Interview with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Video (Russian), transcript (English)

English transcript:

Mr. Mamedyarov, please share for the audience of Chessdom.com your impressions from the Mtel Masters Tournament and how do you evaluate your performance?

It seems to me, that the organization of the tournament was simply great. I like it very much. Here we had everything for the chess players: a day off, before that a ceremony and a special party ("Black and White Party" red.note) for the participants in the tournament, a magnificent hotel, playing hall and play settings… in general I liked everything. I want to use the opportunity to thank to the organizers and the sponsors, of course, for their love and support towards chess.

What are your plans for the next few months?

For now, I know for sure that I will play in Dortmund. It is also going to be difficult there, because it is a super-tournament with 8 participants – Kramnik, Anand, Carlsen, Leko, Gelfand, Naiditsch, Alexeev (Arkadij Naiditsch is from Latvia by birth, but at the moment is the strongest chess player in Germany, and Evgeny Alexeev is the chess player that won the Aeroflot Tournament red.note) and myself. I will also take part in the team championship of France with the Chess15 Club.

Round 1: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

You are already being invited to partake in Super-tournaments - why aren’t you included among the participants in the World Championship Qualifications?

Because two years ago in Hanti-Manseek at the World Cup I did not play well and my rating was low, not very low, it was 2670. I was very tired at this tournament, did not play well, did not qualify among the first sixteen and that’s why I could not make it to the list with the participants for the World Championship Qualifiactions.

Who will represent Azerbaijan at the world championship of Europe and according to you, what are the chances for Azerbaijan at this European Championship?

It is still not clear. We have many strong chess players. All of us, even the last 5th person in the list is with very high rating. Therefore, we have very good chances. After all, it will be good if Rajabov and I take part, but nothing is decided yet.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

GM Ibrahimov is your second, and as you said at one of the press conferences here, a good friend of yours. How long have you worked together? Tell us something more about him…

We are more friends than chess associates. He, of course, helped me in this tournament as well, but his help is more his friendship that related to chess. Rasul, of course, is a great chess player. He can evaluate perfectly every chess game. But for me his friendship, understanding and support mean much more that the technical details on a chess game. He constantly follows my mood, whether I win or lose, and gives me the best advice which I try to follow.

Mtel Masters: drawing lots

You said that you liked the organization of the M-tel Masters Tournament a lot. Do you consider participating in the Tournament next year?

If I am invited, I will participate for sure. The organization and the tournament are great and I will play in it with great pleasure next year.