Here
is an interesting Kasparov interview I got from Chess Today issue
CT-335(1484) CT-335(1484)
Tuesday, 30th November 2004. Hangin got ChessToday today, and will get ChessToday
tomorrow. Here are some excerpts
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Kasparov : The last
tournament I won was Linares-2002. So my result at this championship
stands out – during the tournament my opponents realized that perhaps
they should fear me again!
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Hangin's take :
They should fear Kasparov, he's still a top player. I
think he's still in the top 3. He has the number one rating spot in the
world. It is true he has not played many classical time control
tournaments in the last few years. He hasn't won Linares in 2003 or 2004.
He finished behind both Leko and Kramnik in those years. Even though
Kramnik and Karpov pulled out of this year's Russian championship, there
were many top players competing, namely Svidler, Grischuk, Morozevich,
Bareev, and Dreev. Kasparov finished with 7.5 out of 10. He won 5 games
and drew 5 and lost none. He won against top players Dreev, Svidler and
Bareev.
Recently Kramnik had implied that Kasparov did not deserve any
special privilege in the reunification. Kramnik said that Kasparov is in
crisis. I think that this Kasparov victory has put a cork in Kramnik
mouth. This was an impressive Kasparov victory.
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Kasparov:
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If Kramnik played in the tournament, the focus would be on the competition
between us. But I risk guessing that the final result would be the same
– Kramnik traditionally scores '+2' or '+3' in such tournaments Besides,
he probably has not recovered from his match vs. Leko yet .In that match
Kramnik played more interesting chess than Leko. But as it was hard for
him to get through Leko's defense, the final score looks justified.
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Hangin's take: I am sensing a thaw in the cold war between Kasparov
and Kramnik. I sense that Kasparov has extended an olive branch to Kramnik
here. Kasparov is not slamming Kramnik for pulling out of the Russian
Championship. I wonder what Kasparov is really thinking about Kramnik's
drawn, short 14-game world championship match. After all Kasparov played a
48 game match against Karpov in 1984. Kasparov played many tough 24 game
world championship matches over the years. I sense a more conciliatory
Kasparov here.
Over the last few years, these two players have been
exchanging barbs at each other. Kramnik has implied that Kasparov is no
longer a top player, and that Kasparov rating is the result of not playing
much. Kramnik has also implied that Kasparov doesn't deserves such special
treatment in the reunification process. Kramnik recently said that he does
not understand why Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov should be playing for the
world championship. Kramnik has suggested that his next challenger come
from a tournament consisting of Anand, Ponomariov, Kasparov and Kasimdzhanov.
I feel this is a serious breach of the Prague agreement.
Kasparov
also implied that Kramnik has not shown to be a dominate player and that
Kramnik also deserves no special treatment in the reunification match.
Kasparov said that he would play in a 1948 style world championship
tournament, if Kramnik is also a participant. We all know that will never
happen.
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Kasparov
- I have begun looking at all processes in the chess world
philosophically: maybe there will be a match (with Kramnik), maybe there
won't be any... Yes, it would be easier to come to an agreement with Leko.
But it is good that Kramnik has kept his title - if I still want something
it is to play another match vs. Kramnik – and win it!
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Hangin's take -
No doubt Kasparov wants to exact his revenge on
Kramnik for his 2000 victory. Kasparov does not want his legacy to
say that Kramnik bested him. Kasparov has unfinished business. He
wants to rewrite history. He wants to dominate Kramnik the same way
Kramnik dominated Kasparov in the 2000 world championship match.
The other
thing of note is that Kasparov is acknowledging Kramnik's right to keep
his title in a drawn short match. I wonder if Kasparov is hoping that
Kramnik will respect Kasparov's rights as the ex world champion. Kasparov
might be implying that if Kramnik does not agree to play the winner of
Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov, then Leko could be a possible replacement.
After all Kramnik's kept his title with a drawn result in a short match.
This isn't exactly a mandate. Should Kramnik reject Prague, then Leko
could be a viable replacement for Kramnik.
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Kasparov - - Only 4
days ago I spoke with my manager and nothing was clear still about my
match vs. .Kasimdzhanov. Maybe something has changed since then, I do not
know... If the match will take play in Dubai in January, I need to arrange
a training session in the country with a similar climate in December. But
this is not easy on a short notice. Whether or not this match takes place,
I hope that the working practices of FIDE will become history. You cannot
ask people to stick to agreements when you do not keep your own schedule.
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Hangin' take :
Well I think Kasparov should just has to stay the
course here. If the match does not come off in January, then Kasparov
should jump ship and join ranks with the ACP. He should endorse Kramnik's
proposal of a tournament between Anand, Ponomoriov, Kasmidzhanov,
and Kasparov. The winner to face Kramnik. I would prefer a match play
between Anand, Ponomariov, Kasmidzhanov and Kasparov. I think if Kasparov
can't prepare for this match like he would like to, then he's just going
to have to do what they do at BeniHana's. That's cooking at the table.
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I sensed a conciliatory tone from Kasparov. He wants to play
Kramnik again. I feel that with this interview Kasparov has intended
an olive branch to Kramnik. Lets hope Kramnik accepts it. Lets hope a thaw
in the cold war of words between Kasparov and Kramnik ends. I know
millions of fans would love to see another Kasparov vs. Kramnik world
championship match.
Kramnik has not definitively said he would not play
the winner of the Kasparov vs. Kasimdzhanov match. Kramnik has said he is
concerned about the sponsorship that FIDE has gotten for chess. Kramnik
wants more corporate sponsorship like Dannemann. If Kasparov wins the
match with Kasimdzhanov, I don't either of them will need FIDE to get
sponsorship. Kramnik has said he can get a 2 million dollar match
with Kasparov any time he wants.
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