- Ivan, the second day is over. How do you feel? What are your general impressions on the tournament?

- This is my fifth time in Khanty-Mansiysk and I am happy that it is not that cold this time. I like this place very much, the organization is good as usually. As for the tournament, of course 5 rounds per day is tough schedule, so I am tired already.

- What game of today can you call a principal one? Against Dreev maybe?

- All games at these championships are principal and important. Many opponents I play against here are over 2700. So far, I played Kamsky, Mamedjarov. Of course the game against Dreev can be considered as one the most important for me as it was the last round of the day. And it is very important to win the last game.

- Some people have an opinion that one should be very lucky to win in blitz and rapid. What do you think?

- Generally every sportsman should be lucky in every sport, not only in blitz or rapid to my mind.

- Did you have any special preparations before these championships?

- I have never played in any serious rapid or blitz tournaments before. I have no experience in fact. Before coming here, I had some friendly blitz matches against Antoaneta Stefanova but as I said nothing serious.

- We thank you so much for coming here even being tired. We wish you good luck at the tournament and hope to see you again.test

Ian Nepomniachtchi started the second day by defending his compatriot Alexei Dreev. He continued his victorious March with outplaying Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Boris Grachev (Russia) and Le Quang Liem (Vietnam). He just lost half a point in a game against Dmitry Andreikin.

The famous Russian commentator GM Sergey Shipov said the following on the successful start of Russian player:

«Ian is lucky at http://custompaperwritingservice.net the tournament to have three positive factors combined luckily for him, — Shipov thinks. He is in a great shape himself. And plus, his main competitors don’t show their best performance, due to different reasons. Grischuk is keeping secrets in his openings. Ponomariov is not in the best health shape. Dreev is not so young anymore to cope with tough tournament. I was expecting more from Andreikin, but maybe he doesn’t force the preparations, for he has more important tournament ahead — Tal Memorial.

Ian found the right balance between light and deep game. This is very important in rapid chess, where you don’t have a possibility to sink into the depth of the game. He plays very quickly and thinks deeply only in critical moments.

In recent years Nepomniachtchi was not so successful, but he worked hard and sooner or later the result has to come. In my opinion, he has a great chance to win two golden medals but let`s see what will happen.

Standings after 10 rounds: 1. Ian Nepomniachtchi - 9 points, 2-3. Ildar Khairullin, Ivan Cheparinov — 7, 4-9. Alexey Dreev (Russia), Vladimir Akopian (Armenia), Vladimir Potkin (Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Sergei Movsesian (Armenia)

The final five rounds of the World Rapid Chess Championship will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 3 p.m. local time. test

- You know, this result was a big surprise for me. When I was coming here I did not even think about victory. There are lots of strong chess players who are famous all over the world. I just wanted to see what will happen and who will become the Champion. In fact I cannot recollect any success in any previous blitz tournaments. For instance last time when I played Aeroflot, I played badly though I was fifth in the starting list. And in the final list I was not even in the first 50 players. Today I did not play very well but with each game I had better game. By the end of the day I started to play more confidently, making less mistakes.

- At some points you were two points ahead of your competitors. Did you feel that you have a chance to win?

- Yes, I was two points ahead but it was still unclear who will lead. This is blitz and if you make a small mistake – you lose. Everything I was thinking about at that moment is that I just have to play. Somewhere I started to put some pressure.

- Your compatriot showed good results as well. Did you prepare for these championships, perhaps by playing against each other?

- Yes, we were really training before the tournament. We were playing against each other and via Internet. This gave me more confidence.

- Is the victory in this championship your biggest success in your chess career?

- Yes, it is the biggest success in my life. It happens once in a while when someone wins the World Champion’s title. This victory is very important for me, As for the chess side, I see that I need to learn and learn. I will not practice more, I will play more chess.

- You are the first chess player from Vietnam who became the World Chess Champion. Do you feel like a hero of your country?

- Before this success I had some achievements in chess career. They know me in Vietnam, they recognize me in the streets. I would like to underline that today’s success will not only give me energy in my future career but also will help the chess development in my country.

- You were wearing the sport suit during all days of the championships. Now you have changed to the suit…

- Usually when I participate in rapid or blitz competitions, I wear something comfortable. Because I need to move pieces very quickly. But it is good to wear an official dress for the press conference and Closing Ceremony.

- Despite the fact that you had a big distance throughout the whole tournament. But in the last round all three chess players had almost equal chances. You played against Sergey Movsesian in the last round? What did you feel during this game.

- Before the last round it was an interesting situation. Several chess players had chances to win the tournament. I think that it was difficult not only for me. I came to play this game as all other games. I just played chess. I tried not to make mistakes. In the first game against Movsesian we had an equal position and came to a draw. Then I saw that Ponomariov won and I share the first place with him. That is why I thought that I have to take the second game against Movsesian more seriously. I thought I have to try to get some advantage and try to win. At some point I had worse position but then some chances appeared and I used them. Fortunately I managed to win.

