When I made my comments in the past about young female players should concentrate more on being the best chess players they can possibly be instead of being distracted by other activities, I was accused of being jealous. It is amazing how some people always see things in black.
I achieved everything I could ever dream of from Olympic Gold Medals, World Championships in Blitz, Rapid and Classical Chess, #1 ranking in the world to breaking countless barriers in chess. This was in spite of countless road blocks in my career. The secret is simple: I made big sacrifices to be the best player I could be instead of making movies, chess promotion or other side activities that could distract me from my chess.
Today, I will share with you a letter from another legendary female athlete: Chris Evert! She wrote this to Serena Williams. I hope the young talented female chess players out there can learn from Chris. Humpy Koneru seems to be following this advice and that’s why she’s the #2 active female player in the world. Here are some excerpts:
Dear Serena,
I’ve been thinking about your career, and something is troubling me. I appreciate that becoming a well-rounded person is important to you, as you’ve made that desire very clear. Still, a question lingers – do you ever consider about your place in history? Is it something you care about? In the short term you may be happy with the various things going on in your life, but I wonder whether 20 years from now you might reflect on your career and regret not putting 100 percent into tennis. Because whether you want to admit it or not, these distractions are tarnishing your legacy.
Just a couple of years ago, when you were fully committed to the game, you showed the athleticism, shot-making, and competitive desire to become the greatest player ever. Many besides myself shared the same sentiment. You won five of the six Grand Slams you entered over the 2002 and 2003 seasons and looked utterly dominant in the process. Then you got sidetracked with injuries, pet projects, and indifference and have won only one major in the last seven you’ve played.
I find those results hard to fathom. You’re simply too good not to be winning two Grand Slam titles a year. You’re still only 24, well in your prime. These are crucial years that you’ll never get back. Why not dedicate yourself entirely for the next five years and see what you can achieve?
Perhaps the reason I feel so strongly about this is because I wasn’t blessed with the physical gifts you possess. I know that the lifespan of an athlete’s greatness is brief and should be exploited. Once you get to No. 1 in the world and start winning major titles, you should see how far you can take it. You’ve become very good at many things, but how many people would trade that to be great at just one thing? I don’t see how acting and designing clothes can compare with the pride of being the best tennis player in the world. Your other accomplishments just can’t measure up to what you can do with a racquet in your hand.
Ironically, I believe that if you fulfill your potential on the tennis court, all your other endeavors will become that much easier to pursue. You could become the most famous athlete in the world. Every magazine will want you on its cover and any door you wish to walk through will be wide open. When I was playing, I always knew there would be time to get married, have children, do TV commentating, and even coach if I wanted. I assure you there will be time for you to chase all your dreams once you’re through with tennis. I offer you this only as advice, not criticism, from someone with experience…
(The rest can be seen in the May 2006 issue of Tennis Magazine).
Chris Evert 
I agree with you. Too many of the young guns today only think about having fun, fame and fortune instead of concentrating about their chess.
I want fame and fortune for themselves while claiming they’re doing it for chess. Who are we kidding? What role model do we give to younger girls posing naked for some men’s magazine or appear on Penthouse?
What the hell is Vice World Champion? It means that you lost. You didn’t win. You were not the best.
Vladimir is right on. Appearing on Penthouse has nothing to do with promoting chess, especially for young players or girls. This is purely about personal ego, money and fame for some players.
A very good article and comments as usual! Thanks!
imagine – ‘u are young – ‘u are cute – ‘u are female … and ‘u are one of the most talented chess players around …
why not be a role model for penthouse? (some 100,000 $)
by which reason ‘u need to become “female world champion”? are there any distinctions drawn between male and female chess players? why not change a “disprofit into profit”? (some 100,000 $)
and what the heck is fame, compared with money? carl schlechter died of starvation and alexander aljechin by suicide (most probably poverty-stricken)
it was Botvinnik – as i remember – who said: “what the heck is a world champion? simply someone, winning a world championship tournament, nothing else!”
no jump to conclusions please!
and by the way – i like Hefner’s magazine … and i like chess – i can not see any contradictions in terms 🙂
i’m a male patzer – sincerly,
your Vohaul
Isn’t it Gallamova #2 player in the world?
When counting ratings for the womans world championship, why are womens games against men counted, too? Some women don’t play with men at all. Only women against women should count, and then make the rankings by rating.
I see many count the best players using numbers (elo) only? Is a 2500 player really much better than a 2450 player, or at least better for sure, so he can win or draw every match if played?
What are you talking about?
Well said! I agree with you 100%. Chrissie and Susan are classy champions!
Chris Evert won 1,309 matches in her carreer. How many chess games have you won so far, do you or another keep track?
That’s a great idea! To rank players by the numbers of games they won, not by elo! Who would be #1 in the world then? Veselin still? Or Korchnoy?
Ironic! When I read this advice to Serena Williams– a world #1 who doesn’t compete so often anymore– I thought it could also apply to Susan Polgar, a world #1 who doesn’t compete anymore.
