Ruslan is like Karpov …

Boris GELFAND: “RUSLAN IS LIKE KARPOV IN A WAY…”

The third game and again draw. This time the finalists of the World Cup noted that today’s game was the most interesting game of their final match.

• B.G.: Today’s game is the most interesting in the match. After each move we had an interesting possible development. My situation became crucial after I blundered 20.Rb5-d5. It is hard to say if my opponent had a winning chance or not. But the fact is that I had to face real troubles.

• R.P.: I did not see an obvious way to get an advantage. Moreover we were in a time trouble in the endgame. We started with the rare opening: the Slavic defense was gradually moved to Grunfeld defense. I mean that my opponent chose not interesting but secure variation of defense. We spent a lot of time for that.

• Boris, were you surprised that the game was drawn?

• B.G.: No, but I found it wise to agree with my opponent who recorded a three times repetition of our position. At one point Ruslan was thinking for too long. It became clear for me that my opponent does not see a clear way to win. Though I also did not see any chance for him to get an advantage.

• Ruslan, are you happy with the game result?

• R.P.: Of course I wish I could win. However I am happy that I did not lose, – smiles the Ukrainian chess player. – In the rapid chess every move is incomparably more valuable; you try to play more carefully.

• It was an impression that after the opening the white pieces did not get any advantage. Is it true?

• B.G.: Most probably it is. I should analyze my game in details.

• Ruslan, do you think you had an initiative during the game?

• R.P.: I can’t say that I was trying to press my opponent from the very opening. When I played 4.Qc2, I received a slight advantage. But from the first moves our game was not standard and that is why it was very interesting. Let us see what happens tomorrow…

• Boris, in one time you played against Karpov. Can you say that Ruslan’s style is similar to the style of Anatoly Evgenievich who was able to get an advantage in an unpretentious positions?

B.G.: Ruslan is a very strong chess player. They are much alike from this point of view. But I admit: today my opponent showed something of Karpov. Though chess is universal now. You should know a lot to reach high results. I am sure that Ponomariov plays on a very high level no matter what position he has.

http://www.ugra-chess.ru/eng/interv_52.htm