The player from South-African Republic visited the press-center after losing the match to Humpy Koneru.
– Welcome, Denise, we are happy to see our guests from the other side of the globe. Is this your first time in Khanty-Mansiysk? Could you share your impressions about this place?
– Yes, this is my first time here. I am surprised how cold it is here, but I always wanted to visit this country and to take part in this tournament, although it was obvious that I will struggle against top players.
– Your rating is much lower than Koneru’s, but you still managed to put up a fight. Tell us about your strategy for this match.
– It was an honor for me to meet such a strong player as Humpy Koneru. I did my best to play fighting chess and not just sit there and wait to get crushed. There are two women international masters and one grandmaster in RSA. We always follow major events online, and it is a great honor for us to actually compete with people we usually just watch playing.
– What is the situation with chess in RSA?
– Chess is South Africa develops very quickly. I am the first grandmaster in Cape Town, and I am very proud of this achievement. We organize many international events and try to travel abroad as often as possible. We are using all our resources. I hope things are just getting started…
– Do you consider yourself a professional player? Do you teach chess or do something else?
– No, I am not a professional chess player, I am a sports psychologist. I work at school, do some dog training, some teaching, but my main occupation right now is writing a Ph. D. at the university. Chess is my passion, I really enjoy playing!
– Can you discuss the role of psychology in women’s chess?
– Women’s chess in very unpredictable and emotional. I think the role of psychology is underestimated in chess in general, compared to the technical aspects of the game. It is very important for the player to feel good, estimate her chances correctly, and concentrate highly on the game. Life is full of stress and it often affects our decisions, so we must learn to forget about everyday life problems during the game.
– Is chess supported by the government in your country?
– I cannot say that. I had to pay travel and living expenses myself to take part in this tournament. If you don’t have a sponsor, participating in tournaments abroad could be quite difficult. Fortunately, our new country president Jacob Zuma is working on a new strategy of sports development, and I hope his project will include chess as well.
– A strong Swiss tournament Ugra Governor Cup is starting in two days in Khanty-Mansiysk. Have you considered playing in it?
– If I knew about it in advance I would certainly play. However, I already have my return tickets. First I will fly to Moscow and explore this city. I always dreamed about it!
Official website: http://chess2012.ugrasport.com
She looks too good to be a chess player.