Georgian chess player is an international grandmaster. Chess school Kuzminki. Nona Gaprindashvili. Social activities and personal life
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Person of the Day - 03.05.2019
At the age of 15, Nona Gaprindashvili, a student of Tbilisi coach Vakhtang Karseladze, became the champion of Georgia, scoring 15.5 points out of 16. in the history of chess world champion. For 16 (!) years Gaprindashvili bore this honorary title and only in 1978, losing a match to Maya Chiburdanidze (6.5:8.5), she lost the chess crown to her.
Gaprindashvili did a lot to popularize and raise the authority of women's chess. Her huge successes forced her to abandon the dismissive attitude towards the chess abilities of the “weaker sex”. Nona became not only the first international grandmaster among women. She is the first woman to be awarded the title of International Grandmaster among men in 1978. If we add to the above that it was Gaprindashvili who became the first winner of the Oscar among women, then it becomes clear what Nona Terentyevna's merits are before the chess world.
A five-time champion of the USSR, she won 10 times as part of the USSR national team at the World Chess Olympiads, won many major women's tournaments - in Beverwijk, Belgrade, Barcelona, Kyiv, Wijk aan Zee ... Nona successfully competed in men's competitions. Among her best results are victories in the US Open in Long Pine, tournaments in Reggio nel Emilia and Wijk aan Zee, prizes in Hastings, Luanda, etc.
An outstanding chess player, she defended her world champion title four times, winning 3 matches against Alla Kushnir and one against Nana Alexandria. And after losing the title, Gaprindashvili continued to perform successfully in various competitions, demonstrating her offensive style, the depth of strategic and tactical ideas.
Nona Gaprindashvili - the first after Vera Menchik - did not just compete in men's competitions; she played "men's" chess. Max Euwe said it well: “It is my deep conviction that Nona Gaprindashvili is superior to the famous Vera Menchik. Gaprindashvili's game is much more versatile and brighter. She is a versatile chess player with great creative potential.” Players of different generations have learned and will learn from Gaprindashvili's work.
Currently, Nona Terentyevna continues to perform in veteran competitions, and often does it very successfully.
First woman to be awarded the title of Grandmaster among men (1978). Has been playing chess since the age of 5. She studied at the Tbilisi Palace of Pioneers under the guidance of V. Karseladze.
At the age of 14 - 2 medalist of the Tbilisi championship, at 15 - the champion of Georgia. In the 20th National Championship (1960) she took 4th place and received the right to participate in the Candidates Tournament (1961). , becoming, like V. Menchik, the world champion at the age of 21. In subsequent years, she successfully defended her title. Three times against A. Kushnir: Riga, 1965 - 8.5: 4.5 (+7–3 = 3), Tbilisi - Moscow, 1969 - 8.5: 4.5 (+6–2 = 5), Riga, 1972 - 8.5:7.5 (+5–4=7), then against N. Alexandria - Pitsunda - Tbilisi, 1975 - 8.5:3.5 (+8–3=1). However, in 1978 she lost the match for the title of world champion M. Chiburdanidze in Pitsunda - 6.5:8.5 (+2–4=9). After that, she participated in the candidates' matches - in 1980 she defeated N. Gurieli (+5–2=2) and tied with N. Ioseliani (+3–3=8), but lost to her in additional indicators. In the next cycle, she won the interzonal tournament in Bad Kissingen (1982), but in 1983 she lost to I. Levitina (+4–6=8). The last time I played in the Candidates Tournament (Tskhaltubo, 1988) and took only 7th place.
Gaprindashvili is a 5-time champion of the USSR (1964, 1974-1974, 1981, 1983, 1985), a two-time winner of the European Champions Cup (1969, 1972), a 10-time winner of the Women's Chess Olympiad (1963-1986) as part of the USSR national team. She won about 20 women's international tournaments and successfully performed in men's competitions: Hastings, 1963-1964 (side tournament) - 1-2, Long Pine, 1977 (US Open) - 1-4, Reggio nel Emilia - 1 , Wijk aan Zee, 1987 (2nd tournament) - 1-3.
