At the last day of the Championship a most expected guest – 5 time World Champion, without exaggeration, the most famous chess player Maya Chiburdanidze visited the press-centre. And one more time she pleased us with her inexhaustible optimism, wisdom and charm.
– Maya Grigoryevna, please tell us about your impressions of the Championship.
– Finally we got the fourth prize. To tell the truth, we expected a better result. Well, we realized that it wouldn’t be the first , that there are much stronger players but we hoped to be the third…(laughing)
– What can you say about the great Georgian school? Where is it? Can we hope that it will revive?
– Yes, certainly. We are upbringing new talented chess players; the generations have changed and it’s always a difficult process. I have a feeling that China picked up the slack; they have the results the Soviet chess players displayed.
– What can you say about Chinese chess in general?
– They have the right approach. There’s a wonderful chess centre in the capital, in different regions there are boarding schools which select the best children which start to learn in the centre. There they form the best chess players. There are the best coaches working there, they renovate programmes, technical equipment. In our country it’s more difficult because there are a lot of economical and political problems which always influence sports. Especially if it concerns professional sports.
– What can you say about the Chinese players which are in fact already Champions? Is it the superior mastership?
– I like the way they play. Endurance, character. But I cannot say that it is something special or phenomenon. Not at all. Trust me, it’s a result of long, exhausting trainings. Although young Hou Yifan is really very talented. But at the same time I wouldn’t compare her with Judit Polgar. And in general – motivation, discipline, and the ability to concentrate – these are the best features of Chinese chess.
– Were you pleased with the result of match with China?
– Of course! I think Russia could have achieved a different result in the match with China as well.
– You are a constant participant of the super tournament “North Urals Cup”. Are you going to visit Krasnoturinsk this year?
– If they invite me, I’ll come with great pleasure. I like your region, amazing, beautiful, holy places. Sometimes I even joke that I visit my native town Kutaisy more rarely than Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region. As for the super tournament in Krasnoturinsk I’m very grateful to the organizers and personally to Andrey Selivanov who developed such a chess movement in the Urals. The atmosphere at the tournament is always unique, friendly; I have never seen anything similar before. Many players are eager to take part in this tournament and I am among them also because this year we’ll have the fifth jubilee “North Urals Cup”. It must be unforgettable.
– How is it like to play with those who learnt chess analysing your games?
– It’s interesting. Well, I play with ladies who are 20-25 years my younger and to tell the truth, it’s hard to find an incentive to strive for this, but in general it’s interesting. Moreover, they need to get experience, become stronger, to play more opponents of different level.
– How often do you use computer?
– Three years ago I didn’t use it at all. Now I have to do it, although not too often. I still prefer old “father’s” means of training – books, coaches, playing yourself.
– So it means that at home you don’t train using the computer as everybody else does?
– I don’t go in for chess too much at all… (laughing)
– Would you like to become a coach? Many players want to be your pupils…..
– I cannot do much myself yet, that’s why I still keep on learning…
You can read many more excellent interviews here.
Very nice.
I have always admired Maia and enjoyed reading her love for chess and life!
Very nice interview with Chiburdanidze. I found it interesting when she was describing China and how it brings up new players with special training for talented players.
It is a shame that the US cannot provide this service to our talented youth so that we can develop really well known players which would bring media attention to the sport.
She is a legend. An interesting tidbit – Chiburdanidze and Xu had competed for world champion, but their relationship is quite different than Topalov and Kramink. They spend time visiting each other during Christmas times.