FIDE World Championship 2005, San Luis, Argentina. Press
Release Interviews: Leko
Peter Leko talking about his win against Peter
Svidler in Round 3 Wijk aan Zee 2005. Photo © Michiel
Abeln.
WCC San Luis 2005 Press Release
Buenos Aires, August 9th,
2005
Leko: "This will be the main event of the year"
Hungarian chess player Peter Leko exchanged some feelings about the
World Chess Championship San Luis 2005 with its Press Office. He is sure that
"the pressure on the players will be tremendous", and that "everybody has a
decent chance to win". That's why he thinks that it will be a very close
competition, with a winner that "will be most likely decided in the last round
only if not in a possible tie-break". He also remembered his trip to Argentina
in 1994, when he, a great football fan, visited River Plate team and met former
goalkeeper Sergio Goycoechea and then national captain Daniel Passarella.
Transcription of the 10 questions and answers exchanged with Peter
Leko:
1) What are your expectations about this important
competition?
Everything is possible if I am able to show my best chess.
But I am not thinking about the final result that much. My approach is just to
play game per game as good as possible - step by step. My opponents are strong
but I will fight.
2) How do you evaluate the way of play of this
competition? (Double round-robin)
The double round robin format is
nothing unusual for top players. We play it quite similar year by year in
Linares. But the situation in San Luis will be rather different because the
pressure is much higher as normal. A good mental and physical shape will be
required.
3) Which are your favourite players among your seven
opponents? And who will be the toughest?
This is a difficult question.
Of course Anand and Topalov are the favourites if you just consider the
ratings. But as I said: all players participating in San Luis are very strong.
I think everybody has a decent chance to win this. You know, it is just one
event and by the end of the day you need also a little bit of luck. But I am
sure that we can expect a very close competition and the winner will be most
likely decided in the last round only if not in a possible tie-break.
4) How are you preparing yourself for the WCC Argentina 2005?
In
terms of chess there will be nothing special. I will have a more general
preparation. You can not compare a tournament with a match against one player
as I had it last year against Kramnik. In a match it is necessary to dedicate a
big part of your preparation especially towards him. But it is impossible to do
the same with seven opponents. For San Luis you need to be motivated, fresh,
full of energy, and very flexible.
5) Do you think that you will be
coming being in your best competition level?
After my match with
Vladimir Kramnik I was able to win the super tournament at Wijk aan Zee in
January 2005. At this time I needed to prove something to myself. Since then I
am fully focussing on San Luis. Therefore I think the not very convincing
result in Dortmund in July is in a way logical but has nothing to do with my
real strength. I am increasingly optimistic that I will play in San Luis very
well. You know, I won already all classical super tournaments: Dortmund,
Linares and Wijk aan Zee. It should be possible to do the same in San Luis.
6) Which will be the "tips" to win the competition?
Sorry,
I am for sure not the one who will talk about "tips" but of course I have some
understandings of what should be done. I will keep them secretly!
7) Will this tournament be very different from all the others you have
already played?
Yes. This not only a super tournament but an event for
the title. The pressure on the players will be tremendous. One will need a good
nerve system.
8) Will the spectators be seeing "new things" in the
way of playing?
I am sure that the players are trying to present some
novelties by developing certain opening systems. But I do not think that this
will be the most decisive factor. I very much hope that we can expect a lot of
great games, no blunders, and the fans all around the world will enjoy the
competition.
9) Why should spectators don't miss this
championship?
Sorry, I don't want to be harsh. But I can assure you
that the chess lovers will not miss it. This will be the main event of the year
and people are already getting excited.
10) Name the first things
that come into your mind when you think of Argentina.
Of course the
National Football Team of Argentina as I am a passionate soccer player myself.
I visited Argentina once in 1994. At that time I was invited to meet the River
Plate team. My talks with the legendary goalkeeper Sergio Goycoechea and the
then national coach Daniel Passarella will be unforgettable.
Source:
Press Office of the WCC San Luis 2005
Short biography:
Peter
Leko:
Grand Master. Born in Subotica on September 8th, 1979. Today,
with a 2763 ELO he is world's number 4. He was very close of beating Vladimir
Kramnik at the Professional World Chess Championship, but in the last game he
lost and since they tied up in points, the title remained in the champion's
hands. He is considered to be one of the most important theorists of the
circuit. His youth and his aggressive style make him a major candidate to win
FIDE's championship.
Contact: Diego Gómez Press Office of the
WCC San Luis 2005 Private mail: dgomez@nuevacom.com.ar Phone: +54 11 4326 7828
Mobile: +54 11 15 5468 7251 |
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