CHESS

The popular American author and player, GM Yasser Seirawan gave a lengthy interview to El Butlletí d’Escacs, the official magazine of the Catalan Chess Federation. Here follow a few extracts. Q:Your career has been tremendously successful in all aspects. Apart from winning a lot of prestigious tournaments and having been the ninth highest rated player in the world, you succeeded in chess writing, publishing, organizing, founding, as a commentator. What is your primary occupation? YS: I’ve always enjoyed being busy and like working on projects. These days I mostly do reading and writing and fewer projects. I do some financial investing advising others but I’d say my primary occupation today is as a writer. Q: Tell us about your family YS: I’m married to a Dutch lady, Yvette Nagel, who is a FIDE FM. We live in Amsterdam where Yvette works for the city and Mayor’s office. We don’t have children but we have brothers and sisters who do. Q: Being a chess pro is tough. We are constantly travelling. What is your secret to deal with jet lag? YS: Sadly, I have no secret for jet-lag. Throughout my career it has had a negative impact on my play at the start of events. Terribly so I might add. Q: And your secret as to how to recover from a bitter loss? YS: One can never overcome a ‘bitter loss.’ The way to deal with a loss is before the tournament. I think most professional players simply have to accept that when they play in a tournament, to win it, they will have to take risks. So if before a tournament a player mentally girds himself and says, “Okay, I’m going to lose a game, two or three, but I’m going to play hard for a victory,” then ‘accepting’ a loss is easier. Although the bitterness is long lasting. Q: What is your opinion about cheating? It is becoming a very serious problem. YS: Cheating has always been a concern. Long before computers ever became strong. That is players receiving advice/information during a game. In truth, at the most elite level charges of ‘cheating’ are simply ridiculous and don’t exist. On the amateur levels, however, cheating, again even before the computer could have been a problem. A coach telling his student what move to make. Now with electronic devices, such charges are far more worrisome. Q: What would be your advice to young people who are just starting to play chess and take it seriously? YS: Have fun. Enjoy what you are doing. Take your work seriously. If you get too stressed, take a break. If you apply yourself, you will get mentally tougher, much more disciplined, feel a greater sense of personal empowerment and learn to succeed in anything you want to do. Believe in yourself. Q: You have played so many interesting and legendary opponents that others only dream to meet. Which player impressed you the most both chess wise and in personality matters? YS: My goodness! So many to mention. Bent Larsen was my personal hero and I’m much indebted to Victor Kortchnoi just to mention two. Then at the board the manners of Alexander Beliavsky, Jan Timman and Judit Polgar are simply exemplary. In terms of writers, Mikhail Tal, John Nunn and Jeremy Silman are all superb. There are so many others as well. Chess is full of fascinating personalities and interesting people! I’ve got no proof whatsoever, but I’m deeply convinced that when you spend a long time at the board you can pick up your opponent’s emotional state. When I don’t like my game I try to spend more time off stage so as not to show what I think about what’s going on at the board. (Peter Svidler)