Maybe Serena (like Ms. Polgar) has also achieved everything she could ever dream of. Certainly both of those two have nothing at all left to prove in their respective fields. I would wish Ms. Williams well in her non-competitive pursuits, just as i would wish the best for Ms. Polgar’s foundation, DVD series, books, etc. Good for both of them!
Chess is a small slice of life, not the whole pie!
Peace out!
Competitive tennis is not like chess. Imagine Korchnoy playing tennis for the Grand Slam. Chris Evert may be wrong with the life span of athletes, if chess players are athletes, too? Are they? Tennis training is so much harder than chess, you have to stop exausting your body someday. Not like chess, where hard work somehow doesn’t leave almost any physical or mental consequences. Maybe Serena got some muscle defect and cannot play any more? I worship the woman chess players who play and play, knowing they can never reach the rating of Judit. They all must really like the game so much.
Tennis is only knockout tournaments. We can’t be really sure if the best player always won. When two of same strength meet, one must lose. It’s played until exaustion in some matches. It’s so different a sport. Mrs. Evert’s advice must be great from a world champions point of seeing, that few can understand.
lol..susan found this article too..
this article has been already widely discussed in the tennis world and found many supporters and critics too…
Patrick, I don’t agree with you that Ms Polgar stopped playing chess!! What about that world record breaking simul? How many hundreds of games there? And the promotionary games? We have to count it all. She just never stops aiming for the top, even when she has reached it so many times! What will be next?
Patrick, Susan is 37 years old, past her prime. She’s also a Mom. She wasn’t sidetracked when she was in her prime.
Serena has not achieved anything close to what Susan has accomplished. The comparison is incorrect.
The even more amazing part of some is that they can do both. Look at Alexandra Kosteniuk. She’s made movies, is a model and still plays world class chess.
And what did Kosteniuk win? She lost in the final in 2001 and performed worst in the last 2 world championships. Maybe if she hits the books more, she may get back to final. What a joke! People like Kosteniuk gives chess a bad name, just like Kournikova for tennis.
Kosteniuk? A big joke! What a waste of talent. She could have been good. But her personal ego is bigger than her chess. I’m sure her husband is proud of her being in Penthouse. What a good role model for other Russian girls to follow. I’m Russian and I think she’s a joke. Kosintseva sisters are more talented.
I can’t believe the ego of some of these fans. What Susan said is if you spend more time studying chess instead of other pet projects, there’s a good chance you can maximize your potential. This makes sense to me. Just grow up.
Alexandra lost in the 3rd round of the women’s world championship. Stop embarrassing her by comparing her to legends like Chibu, Gaprindashvili, Susan or Xie Jun. Let Sasha win a few world championships before you should speak.
This blog is not about Kosteniuk or any specific female player. Please respect all players.
Thank you!
Blog Admin
Ms Polgar talked about herself as the model of virtues, as she always does, by the way! Ms polgar sees herself as the good example all the female chess players should follow. Just pay attention to every word she writes: she shows such a moral arrogance, such a narcisist side that it sounds funny every time she talks about the”other” girls. It’s hard to find someone so full of herself! And though she never assumes she talks about Kosteniuk when she brags herself about her wonderful achievements “instead of making movies, chess promotion or other side activities” well… isn’t this Kosteniuk portrait?? Why not saying it??? Kosteniuk shows that it is possible to do lots of other things besides chess AND still be the 3rd stronger woman in the world. Ms Polgar, you should not talk like that about good players just because they have side activities. And stop talking about yourself as the right one. Remember: you can also be considered a flop, if we look at you with the same standards we use to your sister Judit! Well, you had the same training, the same method, why is she one of the 10 strongest players in the world and you are far away than that? Was the method bad, after all, or you simply have no big talent despite the array of virtues you talk about? Think about this.
Funny that Sonia is steamed because Kosteniuk failed to win the world championship. Maybe if she stops spending time for Penthouse and concentrate on her chess, she may be lucky enough to win a world championship before she quits chess. Grow up Sonia, you sound like her jealous lover. lol
Can someone stop mentioning about Kosteniuk? It makes me sick. She hasn’t accomplished much in chess at all beside hot air. Geeesh! She’s truly the Kournikova of chess, someone who couldn’t win the big one.
I’m Russian also and I also thing T. Konsintseva is more talented. I also admire Koneru. I put Kosteniuk #5 in talent.
Sonia,
I don’t know why you have such a hang up about Kosteniuk. Perhaps you feel that Alexandra needs more publicity?
For the last time, I am not even talking about Kosteniuk. If you want to discuss about Kosteniuk, please go to her site. Thanks!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org
I think Sonia is really Diego in disguise 🙂
Sonia, someone who is as rude and disrespectful as you are, should not talk about arroggance. There is a proverb that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. With all due respect, don’t be a hypocrite.
As for Susan Polgar, she needs to prove nothing. When you have got to the top of your field, you are able to talk with authority because of respect that you have earned. Susan talks with authority, and can because she has worked hard and grafted to get to where she is today….if you don’t know where that is, then her biography on her website can enlighten you. Whether you like what she says, agree with it, or not, you can not hide the fact that her achievements in chess speak for themselves.
