Ray Robson: "They say I am an aggressive player"

Today chess in the USA is not only Nakamura and ex-representatives of the Soviet chess school. But it is also very perspective, according to specialists, Ray Robson and Robert Hess. World Cup 2009 is their first serious collision with the chess elite.

•  I am 15, - says Robson about himself. He looks much younger, one should say. – I live in Florida, East coast. My father taught me to play chess when I was 3. He did it because he needed a partner in game. I participated in my first tournament when I was 7. In 2007 I became an International master and just one month ago I became a Grandmaster.

•  Why did you start to play chess, and not let's say baseball or basketball?

•  My father taught me to play chess when I was small. Apart from chess I continue doing other sports: baseball, American soccer, tennis and table tennis. But most of all I like to play chess.

•  You study in the college?

•  No, I study at home, with private teachers. Besides, my parents are teachers. My father, who is with me here, teaches linguistics. My mom is Chinese and he is a Chinese language teacher.

•  You must be polyglot?

•  I speak English and understand Chinese.

•  Who is your coach?

•  Alexander Onischuk. But I don't work with him very often. He is busy playing in many tournaments. We meet some three times per year.

•  Have you been to Russia before?

•  Yes, I participated this year in “Moscow Open” and “Aeroflot Open”. In Moscow Open I was not playing very well. But I was good in Aeroflot Open, won three games in a row.

•  Are you planning to take part in these tournaments next year?

•  I am not sure. If I am not mistaken, one of these tournaments coincides with Corus at Wejk aan Zee where I will participate. Generally speaking I like to play in Aeroflot. But there is one minus – it is always difficult to get Russian visa.

•  What impressions do you have about Khanty Mansiysk?

•  To my mind it is very nice city. Of course it is much colder than in Florida for instance. But it is always good to have some change. And plus there is a lot of snow, I have never seen that much.

•  Have you ever played against Magnus Carlsen. Can you compare yourself with him?

•  I have never played against him, just met at the Tal Memorial in Moscow now. I don't dare to compare Carlsen not with me, and not with other chess players.

•  How could you define your playing style?

•  They say that I am an aggressive and attacking player.

•  Do you have a chess idol?

•  Perhaps it is Gary Kasparov

•  Are you going to become a chess professional?