KibBlitzing with IM Dean Ippolito

Date of Birth: 7/18/78
USCF rating as of 7/11/2008: 2484
Current position in U.S. rankings: #40
Number of Grand Prix Points: 79.867
Current Grand Prix rank: #10

- How many languages do you speak?

I can understand some of several languages and get along well enough in Spanish, but English is still my best.

-Who introduced you to the game of chess?

My father.

- If you weren’t a chessplayer, what would you be?

A biologist or maybe the President of the United States. :)

- Do you have any catchphrases or favorite movie quotations?

“It’s on now.”

- What was the most interesting book you have ever read? “

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” is my favorite.

- Is it better to lose a well-fought game against a strong player or to pull off an unlikely swindle against a weaker one?

It’s always better to play a good game.

- If you could go back in time and be a participant in any chess tournament ever held, which one would you choose and why?  

AVRO 1938 because there was so much talent and history there but certain techniques weren’t refined or understood well enough so I could still score some points!

- What is your best character trait?

Fighting spirit.

- What is your worst character trait?

 I’m too emotional during a game.

- How late was the latest time you showed up for a tournament game? Did you still win?

In Groningen 1996 I showed up with 2 minutes left before losing by forfeit.  I had trouble getting used to the time change and was awakened by the Tournament Director’s call.  I was black against a GM from China and the game ended in a draw.

- Do you have a goal for yourself as to how many GP points you want to win this year?

I didn’t even know how they worked until a few weeks ago.  Somehow I was having good enough results to be on the list.   Now that I have some idea of how it works, I will try to finish in the top 5 this year and maybe higher next year.

- Do you play any chess variants proficiently?

Proficiently? Probably not. :) ♦