New Year Q&A with German media

My New Year Q&A with German media:

1.Who in your opinion is the most overestimated and the most underestimated player in the history of chess?

Over, not really. Under, some such as Bronstein, Korchnoi, Keres, Polugaevsky, etc.

2. What do you think is the most harmful development in modern chess?

Chess politics! Chess in itself is a wonderful game and it can be very big in the mainstream if it is being allowed to be promoted properly. But as I have seen in many chess federations, chess politics within national and international chess is giving it a bad reputation. Chess is too small now. Therefore, we must work together for the benefit of this game instead of against each other.

3. Which slogan would you use in a chess advertisement?

“Get Smart! Play Chess!” There are many other examples.

4. Which prejudices about you personally or your chess would you like to do away with?

My goal in chess is to clean up chess corruption and promoting this game the right way globally so it can benefit generations to come. Some chess politicians may not like this but I will not back down on this point. I am also not Kasparov. I have no interest in national or global politics. My love is chess. I will dedicate the rest of my life to promote and expand this game the way it should be. Chess in education is also a very important part of my chess promotion.

5. Which characteristics of chess players are typical? (positive and negative)

Perhaps too much focus in the game and not enough the beauty of life. There should be a balance.

6. Which topics should be discussed more amongst chess players and in the chess press?

For chess players, how to unite for the best interest of our game in the future. No rule should be made to benefit one player. Rules should be fair for all chess players. For the chess press, let’s focus more on the so many benefits, interesting and positive things about chess instead of overdoing it with the negative stories.

7. What would you like to learn in your future life and what do you regret not having learnt?

I never stop learning. When I was a professional player, I focused on being the best in chess. Now I focus on promoting chess, promoting chess in education, organizing top-notch chess tournaments for professionals, amateurs, and young people, getting more sponsorships for chess, writing chess books, making chess DVDs, writing chess columns, teaching chess, running SPICE (the first university chess institute of its kind in the world), running a chess business, trying to be a good mother, etc. I would like to continue to improve in all of those areas. There is no reason why a chess player cannot be successful in many other areas other than playing the game. I am sorry I never learned to play any instrument…yet.

8. Which dream are you still hoping to come true?

Bringing chess to the mainstream! I believe it can be done. I will do everything in my power to help make this happen for the benefit of our entire sport.

9. In which situations do you feel really embarrassed?

I am embarrassed with the behavior of some chess players and chess politicians. Luckily, this is a very small number.

10. What is your life motto?

In chess: “Win with grace, lose with dignity!”
In life: “Each day is a new day for learning and improving.” You should never stop learning and improving yourself.

11. Which abuses/injustices in your country you would remedy/abolish if you had the power to do that?

Discrimination of any kind, such as discrimination of race, gender, religion, etc. I faced too much of it in my life and I don’t want to see it happen to anyone else.

12. Who are in your opinion the most impressive people in world history?

Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Gates, Leonardo Da Vinci, so many to list.

13. Which question would you like to be asked and what would be your answer to that question?

Why do I still focus so much in chess after the prime of my playing career? I love this game. It has given me so much in my life. But there are many flaws which stop the expansion and growth of it. So instead of criticizing while doing nothing, I decided to fix things and make it better for my colleagues and for chess players of future generations. If everyone only talks about the problems, it will not be fixed. We must take one step at a time to fix things and I am willing to work and cooperate with anyone who also wants good things for chess.

14. current question: How do you see the future of chess?

Great! It will get better and bigger.