- — After this victory, don’t you think it is high time to organize big international official chess tournaments in Vietnam to give you and other Vietnamese chess players a chance to participate in them.

- I would be really great if the Vietnamese Chess Academy and our country in general will organize big chess competitions of high level. The main problem is to find sponsors. Unfortunately chess is not so popular in our country as other sports. For instance football. But I think that thanks to our chess players and their success during last years and particularly thanks to this success of mine in this championship, people would have more interest in chess.

- What memories will you have after this tournament?

- I come to Khanty-Mansiysk for the 5th time. I was playing in the World Cup, took part in the World Chess Olympiad. There are many chess competitions of the international level, with good organization. I have very good memories about this city. It is a small and beautiful city. After this success Khanty-Mansiysk is a lucky place for me. I think it is just created for chess.

- Yan, let us congratulate you with this success, though we understand that you were hoping to get the gold medal. Tell us what has happened at the World Rapid Chess Championship during these three days.

- First of all thank you so much for your congratulations. The tournament is really strong, despite the fact that many chess players could not make it to come here. Many of them participated in the Sberbank rapid in Kiev. I was also invited there but refused for I wanted so much to participate in this tournament.

As far as the championship is concerned… I could not say that I was very lucky in the first two days. But when I had some difficulties, I managed to solve them in my favour. In fact, if I am not mistaken, almost the same situation happened in Astana when Carlsen was leading at the beginning many points ahead of his competitors. He also lost two games in the last day and could not cope with the task. The situation is not usual. When you are too far ahead, it is not clear what to do. If it’s only half a point, it would have been clear that one should play to win each game. I started with somehow awkward games against Akopian and Movsesian, then I was trying to get a big fight against Grischuk. Perhaps I should have tried to keep the drawish line till the end. To avoid a serious fight, let’s say to “float” till a draw. In general, it was not my day yesterday. In all games my positions were worse, except for the last one. I may say that I was lucky to manage three draws out of four games.

- Let us please about your game against Inarkiev in details. Do you think that you were lucky in this game

- After the opening we got the equal position, but then I was confused. I did not know if I should fix the equality or play to win. As a result we exchanged queens and it was wrong step. Later on I could not see variations and I blundered a pawn on d5. After that the first wish was to give up. But I was trying to build up a kind of blockade. There was no hint of blockade of course, as the pawn on b7 was lost. At least I could create some micro-difficulties for Ernesto. And he, in his turn, instead of taking knight on g6, decided to make a repetition. I did not pay attention to this for he had enough time. But when he made a repetition for the second time I did not lose my chance and asked for my draw. It was kind of a shock for me, truly speaking. I clearly understand how this could happen: it’s not possible to ask for three times repetition in blitz normally. At least it did not happen during those tournaments where I participated.

- After the game against Ernesto, you played the last round. Tell us how did it go?

- After what happened in the previous round, I was depressed. I hoped to get better position with small chances but instead of that we had a clear draw. But I did not lose courage, as it looked like Ernesto was nt going to lose to Shakhryar. But it turned out that Inarkiev presented half a point to me and later to my opponent.

- After it was known that you got the second place, what did you feel? Disappointment or joy?

- Let’s put it this way: I had contradictory feelings. I realized that I cannot blame my opponents for everything was in my hands. But playing like this I could have taken the third or even tenth place.

- At the end of the first blitz day you are in the leading group. What impressions do you have? How fast could you reorganize yourself from rapid to blitz?

- In general I should say that today I had “grounding day” – I finished the second rapid day with the game against Le Quang Liem. I won that game, was ahead of my competitors and you know how it all ended. It is not that I did not want to have points against Le but nevertheless I did not repeat my mistakes (laughing). I lost in the first game and made a draw in the second. I cannot say that was very much disappointed. For the sharing of the first place with equal points is better than break in two points. At least I will not have problems with self-motivation.

- It is well known that Khanty-Mansiysk is famous for its good organization not only of the chess tournaments but also other sport international competitions. What would you mark in the organization of this tournament?

- It is not my first time here and all tournaments were organized on the same, rather high level. It would be a good compliment I think, if I would say that have nothing to mark, for I am satisfied with everything.

- How do you consider your chess career? Aren’t you worried that despite your previous success you don’t have the achievement as the chess players of your age like Karjakin or Carlsen have.

- Thank you so much for the question. Last year was not lucky for me. In principle I played bad in all tournaments where I took part. This year it was a bit different. Now as a matter of fact it is not easy to be qualified to some tournaments. After I lost in my rating during last year, it is catastrophically difficult to participate in any tournament except for open ones. But I look forward with optimism and I hope that I will have good results.

Anastasia Karlovich: Our congratulations with your victory! Did you expect that you will win the championship?

