 ICC Kasparov Interview
On Sunday, November 22, 1998, World #1 Garry Kasparov (2815 FIDE)
appeared on the
Internet Chess Club for a live interview. Questions were
selected from members' submissions. This appearance
was in anticipation of his $24,000 Blitz Match vs. #3 ranked
Vladimir Kramnik (2780 FIDE), to be shown on ICC on November 27-28th.
POTZY: Welcome to the Kasparov Interview! Grandmaster Dlugy will be
asking the questions, and Kasparov will be answering.
GM Dlugy will ask the questions, selected from ICC members questions.
LateKnight:
I'd like to welcome you all the a truly unique experience. A live
interview with GM Garry Kasparov. The questions will begin in a few
minutes. Thanks for attending!
This is truly a pleasure of mine to introduce to you all, Grandmaster
Garry Kasparov! Welcome to ICC and thanks for sharing some time with us
to answer some questions.
PSyKo: How long do you think you will hold the championship?
Kasparov: When I won my title I promised to keep it till the next
millenium. I am very close to keeping my promise. Seriously, I believe I
have quite a few years ahead of me.
TeeRex: Should there be separate world championships for match
and tournament play?
Kasparov: I don't think it makes sense for chess.
Death3: When did you think you will become world champion?
Kasparov: When I won the Sokolsky Memorial in Minsk in January
1978 - I was confident I had a very good shot. I was not yet 15 years old.
Techman2: Who will be your next challenger, if you beat Shirov?
Kasparov: Unfortunately the match with Shirov is still up in the
air, but from the public and sponsors perception, Anand undoubtedly looks
the best challenger.
Naisortep: Who was the strongest player not to become world champ?
Kasparov: Obviously Keres, but Anand also has a chance to join his
company.
Naisortep: Are you in your prime - if not when was it?
Kasparov: I hope I am now, but sometimes I doubt it.
x-turbo & WhiteWarrior: Who was your chess mentor and who influenced
your chess style the most?
Kasparov: Mikhail Botvinnik had the greatest influence on
my game, and I was heavily influenced by games of Alekhine and
Fischer.
SimonK: How many hours a day do you study chess?
Kasparov: At the training camp, I spend up to 6 hours
regularly. On a daily basis, I still try to spend 1-2 hours a day.
Cut: Which opening novelty of yours are you most proud of?
Kasparov: The most attractive one was game 10 against Anand in the
1995 NY match, but also I was proud of my novelty against Shirov in Linares
1998. Not very often you can find new good ideas before move 10 in Sicilian
these days.
FischKing: Where would Bobby Fischer rank today if he
never stopped playing?
Kasparov: Very hard to imagine, but I think he would be
today behind Karpov.
CharlestheBold: Will future world champions keep getting stronger?
Kasparov: Probably, but with heavy influence of computers
I think it will be more about changing attitude and approach rather than
strength.
Finegold: On whose authority do you consider yourself World
Champion - you are merely the world's strongest player?
Kasparov: On the authority of tradition that is 112 years
old, and my legacy is as good as Capablanca's and Alekhine's. I don't
believe FIDE has any legal right to claim the ownership of the title
which was introduced to the public almost 40 years before FIDE's creation
...and I would like to note that FIDE proclaimed Botvinnik the 6th World
Champion, i.e recognizing old tradition and not
starting its own line of champions.
DiepX: Why was the quality of your play so low against Deep Blue?
Kasparov: I think this impression is wrong and it's obviously
created by unspeakable quality of game 6, and partially of game 2, but both
games had very little to do with chess, but rather with psychology.
In fact, any serious analysis proves that the quality of
games 3, 4, 5 was extremely high; I would say higher than the average
quality of a world championship match.
BennyBlanco: Who do you think will be Champion after you?
Kasparov: Since the creation of a world champion requires me
losing in a match, I am not very happy to make such predictions.
Conquistidor: Why was you match with Shirov cancelled, and are there plans to
reschedule?
Kasparov: Mr. Rentero unfortunately couldn't fulfill his
promises and didn't come up with the money which forced both players to look
for other alternatives.
There was a good chance in early September to organize
the match in California, but Shirov thought the prize fund too low.
I believe his expectations were too high because since
that time we didn't receive any serious offers.
Sadly the chess world didn't take Shirov's challenge
seriously, although he earned his rights by convincingly dismantling
Kramnik. I think that the chances to see the match are virtually
nonexistent now.
