Interview with Nigel Short
ChessBase: How did you do it? Did you expect it?
Nigel Short: 2007 was my annus horribilis, when
I was plagued by various physical ailments and plunged down the ranking list
– almost in danger of disappearing from the top 100 altogether, the sad
fate that is now set to befall my former antagonist, Anatoly Karpov. But after
that my feeling is that, with a few exceptions, I have been playing rather well.
For example, I have twice finished equal second in Corus B, on the last occasion
coming within a whisker of winning it. I also finished equal second in the President's
Cup in Baku – a very strong open – as well as the 2008 European
Union Championship. To that one can add victories in Bazna and the 2008 Commonwealth
Championship in Nagpur, India. I was in good shape at the Dresden Olympiad and
have recently had two exceptional victories at the Sigeman & Co tournament
and the Staunton Memorial. Alongside these numerous good-to-excellent results,
set-backs have been relatively few: I shed a sack of rating points in just six
games in the 2008 Chinese League, which probably indicates I should not attempt
to play chess straight after flying half-way round the Earth, and a few in this
year's Thailand Open. I was out of form in last year's Staunton, but nevertheless
as one can see, generally the trend has been sharply up.
What does it feel like to be Britain's number one again? Do you feel
bad for Mickey Adams?
I must say that I am delighted to be the British number one again. It means
much more to me than my Elo. I shall enjoy it while it lasts. Do I feel bad
for Mickey? In a word "no".
People said you were too old for it – do you feel your age?
People keep going on about my age, but this only a question of perspective.
If I were the British Prime Minister, I would be described as "youthful"
– perhaps not quite in the category as William Pitt the Younger, but young
and vigorous nevertheless. Just because I am a chessplayer everyone thinks I
am a dinosaur.
Do you feel you were stronger in your twenties and early thirties than
today?
I was stronger in my twenties beyond any doubt – among the top ten players
in the world for roughly a decade, and as high as number three for a period
of 18 months. The recent ChessBase article on rating inflation by Jeff Sonas
would suggest that my rating in the late 1980s would be approximately equivalent
to 2750 in today's much debauched currency. This is why I am personally far
less excited by crossing the 2700 barrier (again) than various other people
seem to be. Basically I have been there and done all that before.
Whilst we are on the subject, Dr John Nunn remarked to me, a very long time
ago, that he considered the most insidious effect of aging on a chessplayer
to be the loss of motivation. In that judgment I think he was essentially right.
People's priorities change. No one can stop time's relentless march, but with
application and determination one can strongly mitigate its effects. It is interesting
to observe that Ivanchuk and Gelfand – both players in their early forties
– still maintain an extremely high standard. The over forty category is,
of course, shortly to be bolstered by the World Champion, Vishy Anand himself.
Is this a one-time thing or do you intend to continue in the same vein?
I don't think I am really doing anything radically different to what I have
always done. I am certainly not working any harder. Perhaps though I have made
a few subtle shifts in my game. My impression is that I am playing a bit faster.
Although I might lose a little accuracy, this, I believe, is more than compensated
by a reduction in the number of time-trouble blunders. One can lose an awful
lot of points in those high-stress moments – an area in which middle-age
is particularly unforgiving.
Is it tough keeping up with the computer preparation of the teens and
twens?
At the Dresden Olympiad, Yuri Razuvaev sagely advised me to play more. He
correctly surmised that I practically never do any work, except when I am at
tournaments, and therefore suggested that I need to play regularly to maintain
a high standard. He is quite right, of course. The only time that I am really
obliged to study the chessboard is when Parimarjan Negi comes over for a couple
of weeks' training. I find it very demanding and, frankly speaking, I am always
relieved when he has gone. Nevertheless it pays the bills and is good for my
soul. I am glad to say that, judging by his recent good results, Parimarjan
also finds these sessions beneficial.
Incidentally, the generational computer knowledge gap, to which you allude,
has narrowed of late. This is not only because my own proficiency has risen
over time, but because the software has also improved significantly. The irksome
necessity of downloading TWICS, constantly creating and maintaining new files,
creating new search boosters, etc. has either been done away with altogether
or significantly eased. Extremely valuable information can now be obtained at
the touch of button rather than, as was formerly the case, through a series
of tedious processes – if at all.
Korchnoi attributes his longevity to plenty of walking, and eating oatmeal
porridge every morning. What is your secret?
The words "Nigel Short" and "fit" are rarely, if ever,
found in conjunction, but perhaps I am in slightly better shape than I was a
couple of months ago. I was getting so fat that I was compelled to diet for
the first time in my life. I have also been doing 30 mins to one hour's swimming
daily in Greece. Although I would hardly qualify as a fine athletic specimen,
I do feel somewhat better. Also I followed the nutritionist Professor Michael
Crawford's advice on eating plenty of fish and vegetables at the Staunton
Memorial. Whether it helped me or not, I don't know, but I suspect it didn't
do me any harm.
You are standing for the post of FIDE Delegate in the forthcoming ECF
elections. What made you decide to enter chess politics, and what are your
intentions in case you win?
If elected, I intend to uphold the fine English traditions of secrecy, uncommunicativeness,
obduracy, ignorance and utter contempt for the interests of those whose livelihoods
I will affect by my vote. And I shall exhibit a gargantuan appetite for junketting
– my raison d'etre. As to why I have decided to enter chess politics:
suffice it say that I am not entirely satisfied that the interests of English
Chess are best represented by our current Delegate.
Copyright
ChessBase
Other memorable ChessBase reports on or with Nigel Short
Over the years Nigel has kept our readers informed, excited, amused and outraged
with his words and deeds. Of the countless articles fed by his activities we
have chose a few that highlight his style. Make yourself a nice half-hour and
browse through the following stories.