I like the fact that a publisher has now been found to compile his best stories.
The biggest names pass by: Kasparov, Karpov, Timman, Carlsen, Polgar, Kortchnoi, Anand, Caruana, Giri, Hou Yifan… This is just a sample, all portrayed at a time when they were in the spotlight in one way or another.
The power of a good interviewer is that he prepares well. And that is what Gert does.
Moreover, he is also conscientious in the elaboration of his stories. He checks facts and calls or emails the interviewee if something is not clear to him or needs explanation.
I hope the reader enjoys reading this book.
Jeroen van den Berg
Preamble Jeroen van den Berg ............................................................................................................................. 6
Preamble from the Author ...................................................................................................................................... 8
PART I – World Champions..................................................................................................... 13
Ch 1 – Viktor Kortchnoi: "I haven't discovered anything human in Karpov yet" .......................... 15
Ch 2 – Anatoly Karpov: "A roaring beast is better kept in its cage" .................................................. 31
Ch 3 – Garry Kasparov: "Putin is no better than Mugabe" .................................................................... 43
Ch 4 – Vladimir Kramnik: "My first name is still Vladimir, not ‘world champion’" ....................... 59
Ch 5 – Veselin Topalov: "I can never match Kasparov" ........................................................................... 77
Ch 6 – Vishy Anand: "In India chess is now exploding" .......................................................................... 93
Ch 7 – Magnus Carlsen: "I can always win, against anyone" ............................................................. 101
Ch 8 – Judit Polgar: "My colleagues see me as a man" ....................................................................... 111
Ch 9 – Alexandra Kosteniuk: "I am a chess star first, then a photo model" ................................ 127
Ch 10 – Hou Yifan: "I have a lot to learn from Polgar" ........................................................................... 141
PART II – World Toppers 2010-Now ................................................................................... 221
Ch 11 – Fabiano Caruana: "I have as much chance at the world title as the others" ................ 151
Ch 12 – Hikaru Nakamura: "Chess in the US has to boom again as under Fischer" ................. 161
Ch 13 – Levon Aronian: "I owe it to Armenia to become world champion".................................. 175
Ch 14 – Anish Giri: "I’ve a chance at the world title for many years to come" ............................ 187
Ch 15 – Jan Timman: "Apart from Kasparov and Karpov, I was clearly the best" ........................ 195
Ch 16 – Yasser Seirawan: "After eight years, I wanted to play a real tournament" .................... 207
Ch 17 – Michael Adams: "I am in a sombre period as far as chess is concerned" ...................... 217
PART III – World Toppers 1999-2010 .................................................................................. 221
Ch 18 – Peter Leko: "Fischer? Every chess player is a little crazy" ...................................................... 223
Ch 19 – Alexei Shirov: "Kasparov is a cheat, Kramnik an immoral cynic" ....................................... 239
Ch 20 – Mikhail Gurevich: "I’ve done nothing but play chess all my life"....................................... 255
Ch 21 – Joël Lautier: "That wasn’t childish, that was war!" .................................................................... 263
Ch 22 – Boris Gelfand: "Kasparov wants to play Kramnik for the rest of his life" ....................... 279
Ch 23 – Peter Svidler: "Kasparov has long ceased to be a scary monster" .................................... 285
Ch 24 – Teimour Radjabov: "I want to perform like Fischer or Kasparov" ..................................... 295
Ch 25 – Alexander Grischuk: "I’m actually middle-aged" ...................................................................... 303
Ch 26 – Loek van Wely: "My time has not yet come" ............................................................................. 309
Ch 27 – Sergei Tiviakov: "I’d rather enjoy my life than be in the 2700 club" ................................ 325
Ch 28 – Tea Lanchava: "Chess is about survival" ...................................................................................... 337
Ch 29 – Alex Yermolinsky: "I don’t play chess for money or fame, but for myself" ................... 351
PART IV – Science: Psychology, Computers And Composing .......................................... 363
Ch 30 – Jana Krivec: "Just go back and fight" ............................................................................................. 365
Ch 31 – Frederic Friedel: "That one mistake in a series of moves, Fritz will see it" ..................... 389
Ch 32 – Yochanan Afek: "I feel rich inside" .................................................................................................. 401
PART V – Covid Times: Chess Dip And Boom..................................................................... 411
Ch 33 – David Navara: "I have not forgotten how to play chess" ...................................................... 413
Ch 34 – Anna-Maja Kazarian: "I often win on Twitch against IM’s and even GM’s" .................. 433
Ch 35 – Jennifer Shahade: "The Queen’s Gambit has more impact on chess than Fischer" ... 451
Thank you! ................................................................................................................................................................ 469
