Interview with Vladimir Kramnik: excerpts

H/t to Twitter (what would I do without Twitter? What did I do before Twitter) for pointing me to this excellent interview with ex World Champion (and one of my favourite players of the current elite) Vladimir Kramnik.

http://www.chessintranslation.com/2013/08/kramnik-intellectual-effort-gives-me-enormous-pleasure/

Firstly, on the 1997 Kasparov match vs Deep Blue, Vlad's comments are most interesting. In my previous blogs I had presumed that by 1997 machines were stronger even than Garry, but Vlad suggests otherwise, and it was a case of being spooked.

Secondly, his comments on can chess be beautiful – yes, incredibly so, once you reach a sufficient level- I find beauty and joy all the time in chess- and on how he relaxes. I think I am very like him- I switch off by thinking about precisely the same things.

I don't know Vladimir at all well, but in the few chats I have had with him over the years, I have always felt great warmth to him: he is charming and interesting. Now I have a better understanding of why: we share the same interests.

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