Conversation with Alexander Khalifman
Q: Can you tell us about your win today against Judit?
A: I don't want to say too much, because the match is not over. But h3 was quite strong. The king position is always a great problem for Black. Even if rooks are traded, the queen ending is good for White. Black's pawns are very ugly.
Q: How did you select this opening?
A: Just one hour before the game, I discovered that Judit plays this variation sometimes. It was a dream come true. I looked over the variations and I was ready for her.
Q: Do you have quite a good memory?
A: My memory is not bad, but it used to be much better.
Q: What is your lifetime score against Judit?
A: Now it is even. It used to be minus-1.
Q: You have been friendly with Boris Gelfand, whom you eliminated yesterday. Boris said he was sure he would beat Polgar if he played her. What do you think about that?
A: Yes, now it is easy for him to say this. But it is not so easy. She is a very good player, one of the world's best. I am not sure even now that I will win the match against her.
Q: Some players say it is hard to play against a "chick." Is it difficult for you to play against a woman?
A: No, I am an old man. [Khalifman is 33.] Maybe for the younger players, there are certain distractions. During the game maybe they smell some perfume or something like that, and it distracts them.
Conversation with Michael Adams
Q: Do you like the format of this tournament?
A: Yes, I like the knockout format. But I think FIDE is making a mistake by holding all these qualifying events and by trying to represent the whole world geographically. The result is that we get mismatches in the early rounds. I think that FIDE should just invite the top 100 players on the rating list. It would be simpler and the most deserving players would all be here. OK, maybe it doesn't matter too much for me either way, and it may even be a little easier for me under the current system. But I think it would be a better event using the format I described.
Q: What is the role of computers in today's chess?
A: Probably the younger generation is more adaptable to using computers in their preparation, and that gives them a certain advantage in the openings.
Q: You have been quite active this year. A: Yes, I played 60 rated games in the first half of the year. For some reason, FIDE rated only 57 of them. I think there should be a rating bonus reflecting activity. Look at Kamsky: he came here seeded #3, but his play was nothing like that, because he hadn't played in three years. There is something wrong with that. Then again, for the players who can't get invitations, you can't blame them for inactivity.
Q: There seems to be a caste system in today's international chess. A: The top players, who get invitations to category 19 events-well, it doesn't make sense for them to play in other events. They keep their high ratings by playing in the category 19s.
Q: What do you think about Kirsan Ilyumzhinov as FIDE President?
A: For me, Ilyumzhinov has been quite positive. Without him, there wouldn't have been world championships at Groningen and Las Vegas.
Q: What are you doing here to prepare between rounds?
A: Going to the pool, seeing a little bit of Las Vegas, which I enjoy.
Q: How do you prepare before a tournament?
A: It's mostly opening preparation these days; that seems to give the best return on your time. Endgames aren't as important because you often don't reach them. The older generation is probably better in the endings, because they used to adjourn their positions.
Q: Yesterday against Dreev you seemed to play the ending very well. A: I was able to work it out and get the job done eventually.
Q: How do the players here get along with each other?
A: I think most of the players have reasonably good relations. But you never really want to play a good friend.
Q: Who are your best friends among the chessplayers?
A: Well, for example Julian Hodgson, but he isn't playing here.
Q: On his Web site, Kasparov says that Sokolov celebrated his victory against Shirov prematurely, going out the evening of his win in their first game. A: No, I don't think that's true. I think Sokolov was just very nervous.
Q: Is there luck in chess?
A: Of course there is luck: you happen to make a good opening choice, or perhaps both players misassess the position and it benefits you.
Q: Is there any bluffing among the top players?
Trying to intimidate the opponent?
A: No, I don't think so. That sort of thing wouldn't work against the top players.
Q: What about Kasparov and his glare?
A: That's not bluffing. When you're 2850 or whatever, that's not a bluff. That's just playing very good moves.
Q: Without Kasparov here, do you think this is a legitimate world championship?
A: Oh, yes. Almost all the top players are here-Kramnik, Shirov, Ivanchuk, and so on. I think it is quite legitimate. It is a new system, but changes needed to be made to the old system.
CONTACT: Timothy Hanke, Press Officer for the World Chess Championship, at 702-731-7110, extensions 5913 through 5927.