There is more return from chess than from soccer
Bronze medals of the Ukrainian team is a small miracle

Anatoli Jaworski
1.12.2000

 
The Olympiad is a tough test even for experienced players, to say nothing about the novices! In Istanbul, the Ukrainian team has produced to the world two novices at once: Vladimir Baklan (third board) and Vadim Malakhatko (the second reserve). The majority says that the players from Kiev did not spoil the game. Still, it is interesting to know how the grandmasters themselves assess their first performance. You can read about that and a plenty of other things in our «double interview».
 
 
- Tell, guys, were you afraid? Still, the responsibility is high.
 
Baklan: My knees did not knock together. I am not a greenhorn as I had a chance to play for many teams. As to responsibility... It is inherent with every professional, particularly in the competitions of such high level.
Malakhatko: I also did not feel any deep emotions. On the contrary, I was ready for a struggle. I wished to prove my worthiness for the team.
 
- How do you assess the team result and your own play?
 
Baklan: Bronze medal is a small miracle. That's it. Yes, we deserved it and our play was not bad. However, if you take into account how the team was preparing for the Olympiad, the attitude of the chess management and motivation, then the results turns to be more than good.
One should note that we were just lucky. In the concluding round we won the strong Bosnia and Herzegovina team and our main competitors, the Hungarians, could not crack less strong Slovenians. Also, the earlier match with Germany started not so successful for us but later everything ended favourably.
As far as my play is concerned, I should admit that I did not mobilized all my resources. To be more precise, I missed good chances in my last two games. These wins could have assisted my team immensely... On the other hand, I made no lapses. On the whole I played firmly.
Malakhatko: I agree to a «small miracle» definition. Before starting it was considered that we should aspire to enter the top ten. The fifth or sixth place was assessed as a success. That we managed to jump higher than that is due to the team's efforts plus a favourable set of circumstances. It's a pity this luck factor did not help me though I had a feeling that I could have played well. Probably, it happened so because I went out of the curl after the second round. I won the first two games and felt that I could build up by success. Instead, I was sent to rest - later the play slackened. It's hurtful that they did not listen to my words enough.
 
- It seems you have listed a lot of cons...
 
Baklan: So, we had many. Let's see how the team was formed. Nobody knew anything. As a result, Alexander Onischuk refused to play. Nothing good comes out of letting the players of such level go. I believe, even Russia could not have allowed of doing that. Generally, I would say, the organizing matters concerning the team were arranged at a good amateurish level. But the team consists of professionals.
Motivation makes another and separate topic. It's good that something was found, but these were just crumbs! Grandmasters spent plenty of time and efforts and won bronze medals for their country but can just dream about reward equal to merit. Deserved... I won't talk even that it's high time we have to follow other chess countries' cue. Let's take even Germany. They cherish their team players, not only the native Germans but also the «legionaries» - Artur Yusupov and Rustem Dautov. They are respected, certainly not like Robert Hubner but they are respected nevertheless. And the players sense all that, they feel they are necessary and work accordingly.
The other example. I am playing for the German club and get there a better attitude than here in Ukraine where I play for my team. The approaches to chess players are utterly different. The Germans ask me: What do you want? - the requests are met within reasonable limits.
Malakhatko: It's true there were many drawbacks. I refer to the preparation of the team and the bonuses. There was no coach, as a result we were left with mess-up. For example, though it could look like a trifle: whenever we could not decide who should play in the next round, a coin was tossed. I never saw anything like that in my life.
 
- By the way, why did you not have the coach/skipper in the team?
 
Baklan: That's the question not to us but to our chess management. I would add only that we badly needed an experience chess tutor. Because of his absence we provided a huge handicap for our rivals - on one day we were nervous about the team composition, the other day we did not understood the tactics for the match...
As contrary to us, the other strong teams procured excellent leaders. They are: Postovsky, an excellent psychologist and a master of organizational finesse, in Russia, Zoltan Ribli in Hungary. In Germany they had even two experts: Uve Boensch and Ray Tischbierek; the Netherlands had Genna Sosonko, Italy had Yuri Razuvaev, the USA - Larry Christiansen... In Ukraine there are very high professionals in the field as well. Alas, their services are not used.
Malakhatko: How many prominent grandmasters who can spearhead our team we have in Ukraine! During team competitions onlooking is very important. The coach observes everything better than a player who is bemused with games. Besides, the tutor provides for a civilized decision as to who plays when in the match, so it's not necessary to toss a coin.
 
- Did many participants of the Olympiad complained of the organizers?
 
Baklan: Certainly, there were asperities. But these occur always, moreover at the forums of such level.
Malakhatko: Yes, we stayed at a rather fair to middling hotel. Meals were weak. Still, the purely chess organisation was very good. We played in a big and comfortable hall and the lighting was superb.
 
- How did you spend your bronze night?
 
Baklan: We could not celebrate it in a special way. The after-match tiredness was terrific.
Malakhatko: That's true. We stayed at the banquet, then chatted at the hotel till two o'clock - no more ability to cope - and went to bed.
 
- Chess in Ukraine is out of favour now. What do you think is necessary to do to change the life for the better, as the saying goes?
 
Baklan: Wow, a good many. You see, we won bronze medals not due to but despite. All of us have a sense of dignity, we could not slack our work. I think, the traditional good performance of Ukrainian grandmasters look like the Pyrrhic victory. Those at the top consider, probably that we are just winning - once, second time, then third. OK. Most probable, they win the fourth time as well! I fear such attitude will tell very soon on our national chess capacity. Still, Ukraine cannot boast of many kinds of sports where its national team takes the third place in the world.
The other very important factor is that the chess is poorly promoted in our country. Everything starts and ends with soccer... Still, many countries know Vassily Ivanchuk better than the Kiev soccer team Dynamo. How to promote our play? There exist many ways to do that! Having the wish, chess may be made attractive even for TV. Do you remember the Karpov-Kasparov matches? Millions looked live TV at that time.
Malakhatko: There will be no progress until the state faces the chess. Sponsors will also sit and wait until that time. I happen to play in Poland often and have a chance to observe their chess life. The Poles pay decent allowances to their team players and local sponsors organize special tournaments for them. I also agree with Vladimir that making chess popular is essential. For instance, we brought home the medals - the TV mentioned it in a couple of words. As if it's not the team of the Country! Nobody is noticed and appreciated because of soccer. I agree that the soccer is the game number one, but the actual return of the soccer is much less than of chess.
 
 
 
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