Vassily IVANCHUK: "I was thrown out of a saddle"
After the loss in the Round 2, Vassily Ivanchuk looked like a broken-hearted man. It was obvious: he is genius; it is just difficult to stand up the loss to the young and unknown So Wesley from the Philippines . Undoubtedly these were emotions when he declared that he would stop the professional chess player career.
• I committed chess suicide, - starts Ivanchuk. – In the first game all went ok, I was about to win. I was almost sure that I am winning! And then… Then I just went crazy. At one point I could make a stalemate, but my position seemed to me perspective and I decided to continue playing. Perhaps the decision was right, if it were not a time trouble. Having two minutes against ten, you are doomed to failure. So, the result is obvious: an inadequate situation estimation which led to a tragedy. In the second game I was trying to make a balance, but I missed something. My opponent, by the way, played very badly.
• Have you every followed the games of So Wesley? How can you define him?
• Of course I have seen some games. I could give him characteristics, but I see no sense in it. I am not objective now.
• You previous visits to Khanty Mansiysk could not be called successful as well. They think that the main reason is that you play a lot during a year.
• It has nothing to do with the number of games! Unlucky days started when I could not win Vladimir Kramnik in the finals of Memorial Tal. But I could. The real tragedy started then. I was so much unlucky at the Moscow blitz, as I have never been unlucky in my life. I blundered all possible pieces: queen, rooks, and pawns. At that blitz tournament I was as if I was thrown out of a saddle. And plus, I was losing.
To my mind I should leave the professional chess now. Chess becomes hobby for me from now on. As for the signed contracts, yes, I will play in all tournaments where I have to. Perhaps I will even participate in a tournament before the New Year. I should win SOMETHING! And that will be the end. No serious plans, no professional goals.
• It is just one mini match. You should not lose hope.
• It was not just a match, it was a crucial match. I am sure, from now on I should forget about any serious aims in chess. I don't need anything from chess anymore. I start new life with new goals. Chess… I will become just a chess fan now. I will follow chess; will follow the games of my ex-colleagues.
• It is well known – chess and Ivanchuk cannot exist separately.
• This is right but in the past. And now chess is killing me. Chess is playing against me! Chess is destroying me! I would take it easy if my opponent would be much stronger than me, or he will be better prepared. But my loss was so stupid, it is a destiny sign, which screams: “Vasya, leave it, it is not your business”.
• There is an impression that you put all stakes on this tournament?