Bernhard: How would you do in a 6 board simul against the
strongest chess programs?
Kasparov: Definitely not as good as against the Israeli
top 4 team, but I still think I have a chance to win.
Zwischenzuger: Why was there no rematch with Deep Blue? Any plans for future Man
vs. Machine contests?
Kasparov: As everyone might know, IBM has dismantled Deep
Blue after the match, so there is no opponent because other companies are
not interested to follow IBM's footsteps.
Numbers: If Ilyumjinov is jailed for his acts do you foresee
your participation in a FIDE World Championship match?
Kasparov: Whatever happens to Mr.Ilyumjinov, I am afraid
it's not going to change the rotten nature of FIDE politics. I think I can
play with a FIDE challenger, but I don't want FIDE to be the organizer of
a world championship match with my participation.
Naisortep: Efim Geller passed away recently - are there any
stories you would care to share with us about him?
Kasparov: Efim Geller a man of outstanding chess
abilities. I didn't get much time to work with him, but even several
short sessions I had with him before my match with Nigel Short, demonstrated
to me his deep and impressive understanding of the game.
Naisortep & Knightshifter: Which one of your games most typifies your
style? And which one was the hardest?
Kasparov: I first of all like to mention game 16 from
matches in 1985 and 1986 with Karpov.
But the list is quite long, and I would rather mention
the most memorable games, among which I would point out game 24 in Sevilla.
Alphachess & Polterguest: How do you see the future of chess?
Kasparov: Computers will play more and more important
role and I think that the form I call Advanced Chess (Man + Machine)
will become popular in the 21st century.
I also think the idea to reshuffle pieces in the opening
position will get substantial support in the future.
Also the Internet will become the most important arena for
chess competitions including high level professional chess.
Quercus & TheWinnerIs: What type of car do you own / drive?
Kasparov: Mercedes 320
anonymous: How do you rate your chances in the upcoming
blitz match with Kramnik?
Kasparov: Its a very unusual event, because no
one has ever tried to play a long blitz match on that level. But I am ready
to bet on myself.
BarnsleyRook: Have you responded to Bessel Kok about his
offer of a World Championship match?
Kasparov: I responded positively signalling my readiness
to discuss this offer very seriously. I am sure that the man of Bessel's
knowledge and influence can be the right person to solve the current
crisis.
SlobDefense: Why do you think Deep Blue might have had human assistance in your match?
Kasparov: Simply because in game 2 machine did something
which contradicted any conventianal knowledge of the computer's ability.
There were a few other moments in the match I would like to get clarification
on, but as we know refused to release printouts of the machine's thinking and
later even dismantled Deep Blue.
In fact they destroyed the only impartial witness.
I don't think that further discussion of my word versus
their word makes any sense,
It's up to IBM to give sufficient documentation for
everybody to analyze to determine whether my claim was a sound one.
BeachDawg: Do you feel that any young chessplayer has the
potential to become a Grandmaster with proper training?
Kasparov: Today with a devaluation of a GM title
everything is possible. There is a lot of chess knowledge available and if
you have determination and stamina I don't see why not.
BAZMAN: How important is physical activity preparation and control for
key matches?
Kasparov: I pay a lot of attention to my physical
condition; to be fit under the terrible pressure of big competitions.
Obviously this is becoming more important with age.
krakken: What would be your biggest tip for a young player
wishing to improve up to master level?
Kasparov: I don't think you can reduce chess to one tip -
I've been looking for one for the last 30 years.
Spanker: Who do you consider the strongest blitz player of all time?
Kasparov: I am very much against the idea of comparing
strengths of players from different times.
I think it's too subjective.
POTZY: How do improve when you are already the best?
Kasparov: One day you find its hard to improve further,
and in my position further improvement is an ability to study the study
the game with the same determination and to compensate losses of energy
with acquired experience.
POTZY: World #1 Garry Kasparov versus World #3
Vladimir Kramnik, 24 games of blitz for $1000 a game!! November 27-28.
"news 1086".
Darooha: Thanks to Garry Kasparov for coming to ICC
and answering questions. Thanks to Max Dlugy for arranging it doing the
logistics.
All Transcripts produced by the Internet Chess Club are
for the private use of ICC members only. They may not be copied,
emailed to non-ICC members, or posted on the internet without
written permission from the Internet Chess Club.
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