1.Please tell us about the Mexican Open you won a week ago.
It was the Mexican Open Championship. I already played in this tournament three times in the past and even managed to win it twice. This time I tied for first but was third on tie-break. I always like to play in Mexico. These tournaments have very good atmosphere. Here is a link to the final results of the main section: http://66.7.193.242/~abierto/abierto2013/index.php/primera-fuerza
2.What is your current position in Texas Tech and please tell us about the program.
I’m the head coach at Texas Tech. We have a very strong chess program and one of the best college chess team in the nation. We recruit players all around the US and the world. As a coach I work with the students improving their chess. We also travel a lot representing the Texas Tech in different events.
3.You are visiting the supernationals in Nashville, what you think about this huge competition and what about junior chess in general and how you think it is possible to attract more kids to play chess.
I think it is a very good event. Close to 6000 kids will take part in this tournament. It is very impressive. I think the scholastic chess has actually pretty good times. In the US chess in schools programs are very successful. In fact, there is always an interest and one of the biggest challenges is to find coaches to teach in these programs.
4. Everybody tries to talk about the benefits of chess for children, what you think is the main properties of chess.
First of all chess is a great hobby. No matter how old or how strong chessplayers are they can get absolutely fascinated by the game. I also agree that chess can be a great educational tool. The game can develop so many good qualities in kids that probably no other sport can do.
5.Magnus Carlsen who won the London Candidates tournament few days ago is most likely the best paid chess celebrity. Is it possible that grandmasters in US can earn money only playing chess and what is needed to do for that.
He has to play chess extremely well. You can make a living by just playing chess in the US, but of course, it is quite difficult. All major tournaments are in Europe, so one has to travel a lot, deal with jet-leg, have extra expenses. I don’t think that the situation will change much in the near future.
6.You have college degree, but nowadays young chess stars only play and study chess, what you think, general education may enhance somebodies chess or in the future we will see only chess players who are only good in their profession. If we can make a chess hero or star, what it looks like. Tall, educated, with good manners, in other words is it possible to create a new Bobby Fishcer like player in US.
Having a degree definitely does not hurt a person to become a good chessplayer, but I don’t think it is absolutely necessary thing. I think it is very important to get a chess champion to boost chess in the country. For example, chess has become much more popular in Norway with Magnus Carlsen.
7.What you like to recommend young chess player.
Read good chess books and try to use a chess board vs a chess computer.
8.Why women are not as strong in chess as men.
Women are getting better in chess, but it is true that they still are not as strong in chess as men. I think one of the main reasons that they play each other and as a result they don’t face such strong opposition as men do.
9.Who is going to win the US Ch in May
Hikaru Nakamura is not playing this year, so the number one favorite is of course Gata Kamsky. However, since it is an open a lot will really depend on the parings, so I think realistically 5-10 top players have chances to win the event.
10.Your favorite food, drink.
I like to try local food wherever I go, same applies for the drinks.
11. Tell us about your hobby the triathlon.
The sport of triathlon is really a big hobby of mine. I’ve done quite a few triathlon races. Last year I finished the 70.3 Ironman and I’ve done my first marathon.
12.Best chess book.
There are so many. I think most of the old chess books are pretty good. It is hard to pick just one. Among modern books I like Karsten Muller’s books.
13.Your best game and where we can find it.
Again, it is hard to call just one. I sincerely hope that I have not played my best game yet.