2012 was a good year, but 2011 was better: Zhansaya Abdumalik – Interview
04.01.2013
Almaty journalists had a chance to play against world chess champion Zhansaya Abdumalik. Zhansaya played a simultaneous exhibition against seven chess players, including journalists and Kazakhstan Chess Federation representatives on December 26, 2012. She experienced no problems and won 7:0. Zhansaya gave an interview after the simultaneous and told about the outgoing year and what she liked doing in her spare time.
A: Judging by the tournaments that I’ve played in the year was quite good. I wouldn’t say it was perfect, because I played better in 2011. I am going to train intensively for the new tournaments to make the next year the best year in my professional career.
Q: You became second at the World Youth Chess Championship in Slovenia couple mouths ago. What do you think about this tournament?
A: I am a little disappointed. I had to win the gold, but failed to get it. However this gives me a strong motivation to become the best chess-player in the world once again. We have analyzed all the games, studies all the mistakes I made. My family-members are comforting me saying that nothing bad has happened. They are sure that I will win gold at the next World Championship!
Q: You remained the leader of the Championship in Maribor for a long time, but then you gave way to your competitor from India.
A: I think that the third game against the India’s player was the key game at the world championship. I had been preparing for that gave very thoroughly and during the game I got the exact same combination that I had studied during the preparations. However it got a feeling that there was a hidden threat in the opponent’s maneuvers and I made a move that was different from one I made during the training. As the result I lost a lot of time and important points.
Q: Did you like Slovenia?
A: Yes, Maribor is quite a beautiful city. The Championship was held at a ski resort and the nature around was amazing. This country left me with some good memories.
Q: It is no longer interesting for you to play against girls of your age, is it?
A: Of course I prefer to play against older chess-players, for example, against Grand Masters, there is much I can learn from them. But I like playing against girls of my age, too.
Q: How many hours a day do you usually play chess?
A: About six hours. When I was studying in Singapore Chess Academy I had the following schedule: three hours of training in the morning, then a lunch break and three more hours of training. After that I swam in the pool for two hours, had dinner and went to bed.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I like swimming. I don’t have a coach, I just swim. I also like to skate and go to the movies. And I really love fishing! Sometimes we go fishing with my grandfather and my whole family to camp overnight, we set up tents and fish!
Q: You have played in many International tournaments. What country did you like the most?
A: Vietnam left me with the brightest memories. That was my first world championship that I won. I liked it in India, too, I visited Taj-Mahal there. It’s a pity it was scorchingly hot and it was impossible to walk outside. And I liked Paris a lot as well (laughing).
Q: Have you ever played simultaneous before?
A: Only once in Aktau. I played against employers of one of the oil companies; they set forth five chess-players against me. I won 5:0 (smiling).
Source: http://en.tengrinews.kz
The next Pogonina!