MARK RUBERY CHESS
The Danish GM, Peter Heine Nielsen, is more acknowledged for his coaching skills than his playing strength that has touched an impressive 2700. From 2002 until 2012 he coached former world champion Vishy Anand and now he has switched to training his fellow Scandinavian, and present world champion, Magnus Carlsen.
Here are a few questions he fielded on the Chessdom. com website.
Q: The number of Chess fans all over the world is growing every day, however, it is not yet meant as popular a sport as, for example, football or tennis… What do you think would be necessary to do to make chess more popular? What would be your strategy or ideas to attract more sponsors?
A: Tennis and football is aiming too high. I would like to try having our major team events ending in a final. In 2012 both the Chess Olympiad and the European Cup were decided by the complicated tiebreak systems, not understandable to the general public, and even most players. All major sports have a Final deciding Gold and Silver, and for a good reason.
Q: What do you think about the “short draws phenomenon”? What would be the mechanism to avoid them?
A: I generally think the draw problem, is less of a problem than the attention it gets. And that well-researched journalism on chess-politics and even possible corruption, would be much more relevant than repeating the draw problem over and over again. I think that in private tournaments Organizers should do what they please, and that in top events it’s reasonable to apply some rules. But, for example, the European Championship where players pay a considerable amount to play, I really don’t think we need such rules.
Q: What is your opinion about cheating? It is becoming a very serious problem.
A: It is a problem, that with even a small device, a player can get help on an overwhelming level. Its not like taking EPO in Cycling, more like using a car…. At top level it is necessary to be some control, but obviously that is difficult on a lower level. I think a good step would be to define punishments in advance, and have rules dealing with the issue, in order not to have to deal with it, only when specific cases start appearing.
Q: You and Viktoria (Cmilyte) are one of the World’s strongest chess couples. Could you name the pro’s and the cons of two professional chessplayers living together?
A: It is definitely nice when your partner understands what you mean when I say I’m sad because I cannot find advantage against the Grünfeld, but it is also a pity that she understands how silly that actually is….
Q: You have played so many interesting and legendary opponents. Which player impressed you the most both chesswise and in personality matters?
A: Bent Larsen was a good friend of mine, and I truly enjoyed the visits to him and his wife in Buenos Aires. And I obviously did learn a lot, in a number of ways. Vishy impresses me. Most would have been frustrated while what looked like his best years, he was kept away from the World Championship cycle due to politics, but he maintained his patience, and was generously awarded. Q: And your secret as to how to recover from a bitter loss? A: It’s important to stay positive, and focus on the challenge ahead. Vallejo once told me analyzing the game with the computer afterwards only contributes to increasing ones bad mood, and I completely agree. What matters is getting ready for the next game. Bent Larsen was asked once what he did after losing, and he answered: “tried winning tomorrow”. It is obviously the right attitude, but for some, like me, easier said than done.
The tactician knows what to do when there is something to do; whereas the strategist knows what to do when there is nothing to do. - Gerald Abrahams