01.04.2005 N.Short talks about Kasparov's retirement
 

Will Kasparov return to serious chess?

No, I don't think so. I tend to take his announcement seriously. When he said that he finishes his chess career, he meant it. Perhaps, if there is a big change, he might come back, but we've been in a fairly deplorable situation for a while, and it is not getting any better. Kasparov apparently has other things to do. He becomes a bit old for chess, but he is not an old man. This constant battling, necessity to prepare for the forthcoming games day after day – it wears you down. And Kasparov has achieved everything he wanted in chess.

Where would you place him among the other world champions?

Curiously, I wrote in my column in the Sunday Telegraph that Kasparov is the greatest player of all times – the same day his announcement appeared. It's a very strange coincidence. I was completely ignorant that he is going to quit chess.

Why do I claim that Kasparov is the best ever? Of course, nobody beats Lasker's record 27 years of holding the champion's title, but he was actually semi-active during that period. There is no comparison to Kasparov's career. Fischer, another man who is claimed to be the all-time best, won 19 consecutive games – I think, this is a record on a Grandmaster level. One could safely say that his hottest streak was little hotter than Kasparov's, but we have to look at totality, and this is where Garry takes over.

Kasparov is a unique figure. There is nobody of his stature. Other people, however, grow in stature. Look at Anand, who is crushing everybody in Monaco. This is of course not 'serious' chess, just blindfold and rapid, but it is a good indication of form. Anand seems to be in fabulous shape. Maybe it also has to do with sudden realization that the great obstacle has been removed...

What do you think about recent FIDE proposals concerning the championship match-tournament? What formula should be applied at the world championship?

FIDE didn't consult with anyone to make that proposal. It's a typical FIDE way of operating. They like to announce. It gives illusion that they are actually doing something. And it doesn't matter for them whether their announcements have any ground.

I spoke to Garry about the situation with the match in Dubai. He said he sees it time and time again, and that it's typical Ilyumzhinov – he wants Garry to come to shake hands with a sheikh, to make a photographic session with nice smiling faces – all that to cement his position before the chess olympiad. And when the olympiad is over, there is no match. I said: Garry, it is a very cynical way of thinking. But he obviously knows the guy better... Kasparov only demanded them putting some money into the secured bank account. Put the money, and I'll be there – quite simple. It is the only way to deal with the FIDE – otherwise he could risk signing for another soap bubble. This ruling clique has no respect from the leading players.

Talking of the world championship system – may I ask you what was wrong with the old system? I would like to go back to 1995. I met Kirsan in Jakarta, we had a dinner together, and Bachar Kouatly was also there. Kouatly told me that the old format is wrong, and what we want is a chess Wimbledon to bring more excitement. There was one major flaw in his reasoning. The world championship is the one event that for decades managed to attract publicity. Remember Fischer – Spassky, Karpov – Korchnoi, Kasparov – Karpov matches – they were tremendously covered worldwide. Even my match with Garry in London, though it was rather one-sided, had lots of publicity. FIDE started to temper with product that was a good product, while there were many lesser problems to deal with.

Right, sometimes it had been difficult to find a sponsorship for the earlier stages, like interzonals or playoff matches, but those problems were always successfully resolved. Perhaps the cycle could be shortened to make it a two-year, but I see no reason to abandon it.

The exciting 'chess Wimbledon' first took place in Las Vegas Caesar's Palace Hotel. I wonder what percentage of people in the hotel knew about the world championship. Supposedly, it was a rather small number. So, I would definitely prefer to see the old system.

Photo from ChessBase archive

Questions were asked by Misha Savinov.

This article is published with permission of Association of Chess Professionals