Interview with Ivan Cheparinov

He has just won Sigeman & Co

Cheparinov at Sigeman & Co

Just a few hours after Ivan Cheparinov won the 2007 edition of Sigeman & Co he gave a telephone interview for chessdom.com.

Q: Hello Mr. Cheparinov! Congratulations on your victory! How do you feel?

A: Thank you very much. I feel ok, I just need some rest and I will try to win my last game too.

Q: Who was your most serious opponent in Malmo?

A: The competition is not finished yet, but the biggest contenders were Hillarp Persson and Jan Timman. Hillarp Persson was closely following me in the table until this round. Jan Timman is always dangerous because he is very experienced. He had a good winning streak in the second half of the competition and he has chances for the second place.

Q: Was there a battle of generations at Sigeman & Co?

A: Certainly, there were experienced players as well as young ones. It is difficult to say which generation had the advantage, but I think the experienced players were stronger at this competition.

Q: A few words about the organizers and the tournament?

A: Everything was perfect! I loved the conditions at the playing hall, the hotel was also very nice. Great work from the organizers.

Q: How come there are so many chess talents from a small country like Bulgaria?

A: Recently there has been a big rise of the level of chess in Bulgaria. I believe we will be a serious factor on the chess scene in the next years to come.

Cheparinov with Topalov
a great team

Q: Veselin Topalov practices with you, who do you practice with?

A: I prepare my games with Veselin. We work very well as a team and I feel I benefit a lot from our cooperation.

Q: What is the role of computers in chess?

A: The machines are an important factor in chess today. We use them more and more. Soon it will be impossible to win against them, but they are very helpful for developing chess skills. Of course, there is the negative side, the cheating possibility. However, with adequate control this problem can be eliminated.

Q: How do you find anti cheating measures nowadays?

A: Looking back at the last year you know that there were possible flaws in the Kramnik - Topalov match. In general the other tournaments were pretty secure. I personally did not like the Dresden 2007 organization. There the coaches had full access to the players and anti cheating measures were at their minimum.

Q: How will the situation be in Sofia? What anti cheating measures will be implemented?

A: As in every super tournament, I am sure there will be high quality measures. It was so in the years before, it will be so now.

Q: You said computers have more positive effects on chess. Do you think they are the key to success nowadays?

A: Computers are an important factor. However, there is only one key to success in chess - hard work. If you do not work hard, you cannot develop.

Cheparinov with his manager

Q: What are your plans for the near future?

A: First I will try to win the game tomorrow. Then, I need some rest and we have to work with Veselin Topalov on the upcoming M-Tel Masters. I hope that we prepare well and that Veselin will show he is the best at the moment.

Q: When is your next big competition?

A: In August I will play in a tournament in Amsterdam. It is a mixed field of young players and experienced ones. The best youngster will play next year in Monaco.

Q: How do you see chess in the future?

A: Chess needs to develop. That is why I support the idea of my manager, Silvio Danailov, for the creation of the Grand Slam. It will be a very dynamic competition with an interesting format. I love the idea that there will be a final match between the winners in Bilbao. There is one more factor that I would like to mention about the future of chess - it is the Internet. This is the media that has to make chess popular. In my small hometown everybody is following games on the Internet and there are big discussions. Chess is for everybody and the Internet is the only option to globalize it.