Interview with Ruslan Ponomariov
Young Star On the Rise

By Mikhail Golubev
www.Kasparovchess.com, 15.5.2000

 
So, Ruslan, we meet again after five months. Your result of 7 out of 8 on the first board of the Ukrainian Team Championship may be considered a successful comeback, correct?
Certainly, to get 7 out of 8 on the first board is not a bad result. I managed to raise my rating by 10 points. Also, I'm happy with the outcomes of some creative work as several good games were played: with S. Savchenko and O. Alexandrova. Our team played well too (A. V. Momot, Regional Donetsk Chess Club - M.G.). Having the seventh average rating, we took third place, giving up only to the seven-time champion of the Ukraine, the Danko-Donbass team, and the Juridicial Academy team, which is the current champion.
Sorry if it's a secret, but what have you been doing all these months?
No secret at all. This year I will graduate from my eleventh year at school. I have had to concentrate on my study as I've wished to get a University education. Still, I'm undecided as to what University to choose.
What about chess?
That's for certain.
My understanding is that a serious professional chess player wakes up thinking about what to play against the Grunfeld. Do you agree to that and does this definition suit you?
My approach is rather professional, still no such thoughts call on me in the morning. Everything depends on the approach. I believe that chess is not defined by the Grunfeld Defense...
By the way, I'll tell you a curious story about opening preparation. It happened in 1995 at the Ukraine semi-final for those below 20 in Vinnitsa. After my second win, the coaches decided to have an informal party. Incidentally, they nibbled at the well-known 'Siberian Trap' in the Sicilian Defense. 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd 3.c3 dxc 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4! (be careful, the catch is coming!) 9.h3? Nd4!!. White resigned as he was either losing the Queen or getting mate. The end of the story was quite unexpected: a piece of plaster fell off the ceiling just on the chess board a moment after the adversaries left the table. Probably, the 'Siberian Trap' saved them lives. I was twelve at the time. That dreadful story was long and impressive, at least for me. The next day I played with Surjadnij, an International Master. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.a4 Nc6 8.Qe2 Qc7! 9.Nc3 Bd6 10.dxc5 Bc5 11.e4, I looked up at the ceiling in spite of myself and noticed a tiny crack. It followed 11...Ng4 - beware! 12.h3? Nd4!! It was all over!!! Hardly had I managed to sign the form when my coach came up and briskly questioned me about the result. I told him I won with the 'Siberian Trap,' not with the Sicilian. The answer was: «You see now what the openings preparation means!» Let the reader decide.
After Leko came out of the 'Junior age' you became, at last, the world's number one player in the 'under twenty' category. What will happen when you turn twenty in three years' time? What line will you take in the adult world rating?
Two years ago I was one-and-first in the FIDE rating list. Now I am fifty-first. I have nothing to stop me from being first in three years' time.
As far as I know, your next tournament is the Lausanne Young Masters. Last year, Bacrot took the advantage in the final and got clear away again. This year he will not participate if the official site is correct. Will you comment on that?
Etienne Bacrot is a junior chess leader. He was raised by such famous chess masters as I. Dorfman and Z. Azmaparaishvili. Nowadays he is assisted by A. Nikitin. Once, all of them were G. Kasparov's coaches. In France, there is substantial sponsorship as well. Bacrot's absence in the Young Masters tournament is due, probably, to his participation in the supertournament in Belgrade that happens to be at the same time. I wish Etienne success and to let him keep the reputation of young players high. As for us, we'll meet at the chess-board again.
Let's change the topic. It's difficult to avoid this question when interviewing a young chess player: can you imagine the chess world without computers?
Today, all of the strongest chess players work with a computer. I do not know any first-hundred player who does not have a computer. So, I have no choice in my answer. The world can exist without computers in case of the Apocalypse only.
What's your opinion on the future of chess and the Internet? It seems that you have not taken part in serious on-line competition so far?
Ostap Bender, a hero of a famous novel by Ilf and Petrov, lectured in New Vasyuki and prophesied that this provincial town would become the chess capital of the Universe. I believe the development of the Internet makes all that real. It is unnecessary to go somewhere if you play on-line. The chess fans will be in a better position as well because they will watch the progress of the game move by move and video communication will enable them to observe the reactions of the adversaries to each move of the partner. A bigger chess audience will help to attract additional funds.
Instead of asking about your «creative and sports plans,» I would just like you to appear more frequently in tournaments. Can we rely on that?
Yes. Now I have chosen Switzerland as my pilgrimage. I am going to take part in Young Masters in Lausanne, as we mentioned earlier, and then in the strong Robin tournament in Biel.