Hristos Banikas, a Greek hero

Here is an article about Greek Chess player Hristos Banikas in one of the largest newspapers in Greece (“Kathimerini”) regarding his third position in the 1st World Mind Sports Games held in Beijing.

Greece, one of the superpowers in chess
Lina Giannarou
Oct 09, 2008

The cell phone is turned off continuously. Since setting his foot in China a few days ago, he communicates with friends and relatives in Greece via e-mail. Apart from keeping him in quiet mode – as far as this is possible when you have tough matches in front of you, it is also … cheaper. No, the Greek champions in chess, even when they represent our country in major international tournaments, do not enjoy the amenities of our other «sportsmen», with their cell phones and all their armies of sponsors following them behind. «Not the time for them to start behaving like this too», is perhaps what the State thinks, keeping tight the rein of subsidies to the Greek Chess Federation.

But what is comfort next to talent? And in the 1st World Mind Sport Games held these days in Beijing, Hristos Banikas showed that he has plenty of it. After an exhaustive number of games, the Greek GM won the bronze medal in individual blitz (a form of fast chess – the game lasts 5 minutes), leading Greece to currently fifth place in the medals table under the global superpowers of intellectual sports (Russia, Ukraine, China, Bulgaria).

Exhaustive games

«The games were very difficult since I had to play at the best possible quality in a very short period of time», says to the «K» the 30 year-old Hristos Banikas (via email of course). «Especially when we reached the knock-out round and fought for positions 3 – 4. Lost the first game, but fortunately won the second one leading to tie-breaks which I won and got third place. At the end it was very stressful for both athletes, because a medal is always a medal, both for you personally and for your country. Fortunately everything went well ».

As explained, a blitz tournament is very exciting for the spectators, but exhausting for the players themselves. «The games are too fast and each player is obliged to make the move even in a split of a second. This is attractive for the people watching, but very difficult for us, because a wrong move can be fatal ».

According, however, to those who know, if there is a kind of chess in which talent almost always wins, this is blitz. «There is no doubt», notes to «K» the referee of the World Chess Federation Andreas Kontokanis, «Hristos is one of the biggest talents worldwide. He could be in the world top-20. If of course he was exclusively dedicated to his personal training», he adds. Meaning? «Meaning that he has transferred from Thessaloniki to Filathlitikos Youth Association of Iraklion in Athens to deal with the coaching of young athletes. In Greece, the big players can not live off chess, they need to coach».

«Yes, subsidies from the state are minimal, resulting to even the top players be forced to do training for living», says Secretary General of Greek Chess Federation Mr. Takis Nikolopoulos. Even someone who has been six times Greek Champion, European Champion in Rapid, twice Balkan Champion, a member of the National Greek team since 1996 and holds the title of Grandmaster since 2000.

«I play chess since nine years old», says to «K». «I learned the moves a little earlier, about a year before, from my parents. In 1987, I was written in a children’s library in the municipality of Thessaloniki from where I come, where free chess lessons were given and which I began to follow. So this how it all started. It’s just …». What has changed since then? «In the beginning, I thought that a game is played only in 64 squares. But as the time passed, I began to understand more and more about its complexity and the parameters around the game, psychology, physical condition, the versatility, determination, and knowledge required. This made it even more exciting, more difficult, and even more beautiful. I would strongly suggest to all children to deal with this noble sport. They will not lose».

But the difficult is yet to come in Beijing. In 3 days the team tournament begins, the «main course», as they say. Our team however has our support.

The initial text is here: http://www.ekathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_100043_09/10/2008_287653

Special thanks to Ioannis for the rough translation.