MARK RUBERY CHESS

Bobby Fischer and Gary Player both shared a common experience when at the beginning of their respective careers, and at approximately the same time in the late 1950s, they were offered large sums of money with the only condition being that they should acknowledge the benefactor as a factor in their success. Player rejected the offer as did the 15-year-old Fischer who responded “I play chess alone, and I win alone!”

Fischer was less astute (or more principled) than the golfing legend when it came to endorsing commercial products. On been asked by a Volkswagen firm to advertise their cars he took some time to consider the offer and after a few days refused. His reason being “I have made a careful study of your cars, - and I think they are good only for suiciders”.

Nevertheless Fischer’s lone stand for higher rewards for chess players has resulted in the multi-million dollar matches that exist today.

‘Defeats are our greatest teachers. Defeats help us to improve our style and make right conclusions based on mistakes. The problem is that when you continuously win, you start losing your awareness. And it’s different from the ‘lightness’ I was speaking about.

It’s a kind of intoxication which leads to blindness. One should lose from time to time to prevent this. And the sense of lightness, it’s to find the final meaning of the game in the game itself rather than in the win. I’m repeating this: it’s when you’ve done everything for victory in the preparatory stage and you go to the game without losing your sense of freedom, not becoming a slave to the final result of the game. I believe, if I don’t think of that final result, I’ll play a better game.’ (Levon Aronian)