Lenier DOMINGUEZ: "WE ALL FOLLOW CHE GEVARA'S EXAMPLE"
The best chess player of the Latin America, World Blitz Chess Champion 2008 Lenier Dominguez Peres helps his girl-friend-physician, watches “Dr. House” and believes in the revolution ideals.
Lenier struggled up to the second round: only at the end of the tie breaks he managed to win unknown Australian chess player David Smerdon.
• I took seriously my preparations to the World Cup, I worked hard and I think that I started this tournament in a very good shape, - starts Lenier. – But last days before the tournament I practically did not have time to train, and it affected the result of my first round. I will try to win in classical games further. Blitz is very insidious thing…
• You, being the World Blitz Champion 2008, should not be afraid of 5 minutes games.
• To say the truth, I don't consider myself an excellent specialist in blitz… To my mind just all lucky stars met in the sky at the moment when I became the strongest at the championship.
• How did the Island of Freedom take your victory at the World championship?
• O, my compatriots were very happy about my victory. I was snowed under congratulations. I got the congratulations from the Government as well. Unfortunately I did not meet Fidel Castro. I would also like to mention that the leadership of my country is interested in chess and follow our results.
• You mean that the situation with chess in the Island of Freedom is quite good?
• I think that it is very good period for chess in Cuba. We have many young and talented chess players, government supports us very much. Our national team is quite ambitious. Nowadays the 7 th place at the 87 th Chess Olympiad in Calvia in 2004 was our best result ever. We are preparing for the Olympiad 2010 and I am sure we will compete for the medals.
• Do you have a T-shirt with Che Gevara picture under your sweater?
• Of course I have such a t-shirt, but I don't wear it now. We all follow the example of Che Gevara, he was a great person with great ideas. For all Cuban people he is a real hero.
• Cuban revolutionaries swore not to shave their beard before the victory of the revolution in the whole world… Maybe you also should not shave before you win, let's say World Championship?
• You know my teammate Lazaro Bruzon wears beard ala commandante all the time, - laughs Lenier. As for me, I am going to shave before tomorrow's game.
• What about your chess plans? Do you hope to become the strongest?
• I seriously work on chess now to be in the top ten. Maybe already next month I will succeed.
• During Tal Memorial in Moscow you were accompanied by a beautiful woman. Can you tell us about her?
• This is my girl friend. We are from one city and 7 years together. We are very happy and I am pleased to have her. She is physician. At the moment she makes her career in Europe. We support each other big time!
• How do you rest after the games? What do you do in your free time?
• I like to listen to the music and watch American soap operas. For the moment I am fascinated by the soap opera Dr. House. If the main character would play chess as good as he cures people, he would undoubtedly become the World Champion… Besides, I like other sport as well, one of my favorite is surely soccer.
• You must feel a little bit cold in Khanty Mansiysk in comparison with sunny Cuba?
• This is my third visit to Khanty. Last time I stayed in the hotel outside the city. So I did not have an opportunity to walk around this beautiful and calm city. But now I am staying almost in the centre and sometimes I get out from the hotel room to have a breath of this Siberian winter air. In general I like it here.
• There is such an opinion that serious chess players should better live in Europe. Only there all strong tournaments take place. And plus there are problems of often plane travels and jet lag. What do you think?
• It is true, I have to travel to Europe many times to prepare to the tournaments, to have training sessions. But it is also possible without change of residence. I want to play for Cuba!