Sunday
Sep192021
The Greatest Chess Interview of All Time?
Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 9:18PM
According to Tyler Cowen, that's how this postgame interview from Gibraltar 2018 is often characterized. That seems implausible, if one takes "all time" seriously. And there's not so much of an interview, either: Vassily Ivanchuk is asked about the game he just played, and off he goes. Regardless of the superlatives, it is a terrific whatever-we-want-to-call-it. Ivanchuk does a brilliant job of recounting the game and his analysis without looking at a board, and does it with such boyish enthusiasm and love for the game that it's infectious.
If you, like me, missed this back in 2018, please do yourself a favor and watch it now.
tagged Vassily Ivanchuk
Reader Comments (1)
When I read the title of this post I immediately guessed which interview you were referring to. It is among my favorite interviews on any topic. It's so good that some friends of mine who aren't chess aficionados were delighted by it.
This interview, with its blend of hyper-competence, unselfconscious enthusiasm, and appreciation for his opponent, is a temporary antidote to cynicism. Thanks for reminding us that it's out there, Dennis!