Ukrainian inhabits ‘Planet Chucky’
Saturday, May 1, 2010 2:50 AM
By Shelby Lyman
Life and chess seem to be a perpetual balancing act for Vassily Ivanchuk.
The 41-year-old Ukrainian’s chess style is characterized by creative and unexpected moves. It teeters on a knife’s edge of spectacular performance – as in his recent co-championship at the Amber tournament in France – and embarrassing defeat.
In competitive chess, opponents who succumb one day bounce back with ferocity the next. Prey become predators.
Ivanchuk is particularly vulnerable to the emotional swings of such play.
At least twice during the past year and a half, he has publicly announced his retirement – then reneged – after a poor effort.
“These are emotional things coming from the heat of the moment,” he admitted.
Ivanchuk inhabits an eccentric universe, sometimes described affectionately as “Planet Chucky.”
As world champion Viswanathan Anand explained: “You never know what mood he is going to be in. I have seen him drunk and singing Ukrainian poetry and then the next day I have seen him give an impressive talk.
“For a while, he was trying to learn Turkish. Don’t ask me why. Every day is a surprise with him.”
Source: Columbus Dispatch
Chucky is a genius.
Everyone loves a happy drunk man.