Parimarjan NEGI: "I WILL DO MY BEST TO BECOME ANAND No.2"

Another young chess star of the World Cup is 15 years old Parimarjan Negi. He became the youngest Grandmaster of the world two years ago. In Khanty Mansiysk he lost in the tie breaks of Round 1 to Vadim Milov of Switzerland .

•  When I was 4, my father's friends presented us a chessboard and I learnt how to move pieces, - says Parimarjan. – Then I started to play chess and after a while I got the 5 th place in the tournament of my State. Since then I had to look at chess from a different side. I started thinking about chess as about my possible profession. With time I was getting better and better results. For instance I took the second place at the World Junior Championship U- 20 in 2008, half a point behind the winner.

•  Do you have a chess family?

•  No, my parents don't play chess. My father works in the airport traffic service, my mother works in an insurance company. My brother is 7 years old. He plays chess but without an interest.

•  Do you have a coach to help you?

•  I had many coaches but now I am working with Vladimir Chuchelov from Belgium .

•  They say that it is a real chess boom in India ?

•  That's correct. And we have to thank Vishy Anand for this. If you say chess in India , you mean Anand. He is my idol as well.

•  Do you get a financial support from the Government?

•  For the last three years I had a sponsor – an Indian company “Tata Group”. They covered all my chess expenses. Due to the financial crises the company decided to eliminate all contracts with sportsmen. Now the Indian Government supports me.

•  Which aims do you have in chess?

•  Ideally I would like to play like Anand. My dream is to have a chance to work with him one day. But at the moment I don't think he is interested. The difference in level is very big. I also have a local goal: to get 2650.

•  How is it to be the youngest Grandmaster in the world?

•  When I became a Grandmaster two years ago, I got an explosion of positive emotions. This is a great achievement of me; I had a long way to get it. But in general, nothing has changed. Obviously chess takes more time now. But I try to develop harmonically. I read a lot and I dream about simple things.

•  This is your first time in Khanty. Your impressions?

Before coming here everyone scared me with the cold weather. But I can admit that a human being could stand up many things. Minus ten is not crucial. I like the city very much. The tournament is organized on a very high level. In general I would have only pleasant impressions after this trip. The only thing that upsets me is my result. I could have played better.