2002 Corus at Wijk aan Zee

Peter Leko on ICC

After round 9, Aviv Friedman (sveshi) interviewed GM Peter Leko on ICC channel 166.

Aviv interviewing Peter Leko.
photograph by Jan Van De Mortel

Corus: ICC welcomes GM Peter Leko to ch 166!

sveshi: first question: About his play and score in the event so far
GM Leko: I play ok, but so far I have been giving "too many presents" I could have won the game vs Bareev in one move, and yesterday I got a complete blackout when my opponent was already thinking of resigning
GM Leko: I played a very good game but at some point I just went crazy
GM Leko: my comfort and comepnsation is my win against Grischuk, points you might lose but brilliant games stay forever!

sveshi: Again a question about the absence of Kasparov and Kramnik and the reasons behind their absence
GM Leko: It is not bad for the event because now all have a chance for first place, while if Kasparov here it is a forgone conclusion!

sveshi: what players or books have influenced your chess career?
GM Leko: well books... Petrosian teaches chess is one of my first book which pleased me, and another about Keres, his games (I forgot the title)
GM Leko: I then had a professional trainer since age 10 (Tibor Karolyi) and by then that consumed all my time

sveshi: other interests than chess?
GM Leko: I play soccer 3-4 times a week and also tennis or squash, always some sports! and action, I think it is very important for players to refresh themselves with such activities or else the stress is too much

sveshi: can you tell us a bit about your study habits?
GM Leko: I study about 6 hours a day, today studying openings is the main concern, you always must be updated about the last word in many variations, it is a shame because there are middlegames and endgames you want to enjoy which are beautiful, and there is no time for that
GM Leko: I envy amateurs who can afford to spend their time doing that!

sveshi: what is the best chess book you have ever read?
GM Leko: perhaps I will mention the famous rook endgame book of Smyslov and Levenfish that left an impression on me, and of course the classic of the 1953 candidates' tournament in Zurich (although I have not gone through it all!)
GM Leko: Also creative chess by Israeli master Avni which was really nice, I won it as a youngster in some chess event

sveshi: Who do you feel is the greatest player of all time?
GM Leko: Kasparov and Fischer were the most brilliant, but it is hard to say because for example Botvinnik and his approach to chess was something special, and not to mention Tal and Capablanca

sveshi: Is it true you have met and been trained by Fischer?
GM Leko: I met him nearly 2 years ago in Hungary but since he left we have not kept in touch

sveshi: Have you been making a conscious effort to play more aggressively lately? (re: games in Corus, such as against Grischuk)
GM Leko: This is connected with my image of a boring drawish player, I already gave up on the hope to get rid of this label, which I disgaree with
GM Leko: I think I simply miss a lot of chances! I counted 16! wins I missed just this last year alone in games I played'

sveshi: What do you think of the role of computers in helping amateurs and professional players?
GM Leko: Of course nowdays having all this information on the database that all have which is a lot of help but as I said before is a shame
GM Leko: You lose creativity if you just rely on the computer to do all of your work, you must be careful of not using it all the time

sveshi: In your admitted ambition for the world championship conquest, do you feel like you are on track and will eventually achieve it?
GM Leko: I had a little crisis last year, and at the moment I want to refind my normal play and am not thinking about that. I am hoping that after I regaining my form, I will be pursuing the championship fully, again.

sveshi: what will it take for you to visit the US for a chess event, be it a world open or a closed event?
GM Leko: I am usually booked up year round, so far there is not much interesting chess happening in the USA, of course I like the US, which I had visited for the PCA grand prix and would love to come back if there is a good offer

sveshi: Kasparov has been quoted as saying that he doesn't know Ponomariov on sight, but yet Ponomariov is about to be the FIDE world champion. Do you think a "world champion" should have a history of experience against other elite players before rising to the top?
GM Leko: Of course it is a different story to win this strong event and be an elite regular player, but I predict that Ponomariov is very talented and in February he will be playing in Linares and so we could see what he is worth
GM Leko: I kind of lost interest in the world champs with this terribly short new FIDE time controls which at no fault of the players bring down the level of the games

sveshi: Do you have any superstitions, in chess or outside of chess?
GM Leko: No, I had 'winning clothes' in the past but since then I have learned to believe in myself!
GM Leko: after all the clothes have failed me, but I still believe in myself!

sveshi: any one specific game you would consider as your 'best ever'?
GM Leko: I don't have to go far for that: My Grischuk victory here is certainly a candidate,, also my win against Adams in Dortmund 99 which won the best game prize in the informator

sveshi: Do you ever visit or play on ICC?
GM Leko: I have not done that yet, I spend a lot of time working on chess seriously, and when I have free time I try to forget about it and do other things

sveshi: what is the hardest thing you've had to overcome in your life?
GM Leko: I have had a pretty difficult childhood with my commitment to becoming a strong chess player, there were no trainers around me and I had to travel as early as age 9 to other places to seek help, but it helped me, it strengthened me.
GM Leko: I want to mention my coaches that helped me become the youngest GM at age 14 and they are Tibor Karoliy and Andres Adorjan
GM Leko: after you achieve some success it compensates for the bad times!
GM Leko: Nowdays my father in law GM Arshak Petrosian is my trainer, he lives in the same town as I do, Szeged Hungary
GM Leko: and of course I still train with Cuban GM Amador Rodriguez (for over two years)

sveshi: Peter, will you play in any other world championship besides FIDE, if such thing occurs?
GM Leko: The Braingames event is going to happen in July 2002 and I will play so the answer is YES

sveshi: what is your relationship with Polgar sisters ?
GM Leko: Right now I only have contact with Judit who remained in Hungary, we travel together to many tournaments and her husband is a good friend of mine, so we are on good terms

sveshi: fischer random, pro or con?
GM Leko: I am a big fan of it and the events and hope that they will continue, the match between Adams and myself confirmed to me it can be interesting even at the highest levels and am looking forward for the next such event with me playing in it!
GM Leko: it is so nice not having to prepare before the games and then just come and play unexhausted and rely on your chess skills and creativity which of course you can not do in normal events
Editor: Fischer Random match Mainz, Germany June 26-29, 2001 "finger Mainz2001" on ICC. Leko 4.5 - Adams 3.5

sveshi: do you still have the same passion for chess you did when you were younger?
GM Leko: (laughing) when I can play Fischer random it is a relief, it is some kind of nice feeling of playing just purely, you are not forced to do things against your will which regular chess forces you, like playing aggressively when the position doesn't allow you in a certain opening

sveshi: what countries have you enjoyed playing in the most ?
GM Leko: I have played in some exotic places which is nice like Australia, Colombia, Cuba, Argentina, in Europe I have no fun at all, it is pure work in Europe, be it Wijk or Dortmund it is the same hard work feeling

sveshi: Are you related to kickboxer Stefan Leko, as implied on the Corus website?
GM Leko: I am not sure, maybe if you search back you will find him in my family tree

sveshi: What music do you like?
GM Leko: I am pretty updated with modern music, but it doesn't mean I like it all! Techno is not my style, anything decent is welcome

sveshi: When do you think Kasparov will be beatable? Will this be from him slipping or someone rising to his level?
GM Leko: well, he is already beatable as Kramnik has proven (he is human after all), now Kasparov after losing the match will have to prove his superiority again.

sveshi: What would you have done if you were not a chessplayer?
GM Leko: I decided to be a professional player at age 9! that makes that more difficult to answer... I wanted to be a football(soccer) star, but went for the individual game instead of being a part of the team, I was also a good student and could have followed my studies but chosen chess

sveshi: ICC thanks GM Leko for sharing his time and knowledge with us!