2002 Corus at Wijk aan Zee

Joel Lautier on ICC

After round 8, Aviv Friedman (sveshi) interviewed GM Joel Lautier on ICC channel 166.

Aviv interviewing Lautier. Seirawan and Lobron analyzing Timman-Gelfand.
photograph by Jan Van De Mortel

sveshi: First question will deal with your play and score in the event, how do you feel about it?
GM Lautier: Not brilliant I have to say... I have a series of good results and I was hoping for more than -1 here...

sveshi: what is your opinion about the withrawals of Kasparov and Kramnik from corus?
GM Lautier: As far as Kramnik it is unfortunate because he had an agreement for the match against the computer and when it was cancelled it was too late to come to play here
GM Lautier: about Kasparov, well if he is ill (which he seldom is...) not much to do or say

sveshi: who do you think will win corus 2002?
GM Lautier: let me see.... I think Khalifman is playing very well in the event so far, but he missed a few chances and is pressing with both colors in many games, he missed a win against me and against Piket

sveshi: A question about the interests of professional chessplayers aside from chess
GM Lautier: I am interested in reading and especially philosophy and physically I am an avid tennis player and am interested in karate and Aikido,( But I have been lazy a bit in the last 6 months)

sveshi: How is being married to a WGM affect your life? (WGM Skripchenko) GM Lautier: it is very helpful, many things are understood without much having to be said about life as a pro GM Lautier: alas but when you play 'not so well' it is hard to explain because my wife understands chess! sveshi: A question about ICC: what is your opinion of it as a tool to help one improve his chess? GM Lautier: Actually it is hard to imptove your chess by just playing blitz, there has to be an aim such as testing ones openings, but ICC is a fine tool for taking and giving lessons, and I myself am a fan of ICC, I go there quite regularly

WGM Almira Skripchenko-Lautier, photograph by Jan Van De Mortel

sveshi: what do you feel about the FIDE time controls
GM Lautier: The level of the games dropped dramatically, for example the fide world champ games' level is lower than many open tournaments because not only the pressure of the event but you have little time and players play too safe and are afraid to play complicated games and lose control

sveshi: You have had some innovative ideas on how FIDE should run the World Championship Tournament. Can you elaborate on these ideas for the members?
GM Lautier: it doesn't matter what format you use unless you manage to bring the best players together to compete, but basically I think what should be worked out is what we see in tennis, a series of tournaments with a final event
GM Lautier: for people to follow chess year round and not just one event in the year

sveshi: with the score you have against Kasparov what advice did you give Kramnik in his match ?
GM Lautier: Of course by now the #1 person who knows Kasparov is Kramnik himself, as for my role it was mainly technical because the best way to help Vladimir is supply him with preparation, the rest he does well himself(opening analysis preparation)

sveshi: it is often said that chess study should begin with the masters in the 19th century & early 20th century. Mr. Lautier - what is your opinion of this advice and which masters have influenced your style most?
GM Lautier: Fischer and Botvinik

sveshi: what books or materials would you recommend for junior players?
GM Lautier : Alekihne's games, annotated by himself, and Botvinik's best game collection, they compliment one another one being so original and adventurous and the other scientific

sveshi: in the past year, what is the average number of hours a day you would spend studying chess, and what type of study would you do ?
GM Lautier: One should always concentrate on all parts of the game and has to master all stages of it,
GM Lautier: I spend most of my time working on openings, it is hard to quantify, some days I might work for 10 hours but on average it is 6/7 a day

sveshi: what affect does Bacrot's success has on French and professional chess?
GM Lautier: so far not much, it is a bit early, of course if he becomes a world champ it will! Chess in France is doing well, we have a lot of tournaments going on
GM Lautier: and the level of players is risining quite quickly, other than Bacrot we have other promising young players like Nataf and Fressinet

sveshi: what do you think of using computer programs as sparring partners for the average player
sveshi: and also what uses professional players have with them
GM Lautier:I can't say I am using computers as sparring partner, but much more for analysis (but that is dangerous because sometimes you stop thinking for yourself, you just click a button and let the engine do the work for you,)

sveshi: Who do you favor in the current FIDE championships?
GM Lautier: before the match I thought that Ivanchuk would win and quite easily, I thought he is a much stronger player, but now he is no longer a favorite, that is pretty clear
GM Lautier: I still hope he will equalize the match but I am not so sure

sveshi: who is the greatest player of all time
GM Lautier: my personal favorite is Fischer but in terms of contribution to chess Kasparov is still ahead of him

sveshi: Can you speak about the hope for a unification of world chess titles?
GM Lautier: I am in favor of it definitely, chess will never rise to the level of other professional sports unless we have as I mentioned before all the best competing under one auspices

sveshi: how do you compare your chess now to say when you were 18 or so?
GM Lautier: Of course there is a big difference, I am a better player now obviously but you lose some energy and freshness

sveshi: what toyurnament or tournaments do you enjoy most nowdays?
GM Lautier In terms of enjoyment I like the rapid events the most, but as a professional chess player it is tougher to play the long time controls events with more depth (no favorites, but I like to play in Russia Spain and Yugoslavia, Spain mainly because of the weather, and Holland would be great if not for the cold

sveshi: your opinion of the current world championship?
GM Lautier: I don't like it, it gives too much importance to the result of a single game, you could have (now with a two year cycle) your whole 2 year affected by one game (one move even!) it doesn't encourage players to play chess they become too concerned about the result
GM Lautier: that is why I reocmmend a series of tournaments, and players can play without worries about one game or even one event and can just play chess the best they can

sveshi: thanks to GM Lautier for his time and expertise!