CHESS / INTERVIEW/PETER LEKO
‘Kramnik, Anand have nothing more to prove’
Peter Leko, the man who was Viswanathan Anand’s second against Anatoly Karpov in 1998, is now assisting Vladimir Kramnik, the player he challenged for the world crown in 2004, at the on-going World Championship. He is very happy about the match. “The world deserves this,” he says in a chat with Rakesh Rao.
Peter Leko was the best-kept secret of the on-going World Chess Championship in Bonn. At present, after Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, if there is one man the chess world wants to hear from, it’s Leko.
Leko, the man who assisted Anand in 1998 and challenged Kramnik for the world crown in 2004, is in the Russian camp as the challenger’s ‘second’.
The whole chess world remains curious to know how Leko felt to be part of Kramnik’s team against his “good friend” Anand. The affable Hungarian took some time off to speak to Sportstar.
Is his association with Kramnik for the match in any way likely to affect his friendship with Anand?
“I don’t think so. We are professionals and good friends. I share a professional relationship with many other players. Vishy (Anand) is a good friend and so is Kramnik. It is no secret that Anand had connections with Magnus (Carlsen) for this match. I have played with Magnus (earlier this year in an eight-game rapid match) and we share a good relationship. I think it is only fair that we help our other friends.”
How does he view two of his “friends” facing each other in such a huge match?
“Personally, we are friends and also rivals. Almost 10 years ago, I was with Anand (in the match against Anatoly Karpov). We have great respect for each other and my being with Kramnik for this match is not going to change anything. The very fact that I am here proves that I respect both players.
“After the retirement of Garry Kasparov, it was clear that Kramnik and Anand are the two strongest players in the world. They have proved their calibre for a long time and they have nothing more to prove here.
“It is really nice that these two good players are playing a match. The match will not only be interesting but also be very fairly played. I am very happy this match is happening in such a wonderful environment, in the middle of Europe. The world deserves this match.
When asked whether he was entrusted with a specific area of work as Kramnik’s ‘second’, Leko said, “I think, Vlad (Kramnik) knows enough about opening and he does not need my help. Yes, I have a role but I can discuss it only after the end of the match.”
To questions about his coming out of “hiding” for the second game, Leko said: “I heard that the playing site (venue) is beautiful and decided to come and have a look. I was curious to see the game. The atmosphere is great. The game has generated huge interest. That’s why I am here. I respect both players. It was not that I was hiding somewhere (laughs). So far the sun is shining and it is not such a bad idea to take a walk here.”
How did he manage to take time off to accept Kramnik’s offer?
“You understand that I had a very busy schedule with tournaments happening everywhere. It has not been an easy year. But it is okay. You have to work on your chess anyway.
On how he managed to keep the secret of being Kramnik’s second, Leko said, “It was not easy. But if it should be kept a secret, then it should be kept a secret.”
Source: http://www.sportstaronnet.com/
From the results in the Anand – Karpov 1998 and the Anand – Kramnik match so far, Leko appears to be quite the poison pawn eh! Time to fly in Svidler and Bareev.
Probably not Svidler as he is playing for Baden-Boden in the ECC and I hope they will win the title. Also, Svidler will have his mind on the play-offs of the Russian Championship at the end of October, so quite a busy schedule for him anyway. By the way, not much the interview with Leko is telling, is it?! Close to nothing, to be frank.