ALEXANDRA KOSTENYUK: “I SHOULD CONTACT L'OREAL!”

The Women's World Champion Alexandra Kostenyuk was not lucky in the drawing of colors: she had to meet one of the best Grandmasters of the world Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the Round 1. Nevertheless, Alexandra was very optimistic…

•  I never had any hang-ups with men, - says Alexandra. Another question is that Shakhriyar is very strong chess player indeed. And what is amazing we had very strange game. As if we were competing who plays worse. He badly started his opening and I reacted indifferently on it. He chose a wrong plan and I replied the same. Since I was the last one to make mistake, he is in the second round.

•  Were you disappointed?

•  Of course. But I will not make a tragedy out of ir.

•  Is there any special way to play against men?

•  When I play against woman, I am more responsible for the result makes big sense for me. Every woman chess player would like to win the World Champion. Every woman opponent takes our competition more seriously than other. I remember I came to Dresden Olympiad very tired, because of Women's World Championship. In fact, I did not have a single unimportant game. Every played against me as if it was the last game. And what is the most interesting: those who won in the first game, lost the second one. This is logical to my mind. The main task was fulfilled. The rest is not important anymore…

•  Let's come to more positive emotions – to magnificent victory of your national team in the European Championship where the Russians defended the title.

•  Indeed, it is more pleasant to speak about it. In fact, the start of the championship was not that positive for our team. We lost in the Round 2 match to the Georgian team. But as turned out, this loss helped us further. After it we understood, we have nothing to lose and started playing… very well. We won the Ukrainian team, this happened after many years. The most nervous match was against Czech team. We were on the verge of catastrophe. After all, we managed to win 3-1. Objectively, it was fair that we won. In most of the matches we did not gain enough. But at least we had a clear draw in a pocket.

•  Did something change in your life after you became the Women's World Champion?

•  Despite my expectations – practically nothing. The old problems did not disappear. On the contrary, the new problems appeared. I am expected to only win. Therefore I have to work harder. In addition I am mother. And I don't have as much time for chess as I want.

•  What is your relation with the National federation?

•  They have changed in principle. Most probably we have different vision of the process. I think that the national federation, as big as the Russian one for instance, has its duties which it should carry out. Being a chess player, I also have my duties to perform. We depend on each other. If a federation does not do its work, it doesn't give me a chance to do my job professionally. Sometimes they depict me in a bad way, as if I am always unsatisfied with something. My opinion: if not me, who? If everyone keeps silence, it could seem that everyone is happy with the situation. But the situation is following: you always have to ask for money for training camps. Sometimes you get it. But only sometimes. Sometimes they only promise. And after the camp you realize that it was only a promise.

It is an absurd situation: I spend my prize money for camps. And chess is not well-paid sport. I always say that Russia is one of the chess giants of the world. Russia knows what is chess, they love chess, there are a lot of tournaments here. If not here, where professional chess players should get the normal conditions for work? Ahead is one of the greatest chess events ever – Chess Olympiad. It is very important that the federation authority already now think how they will solve the preparation issues.

•  What can you tell us about your activity in the FIDE Presidential Board? Your colleagues give high praise to your work.

•  I am very happy that I have an opportunity to influence some important decisions for chess. I see the potential of women's chess. It is not less than men's one.

•  Do you have an idea how to attract the sponsors to women's chess?

•  The constant work of a high quality of professional managers is needed. They should inform how good chess is, how strong the young female chess players are, how much a company wins if they cooperate with women's chess. This work should be done constantly.

•  We heard that you managed to find a personal sponsor, women clothes brand company.

•  It was only my initiative. I like to look good. It means that a beauty and an intellect is not separable. Once I visited a brand shop “Zimaletto”, it is close to where I live in Moscow . I liked the collection and decided to write a letter. I wrote about myself and offered an idea to create a collection of a “smart” cloth. They replied and we started to cooperate. Now the company is working on the sport collection, it will come out in February with name “Chess queen”. The white and black colors will prevail. And I am a role model of this company.

•  What do you think can it work with “L'Oreal” or “Escada” for instance?

•  Why not? I think we should have long ago started cooperating with serious sponsors. I personally just don't have time. Sometimes I make a joke that a professional chess player has 10 hours working day. He works for 2 hours, then he plays for 5 hours and in the evening he prepares for tomorrow's game. And you should also manage your personal life somehow!

•  The vest you wear now, does it symbolize anything?

•  I am sure you will not see me in this vest anymore (laughing). First time I wore it during the match against Czech team at the championship. I got the loosing position and could hardly win. “Ok, - I thought. – I could manage to balance. So, I should not think that it is an unlucky cloth”. Later on I put on the vest again at the Blitz Championship. The result is known: 1.5 points out of 14. Today I decided to wear it again for I realized that nothing to lose in fact, after the loss in the first game.

•  Are you superstitious?

•  To some extent. I try to release myself from bad thoughts. But sometimes they come to my mind without asking me.

•  Your future plans?

•  In a week I will play in the Rapid Cup in Turkey . Then I am planning to have a rest: I am playing non-stop since October. I have been with my daughter only 10 days during 2 months. Many tournaments are planned for 2010: Chess Olympiad in Khanty, World Chess Championship. This will be an eventful year. All is almost planned.

•  What about children's tournament named after you in Kalmykia?

•  I forgot it! Of course I will open the 3 rd Cup of Alexandra Kostenyuk in Elista! I visit the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia with pleasure every time. I know: they love me there and wait for me. About 100 children, 6-8 year old, will take part in the Cup. The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will open the Cup as well.

•  So, we will not see you at the Super finals of the Russian championship?