I think i can become number 1 in 1-2 years, Azerbaijani grandmaster
Mon 28 December 2009 11:00 GMT
Chess Vibes interviews Vugar Hashimov, Azerbaijani grandmaster.
How do you evaluate your performance in the World Cup 2009?
I was in a bad shape, but nevertheless I managed to qualify to a quarter-final. I think for the first time (it was my first World Cup) my result can be considered acceptable.
Many spectators were surprised when you offered a draw with white to Ponomaryov on move 15.
As I have already said, I was in a bad shape, and the position in which I offered a draw was equal. In principle, I should have won in a rapid tie-break. In the first game I didn’t win with an extra piece. If I had won that game, everything would have been different. But it is already past, now I think about the tournaments which are waiting for me, not about those that have already past.
A very successful for you personally and for the whole Azerbaijan team was the European Team Championship in Novi Sad. What are your impressions?
Impressions are obviously remarkable. Everybody expected the Azeri national team to win somewhere, as we were getting stronger and stronger every year. Starting from 2001, every year the average rating of the team was increasing. The appearance of Zurab Azmaiparashvili in the team helped us to play as a real team, what immediately led to the result.
The tournament was successful for me personally too. I performed well and additionally I won to Stellwagen one of the most important games in my career.
It was a very long and tensed game, but it looked like Stellwagen could have escaped for a draw. What were your thoughts in the end of that game, when you stayed alone at the battlefield?
More or less at the moment when I stayed alone, Russia finished their match 2-2. It became clear for me that my victory would bring gold medals for the national team of Azerbaijan. It is very difficult to play in such moments due to the pressure of responsibility. But I played very well until some point and I got a winning position. Then I made a mistake. Since that moment Stellwagen defended very well, he played all best moves, but it seems he got tired from suffering, as I was creating him problems with every move. I was waiting for a mistake, it happened in the end and I used it. I think everything was quite logical, the national team of Azerbaijan played against almost all strong opponents and was leading from the first round.
End of the game, end of the round, end of the championship, and a huge happiness inside the team, but I think in the whole Azerbaijan as well. Is chess popular in your country?
Chess are very popular in Azerbaijan. Indeed, we have huge chess traditions, Kasparov was born and became the world champion in Baku. The victory in the European Team Championship has made chess even more popular.
Here is the full interview.
#1 in the world?? he must be smoking the first four letters of his name
WoW Susan the top guys are so strong do u think i can manage a draw as Black vs. theses GENIUSES?
hmph….I don’t even think he can become #10 good luck though
#1 in the world?? he must be smoking the first four letters of his name
haha.. that was very funny.
How can u be no. 1 if u hv never consistently beaten the world’s top 5?
He offered a draw on move 15? I don’t like that.
#1 In the world? hmm… He is #1 in overconfidence for sure. He shouldn’t even be where he is right now! Rajabov and Shak from his country are much more talanted.
Why such hostility towards Gashimov. Of course he wants to be #1. Who doesn’t? And he has every right to set himself such high goal. What would you think of him if he said that he just wants to be top 10 or something like that?
By the way Nakamura, who is much lower than Gashimov also said that his goal is #1. I didn’t see you all atacking him for that.
Anon @ 12:41, it is a big difference if you WANT to become #1 or you THINK you have the capability to, so in some way the remarks here are well justified. While I do not think Gashimov will be topping the rating list ever he sure is a very strong player that needs to be reckoned with…
Beelze
Well I think Vugar is the most talented azeri player. But number 1in world is another story. On the other hand I thing it is quite normal for a Top10-player to aim at the highst point.
And just btw … a number one who plays the Dragon and the Benoni on a regular basis … this is really not bad at all! 😉
Go on with that and Good Luck !
He’s quite modest chap, no 1 in the world. not now, but in 1 or 2 years. Suuuurrrreeeee.
Is he not No.7 in the world right now?
2 years ago Gashimov was a “nobody”, now he is number 7 on the world. Why is it so hard to imagine that he might be #1 in 2 years? Have you all fallen into Carlsen hype? There are others who can play excellent chess too, you know, and there are absolutely no guarantees that Carlsen will be #1 for long.
I have heard of Gashimov some years ago. Do you really think this guy doesn’t have a history? Even he had to work for it. Yes, he might be 7 now, but the problem are those 6 above him. They won’t be too bad in 2 years time. And few of them are even younger than him. He might aim for a top 5 in an interview like this, not 1, thát makes it laughable.
Lets say that two years ago he would say “in two years I want to be top 10 in the world”. I bet you reactions would be the same as today.
But he did it anyway. I don’t see a reason why he couoldn’t be #1 in 2 years. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t, but I find it absolutely not laughable if any of the top 10 player says that he wants to become #1 in 2 years time.
I personally have no beef with the GM, but I do not see him surpassing Magnus Carlsen who is Number 1.
At the present time, Carlsen spend exactly the same ammount of time as #1 as I have. Carlsen’s highest rank to date has been “only” #2.