If you (wrongly as GM Polgar has already pointed out) put Alexandra’s name to comments of Susan’s, then it is quite ironic that you put the cap on her head that you are actually attacking Susan for doing.
As for GM Kosteniuk, if I were her (or a fan) I would find it flattering if a GM with Susan’s record would find her worthy to take her time in advising her that she was wasting her potential and could be a very special chess player if she focussed on her chess instead of distractions. Just as I would if I was Serena Williams with Ms Everts letter. Someone taking their time to do something like that, well that is worth a lot.
It seems that her fans don’t appreciate it, I hope Alexandra would set them a better example, and respond more fittingly.
——
PS — As a further thought, if we want to answer the question of why female chessplayers get distracted from chess to pursue modelling and ego, then might I suggest chessbase as a fine example. With the European championships going on, (and being at round 7) all they can do is post photo’s of the female chess players. Thanks for the link to Chess Gateway Susan, round by round reports of it there!
Is this blogger called Vladimir actually Vladimir Kramnik ? 🙂
This Sonia Fernandes seems to be a lunatic madly in love in Kosteniuk
Chris Evert makes some excellent points however no one, save the competitor, can determine whether the personal sacrifices are worth the success on the court or the chess board. It is true that many promising talents fail to achieve their full potential due to the a lack of dedication. Others, such as Mohammed Ali pay a terrible price by shortchanging their personal lives so as to stay in the limelight to set just one more record, win one more match or to cash just one more big check.
While I applaud those who keep their eye on the prize I cannot condemn those who choose another path.
Javier, according to Doctor Marinelli, who has conducted a research on the men’s primes – a chess player can reach his prime until 40 years of age. After that, anything else will do well.
Sonia Fernandes said… “…we look at you with the same standards we use to your sister Judit! Well, you had the same training, the same method, why is she one of the 10 strongest players in the world…?
Sonia, Judit is at the top because she was taught by Susan. Susan was not. You should read ANY book on birth order. Not to mention the non-chess related pioneering Susan did .
Patrick:
Serena has not achieved one tenth as much as Susan. She is not even in the top ten in the history of women’s tennis. At least Monica Seles has a reason that derailed her from becoming the greatest tennis player in history, What is Serena’s?
what is this comparing the accomplishments of S. Polgar with those of Serena Williams????
The comparison is faulty. Women’s tennis is more competitive and more lucrative ($$) than women’s chess. Not to mention the injury, bodily strain, public pressure, and media spotlight. So being world #1 in tennis is quite more impressive (also burdensome) than #1 in chess. (IN MY OPINION)
But you are missing the bigger point: who are we to tell Serena Williams that she has not accomplished enough in tennis? I would be ashamed to say such a thing. Serena is better at tennis than I (or you, unless you become world #1) will ever be at anything.
Some humility is in order. Maybe if we turn off the computer, we could become 1/100th as accomplished as either Susan or Serena.
Patrick, your whole post compared Susan with Serena.
Serena’s accomplishments cannot be equated to susan’s inside or outside their chosen field.
If you had stuck to the point that you feel is the big picture I would say it is certainly a point well worthy of discussion.
Who is Sonia Fernandes? Why does she post here? She should be on another site worshiping her vice champion idol.
Speaking of vice-champion, how stupid is that? It’s nothing more than runner up, loser, failure.
Vohaul if you dont know the difference between money and World Champion you have serious moral value issues. If the majority of Chess World Champions motivation to play competitive chess was just for the money none would have played! To be Champion in any sport takes discipline, courage, hard work, sacrifice, talent, a competitive hunger to be the best, an iron will, and lastly pride in the game you play, in yourself, and your peers who went before you.
Sergei,
You sound like a loser and a failure. Were you ever 2nd in the world at anything? Or 1st in Russia? Should a silver or bronze medallist feel disgraced?
I don’t go around claiming that I’m a vice world champion. Champion is a term used for the winner, not the loser. How pathetic of Kosteniuk to try to pretend she’s a world champion.
@anonym – ‘u got to the point! but – in my opinion – ‘u missed it – whilst schlechter died by starvation – lasker made the race (WC!)as an honoured and wealthy person – it is not a question of moral issues to – reach out for the top of the hill – the fate of schlechter taught that lesson to all of us (even patzers) – but a question of attempt. and there is no way to attempt anything, if you suffer from starvation! to become the best – ‘u will be in need of some money (which makes the world and even the chess world go round!’)
believe it or not – titles – e.g. WC – help a lot in professional sports – and by the way – some marketing activities may help some actives to become well-suited – even if they own no titles
– why not take that 100.000 $ for some photographs?
why not wear this jacket with a “mercedes” sticker on for a few dollars more – each dammned day!?
why not make this cell phone advertisment? (e.g. 750.000 $)
and – by the way – the absolute truth in chess – and any other art – any other science – any other professional sport is money, money and nothing else than money
sure enough – it is fun, too … ^^
sincerly, Vohaul