- Before the start of the tournament, I believed in luck, but today I nearly lost my belief. Ian Nepomniachtchi was far ahead and he was playing confidently. But I realized that I just had to win, and it is easier for me rather than make a draw. That is why I was fighting and taking a risk in every game.

- Last year in Astana you managed to share 3-4 places in World Rapid Championship and this year you have such a success — you became a winner. Can you call yourself a specialist in rapid now?

- I always play not badly in rapid. In all important tournaments I managed to get some good place. But truly speaking, I thought that I play better blitz than rapid. And I have the opposite situation now. Perhaps everything comes with ages. Now I want to spend more time to think at the chess board. I hope that in the future I will be also successful in the classical chess.

- Sarkhan Gashimov once said that the week-end tournaments that used to take place in Baku before helped him to win one very strong blitz tournament. Did you participate in those tournaments as well?

- Yes, some five-six years ago this kind of tournaments was organized in Baku. We had rapid and blitz tournaments taking place every weekend. All our chess schools and the best chess players took part in these tournaments. Of course it helped a lot. You know, when I meet my friends, we have a chessboard in our pockets and we play blitz together with pleasure. Perhaps that is why Azerbaijani chess players show good chess in Khanty-Mansiysk now — Gadir Guseinov and Rauf Mamedov made plus three here.

- Last year in Astana Carlsen was also leading after the second day 2 points ahead of his competitors. And we all know what the final result was. When you played this time, did you have the same scenario in your mind?

- Of course it is strange that Carlsen missed his first place. But I had the same situations as well. For example, in one of the World blitz championships I had 8 out of 8 at the beginning, defeating Grischuk, Carlsen, Morozevich and other strong chess players. And in the end, I was not even in top ten, lost 16 games in a row. One does not forgive mistakes in blitz or rapid, only chess players of a high level play these formats.

Also, I remember one interesting casus. We played the Turkish Club Championship with Vugar Gashimov. He gained 13 out of 13 and got the second place. Because I had 15 out of 15 (laughing). As you see even if you win all the games it does not mean that you would win a tournament.

- Is it the first «adult» golden medal and the Champion’s title in Azerbaijani chess, isn’t it?

- Yes, this is our first Golden medal and title of the World Champion after Kasparov.

- How important is this victory for you? Can we say that one of your dreams came true?

- You know, when I drive fast in Azerbaijan and police stops me, I always say that I am the World Chess Champion, not going into details, that I am World Junior Chess Champion. It turns out that I was lying to them and it was not good. Now, if it happens again I would honestly say that I am really the World Rapid Chess Champion!

Sergey Karjakin did not come here to defend his title of the World Rapid Chess Champion. Do you plan to participate in Dubai next year?

- I would express my personal thanks to FIDE for the fact that those tournaments exist. For me, it is a great festival and holiday to participate in such tournaments. I think that we should not miss these tournaments. I never miss.

- Shakhriyar, in your game against Yan Nepomniachtchi, which was followed by the whole chess world, we can say this with confidence, after many pieces were exchanged, there was an impression that the position should be kept. But it turned out that Yan managed to realize his advantage, even small one. Why did it happen? Did you overestimate your position?

- During this championship I really sometimes underestimated my positions, the same happened in the game against Yan. I was following that Yan was doing well in the tournament and I had to fight against him. I really thought that the position was equal and I don’t have to do a lot to make a draw. But I was mistaken. But you know, when you play in such a tournament, you have the right to play one bad game, And I had this game with Yan.

- How will you celebrate your victory today?

- Truly speaking I have an impression that I had already celebrated it yesterday. That is why I will not celebrate today. I did not sleep till the morning yesterday, Me and my friends were watching football and after that we were discussing a lot of things, forgetting about chess.

- Tomorrow you will play the Blitz tournament. How do you estimate your chances?

- Blitz that I will start tomorrow, will be continued in Tal Mamorial. I will play 40 blitz games in a row. I already can imagine what will happen. I think I will have fun (laughing). I consider blitz tournament as the new tournament. I will try to forget about rapid and my success, in order to become the World Champion again!

- Do you have any rituals that you keep before each round? Maybe you have any talisman?

- No, I don’t have anything special. The only thing I always do is I sleep at night before a game. All these superstitions are not important for me. I change my shirt every day, I wear what I am comfortable in. One should just play and not pay attention to the small points.

- Almost all participants of the tournament underline the high level of the organization of these championships. What were you amazed with in Khanty-Mansiysk?

- When I came to Khanty-Mansiysk for the first time, I was amazed with a lot of things. It is a very small city, but they all like chess so much. Today everything is repeated for me in a good manner. Everything is on a high level, every chess player is respected here. I got accustomed to be in Khanty-Mansiysk. I play here for the sixth time already. You know, even in Azerbaijan there are some cities which I did not visit so many times. But Khanty-Mansiysk is my second home. I walk here a lot with pleasure. I know almost all her and it is very pleasant for me to play here. It is a chess city. And now, after my victory it is very lucky place for me.