Only 15 chess players have touched 2800 Elo points on the FIDE rating list . Arjun Erigaisi was the last to reach there, and it has been two years since. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave crossed the mark in 2016. With a peak rating of 2819, the French Grandmaster is the seventh strongest player in chess history. He is a former World No. 2, and won the World Blitz championship in 2021. MVL, as he is often called, has been playing regularly in India and is now in Bengaluru for the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. He has played in every single edition of the league. Excerpts from an interview Vachier-Lagrave gave The Hindu:
You have played in every season of the Global Chess League…
I think it is really fun. The idea of having people can cheer on at the venue is nice, and you have all the best players in the world. It is also interesting to see the prodigies in the teams and how they go on to make it big later.
You had Javokhir Sindarov as a prodigy, and now he is a challenger for the World Championship match. And we had D. Gukesh (who will play Sindarov in that match) for the first three seasons as well.
It is also a lot of fun to watch these innovations, such as the time control with no increment. And everyone in the team having the same colour for a match is really a nice experience.
Do you like the system of getting more points with black pieces than white?
That is enjoyable. And it is good to have games that don’t last too long and are easy to watch.
And it is better for the television audience, too.
Yeah, that you don’t want to be glued for four hours, and sometimes nothing happens for 30 minutes.
How do you find the idea of playing with no increment for the first 40 moves?
When I was a kid, we barely had digital clocks, so it is alright. I still prefer the digital clocks, but we have increment after the 40th move, so it is not as ruthless.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming World championship match between Gukesh and Sindarov?
You never know with matches, how it turns out. At the last World championship, Gukesh was coming in really strong, while Ding Liren looked like he couldn’t play chess. Suddenly, you know, Gukesh was under pressure.
It was the same with the previous match, when Ding played against Ian Nepomniachtchi. It looked as if Nepo was winning it. So the form doesn’t really matter when it comes to the World championship match. Yes, Gukesh has been struggling a little bit with his results, but I think he has also been experimenting and, you know, got maybe too much out of his comfort zone.
But in general, when he is playing really well, he is a formidable opponent. I remember having some really good clashes with him. And he had some exceptional performances at the Olympiads.
One thing that I noticed about Gukesh is that, especially ever since he became World champion, it seems like he has to prove a point with every game he plays.
And sometimes that, you know, you cannot have as much energy as that to be there for every game, fighting it out. And, you know, he always takes a lot of risks. And when he is in very good shape, he has a lot of energy, it works out well for him, I think.
But if you get even a slight drop in energy, the consequences can be brutal because his chess requires so much energy and so much confidence as well.
From my point of view, a defining turning point could be the next Olympiad. If Gukesh capitalises on the confidence gained from his performances in his previous two Olympiads, and does a great performance again in this Olympiad (starting next week at Samarkand), he can go into the World championship in a much better mood.
I think it would be very helpful for him if he gets a little bit of confidence back. He needs some sort of break to be certain that he can play his best chess again.
If he plays like he can, there is simply no favourite in my mind. You have two very strong young players who will be fighting it out.
Vachier-Lagrave will compete in the pilot event of the Total World Chess Championship.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
What makes Sindarov different? He has been brilliant for the last year or so, having won the World Cup and then that absolutely dominant performance to win the Candidates…
He seems to be handling his nerves very well. And of course, his calculation is very good. But like at some point, you know, the difference is some little make or break.
The margins are very narrow, of course, in top level chess. So, it could also be like a very good break.
We will see what happens in the World championship match and before that at the Olympiad as well.
He is an extremely strong player and he is having a very good year. But there are so many good players around.
The Olympiad is coming up right after the Global Chess League and India is the defending champion…
The Indian team is so strong. And we don’t know who will be playing on the top board. If France gets to play against them, I will probably be more interested in finding out who is on board one, so that I could prepare.
You will be playing at the pilot event of the newly launched Total World Chess Championship tour…
That is a very exciting event. I am glad that I have managed to qualify, and I hope to make it to the main cycle.
On that tour, the classical bit is going to be of a duration of 45 minutes and they are calling it fast classical…
I am okay with that. Of course, it matters how I perform individually. But I also care about how chess will evolve as a game and as a spectator sport.
And there is now more money in chess too, especially when you compare with the time you started out…
Yes, chess is on the rise. And I think it is a good opportunity for the game. You have many more players coming into the game. You have many more investors coming too, and trying to get a cut of the action. And I think that is really nice. And we get to experiment a bit.
This is all good for the game. And we need to find out what will be the ideal format for spectators to watch. We also need sometimes the players to evolve a bit and to be ready to give them some of their energy, not only towards the preparation.
As a player, I know preparing for your game is important, but you should also be able to give something back to the game.
R. Praggnanandhaa has been having a great time of late…
I think early last year, he also had some great six, eight months, but then there was a toll of playing so much.
And he had a disappointing Candidates.
But I think he has been working on his stamina and is also able to fight it out always. But we always knew that Pragg was also an exceptionally strong player.
What is next for you after the GCL and the Olympiad?
There is the Total Chess World Championship in Budapest, and then the World rapid and blitz.
