Experience is very important in such tournaments

Nikita VITYUGOV: “THERE WAS A SERIOUS GROUND OF MY DEFEAT”

The Russian chess player Nikita Vityugov was knocked out in Round 3 by Sergey Karjakin. He gave a press conference about his performance in the World Cup.

• My second knock out tournament was more successful than the first, – shared his impression Nikita. – But my last match against Karjakin was inaccurately played. I learnt a lesson. The position with two bishops seemed to me promising, but Sergey calculated it more thoroughly and deserved a victory. After a while he showed a way to make a draw, but I did not notice it. Generally, it is my fault.

• Did you feel that Karjakin is stronger than you so far?

• This question has no answer. Yes, Sergey won one game. But ok, if to take into consideration the facts, this is clear that his rating and achievements are higher. I can say the following: there was a serious ground of my defeat.

• How far did you expect to go?

• At home I was preparing only for my opponent in Round 1. I thought I will act accordingly in case I go to Round 2.

• Why did none of the Russian chess players manage to come to the finals?

• It is hard to answer on behalf of all my colleagues. Personally I will continue working on myself and on my game. In principle it is pity that none of us could do it in the World Cup. There are a lot of chess players in Russia. Therefore the young players should show really high results to be noticed. On the other hand you can develop faster under the competition conditions.

• The 16 years old Wesley So became a sensation of the World Cup…

• He did not still manage to fight for the Cup. The experience is very important in such tournaments. It is not a surprise that the professional experienced Grandmasters are fighting in the finals.

• Tell us who was helping you during your chess career?

• I had a lot of coaches. I don’t want to single out any of them. I read the series of book of Victor Korchnoi. I liked the phrase there: “I was not a wunderkind. I was learning chess with difficulty.” This is about me.

• What is the situation in the St. Petersburg Chess Federation after the leadership was changed?