Interview with Natalia Zhukova: Europe's First Women's Champion

By Mikhail Golubev
15.6.2000
 
www.kasparovchess.com/serve/templates/folders/show.asp?p_docID=7238&p_docLang=EN

 
It was impossible to find Natalia Zhukova in the Batumi hotel on the solemn closing day of the European Women's Championship, so it became necessary to call her the following day, June 15. My conscience told me that ten o'clock in the morning can be rather early, but chances to catch the European Champion were slipping away:
 
Natasha, hi! Forgive me if I woke you.
It's all right, we were celebrating the end of the tournament till five a.m., but I've been up since nine.
First, I congratulate you with for your remarkable success. Second, I want to have a short interview for KasparovChess. No objections?
No.
First question: Which game was critical, or key to your overall success in the tournament?
Game? Not match?
Yes, game.
I think the second game of the final match, when I managed to get revenge against Kovalevskaya.
Aha. I watched it: an Alekhine's Defence, position without exchange. How was your position?
In the beginning slightly worse for me, but after the exchange sacrifice, it was suddenly very good.
Do you consider this victory in the European Championship your greatest success?
Yes, I think it was my greatest, certainly.
And second after that?
My win at the women's super-tournament in Belgrade 1998.
Third?
My win at Groningen (1998-M.G.).
And what new goals do have now in chess?
To improve and to achieve more successes (She laughs). By the way, the knockout system is excellent. It's the system of the future.
Especially when you win?
When I win... Either way, with the knockout system it is clear that chess is a sport.
It seems you had to make a comeback two times during the tournament?
Yes, against Pokorna, and in the final against Kovalevskaya.
And what helped you to recover? Did you remember Khalifman? (Khalifman managed numerous comebacks within the knockout system of the 1999 FIDE World championships - M.G.)
Ha-Ha. Him too. You know, all chess players are superstitious; we remember anything that can help us. Actually, the support of my relatives helped a lot - the whole time they were calling, worried.
Yes - there wasn't much information about the tournament around the world - only KasparovChess provided Internet coverage - But family will always find you. And to whom would you dedicate the victory?
(Short pause) To my parents.
One touchy question, Natasha: in your consideration, should women play separately, or together with the men, or should they have the choice, as they do now?
To have the choice is always good... However, if prizes are equal, as in tennis... But all the same it is important to play with the men.
Then the next provocative question: if the men want to have the choice as well, will there be special men's tournaments? How would you respond to that?
It'll never happen. The men will not want it.
Natasha, how many interviews have you already given after your victory? Can you possibly count them all?
There are a lot of journalists, and phone calls, from a German chess magazine, for example... I can't count...
(I'm almost sure, that precisely one of those calls terminated Natasha's sleep. To maintain my illusion that it was not mine, I didn't ask again! - M.G.).
Then, I shall torment you no more... Thank you for the interview and, once again, accept my congratulations - your success is of great importance for Ukraine.
And for me too. When the Ukrainian hymn sounded yesterday in my honor, it was very important to me, a solemn moment.
Did you sing under the Ukrainian hymn?
Not, but all the same it was very important.
Yes, Ukraine has yearned for important victories. I can hardly remember now when was the last time... Which will be your next tournament?
I will have no tournaments in the near future, so I can rest.
OK. I wish you all the rest you need - today, and in the coming weeks!
Thanks.