Kramnik: “Kasparov took that sporting defeat as a declaration of war”
For his 35th birthday (see Alexandra Kosteniuk’s birthday wishes), Vladimir Kramnik was interviewed by the popular Russian weekly newspaper, Argumenty i Fakty. He talks about whether friendship is possible in chess, and his troubled relationship with Gary Kasparov.
Women’s Chess Champion Kosteniuk wishes Kramnik a happy birthday
Ex-World Chess Champion Vladimir Kramnik turned 35 today, and the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant published greetings from the current Women’s World Chess Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk.
Analysing by the riverside with Bobby Fischer
In a remarkable interview given to Yury Vasiliev of Sport Express, the 87-year-old GM Svetozar Gligorić talks about some of his career highs and lows, his friendship with Fischer and the unlikely new career he took up, aged 81.
Gelfand at Crestbook Part II
The second installment of Boris Gelfand’s answers to the questions of Crestbook readers kept up the incredible length and quality of the first. A general title might be, “Everything you ever wanted to know about GM chess but never dared to ask”. He patiently answers questions ranging from “e4 or d4” to “what’s the meaning of life”!
Classical Anand, Romantic Topalov
84-year-old Mark Taimanov gave an interview to the Russian site, Smena. He talks about the recent WC Match in Sofia and gives his opinion of how the current players compare to the former Champions.
Aronian: I won’t travel to Baku
On the final day of the World Championship match in Sofia, Levon Aronian was interviewed in Armenia by Vadim Mkrtchian of “Golos Armenii” (“Voice of Armenia”). The interview includes Levon’s view on the match, the FIDE election, opening preparation, and his reasons for not wanting to play candidates matches in Baku.
Chronicle of a suicide
That’s the title Yury Vasiliev gave to an amazing interview with Topalov after the final game of the World Championship match in Sofia. Topalov reveals what went through his mind when he committed consecutive blunders on moves 31 and 32, while Anand also gives his views on the match.
Gelfand at Crestbook Part I
Boris Gelfand’s responses to reader questions at Crestbook were all you could hope for – patient, revealing and full of insights and anecdotes. Remarkably these translations are only a fraction of the original, and this is only part one.
“The weak-willed don’t become top chess players”
Mark Glukovsky, editor of 64, the Russian equivalent of New in Chess, responded in a controversial but compulsively readable style to the questions of Crestbook readers.
Karpov on the Pozner show
Anatoly Karpov gave an almost hour-long interview on Russian prime-time television, discussing his candicacy for the position of FIDE President, and much else besides.
