performing at much younger ages, as now the information is much more easily available. Everyone can follow the top stars playing live, and other new games. The engines have made the analysis especially quicker and powerful, but it is necessary also to keep using the brain while analysing, as often the computer assessment can be wrong, and also it can be harmful for your game to depend fully on the computer. For me, the computers are the most important tools, as without them it’s impossible to acheive a high level of analysis, and of course to keep myself updated with new games. But of course it’s important not to over-use them also.

Here is the full interview by our friend in India.