Today the RSSU graduate Ernesto Inarkiev is one of the leading chess players of the world. The grandmaster from Moscow doesn’t forget his Alma Mater: this year he took part in the press-conference and the Ceremony Opening of the children’s tournaments of the RSSU Cup, 2017 Moscow Open. After that he dropped in the press center and answered several questions.
- Hello, Ernesto! You are the constant participant of the RSSU Cup, Moscow Open. Tell us how many tournaments did you participate in?
- I played 6 times in the Moscow Open. It’s interesting that in five tournaments I scored 7 of 9 points, except the year of 2015, when I managed to score 8 points and gain the victory. In general, this tournament has been very successful for me, each edition provided me with at least a 10-point advantage in the FIDE Ranking. Last year I scored 7 of 8 points and had a great desire to score 8 points again – it would provide me with the first place, but I lost in the last round. It turned to be hard to win two festivals in a row. The competition of such a format makes you show your best skills. In my opinion, a strong player must play equally well in the tournaments held in the format of a round-robin system and a Swiss system. And I believe, the Moscow Open gave me much in this respect.
- What did the RSSU provide you with from the chess point of view?
- When I entered the RSSU, my move from Elista to Moscow began. I chose the faculty of economics, the chess chair was open a little bit later. It was an important decision. A couple of years later my parents moved to the capital. I stopped playing for Kalmykia and started to represent Moscow.
- Tell us about your forthcoming participation in the FIDE Grand Prix. Do you know, what tournaments will you play in?
- Yes, in the nearest future I will play in the Grand Prix, but I don’t know yet when I enter the struggle. It’s an important event for me: 24 players from the top list of the world ranking will play in the Grand Prix series.
- Last year was very successful for you; I bet you count on the development of the success. Do you have any definite preparation plan to the FIDE Grand Prix?
- Last year I managed to win the title of the European champion, to play successfully for the selected team of Moscow in the Team Chess Championship of Russia and to advance to the 28th place of the FIDE Ranking. I think, I managed to enter the new level. I can’t say I have some strict plan for the preparation to this Grand Prix Series, as I believe it’s a constant process.
Around five years ago I changed the system of studies and it brought results. My last year’s success didn’t become any surprise for me.
- You’ve been paying much attention to the public activity and the chess development in Ingushetia. How is the situation in this region now?
- In 2014 the Adi-Akhmad sports club was open. The Ceremony Opening of the chess club was very bright. Even FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was present there. After that with the support of the RF State Duma deputy Alikhan Kharsiev the game of chess started to develop rapidly in Ingushetia. Different seminars for children under the direction of Pavel Lobach were held, many tournaments were organized, and the winner of the final round was granted with the right to play in the Moscow Open. Last year our players came to the festival, and this year they also take part in it. Last year the stage of the children’s Cup of Russia was played at the same time when I played a game against Boris Gelfand. I’m very glad that a new possibility to play chess appeared in the Republic, experienced coaches work with kids. I hope it will lead to the results in the nearest future.
- What are your goals for the nearest future?
- This year I managed to find myself in the number of 30 strongest chess players of the world, and my closest goal is to enter the Top 10. The FIDE Grand Prix will provide me with all the chances to achieve this goal. If to speak more globally – I am not going to stop here.
- What are your short-term plans?
- Now I’m waiting for the schedule of the FIDE Grand Prix to understand what tournaments I will play in. In May I will play for the selected team of Moscow – Legacy Square Capital – in the Team Chess Championship of Russia. I would like to stress that our team is young and ambitious. In the year before last we played really well in the Eurocup, were struggling for the medals, but I lost to Sergey Karyakin in the next to last round, and we allowed the Italian team to climb higher. This year Karyakin will make our team stronger. We overplayed a strong Siberia team in the Championship of Russia and won silver medals, and then we won the bronze in the Eurocup.
- Ernesto, thank you for the conversation and good luck in the FIDE Grand Prix!
Questions were asked by Eldar Mukhametov and Alina Bivol