Gaprindashvili raised the level of women's chess to a high level, showing herself to be a universal chess player, equally strong both in tactical complications and in maneuverable positional play.
“It is my deep conviction that Nona Gaprindashvili is much superior to the famous Vera Menchik. Gaprindashvili's game is much more versatile and brighter. This is a chess player of a broad plan, great creative possibilities” (M. Euwe).
Nona Terentievna Gaprindashvili is considered one of the few female chess players who have held the world championship for many years. Her name is often put on a par with outstanding masters in this sport: Fischer and Karpov. Therefore, the life path of this extraordinary woman deserves attention.
Early life and the beginning of chess training
The future champion was born in Georgia in 1941. Her father at one time taught accounting at the technical school of the city of Zugdidi, and her mother was engaged in housekeeping and raising children. In addition to Nona, the family had 5 more sons. All of them were older than their daughter, and the first ones began to take a great interest in chess up to participation in tournaments. Thanks to them, Nona herself introduced me to this game, which was the first step on the path to success.
For the first time, Nona Gaprindashvili tried her hand at a tournament when she replaced her brother in the competition, who could not participate due to illness. It was then that she achieved success, in a short time checkmate an opponent who was older and more experienced than her. This victory did not go unnoticed by professionals. Therefore, at the age of 12, Nonna was invited to study at a chess school. Trainings took place in the Tbilisi Palace of Pioneers.
The first mentor of the future champion was Vakhtan Ilyich Karseladze. It is believed that thanks to his efforts, the women's chess school in Georgia has achieved high results. When working with Nona, he skillfully combined the functions of a coach, guardian and defender. Sometimes it was necessary during the tournaments of a young chess player because of the particularly violent reaction of observers and fans.
As Nona Naprindashvili's skills grew, she needed a change of mentor. To prepare for competitions for more high level, she used the advice of Mikhail Shishov, who was the most famous coach in the USSR. Grandmaster Aivar Gipslis also played his part in the development of the young chess player. As a result, at the age of 15 she becomes the champion of Tbilisi and Georgia.
Important career milestones
A feature of Nona Gaprindanshvili's work in chess has always been the presence of a goal. And as soon as it was achieved, a new one was immediately put in. This helped the chess player to remain the best for many years and not retire when she reached a respectable age.
Having become the best in Georgia, Nona Gaprindashvili began to prepare to conquer the world. And already at the age of 19, she paved her way to the Candidates Tournament in the Yugoslav city of Vrnjachka Banya (1961). Here she became the best, ahead of the second-placed chess player by 2 points.
A year later, Nona Gaprindashvili won the champion title for the first time, beating her predecessor, Elizaveta Bykova, at the tournament. Thus, she became the fifth woman to receive such a high status in the entire history of chess. Since that time, the Georgian chess player has consistently shown high results, confirming her champion title:
- victory in fights with Alla Kushnir in Tbilisi and Riga (1965, 1969, 1972), with Nana Alexandria in 1975;
- first places in the USSR chess championships held among women in 1964, 1973, 1974, 1981, 1983, 1985;
- during her career, Nona Gaprindashvili became the winner of the World Chess Olympiads at least ten times as part of the USSR team;
- after the collapse of the USSR, she got into the Georgian team, which became the best at the chess Olympiad in 1992.
In addition to duels with strong chess players, Nona Gaprindashvili tried her hand at games among men. This direction of a career has also borne fruit due to the universal playing style of the chess player. In some cases, she uses openings. In other situations, intuition comes to the rescue. According to the observations of the chess player herself, this feeling sometimes prompted decisions that turned the game around. The most memorable games are described in a separate book written by Nona Gaprindashvili.
The strength of the Georgian chess player has always been the game of blitz. Therefore, she often took part in tournaments dedicated to this type of chess. At the same time, the time during the duel on the chessboard was not always measured in hours. So, in the English competition, the move was made at the gong signal. And any delay of the player was automatically regarded as a loss. However, this was the indescribable atmosphere of the game in Foggy Albion.
Among major events, victories are noted at a side tournament in Hastings, the US Open in Long Pine, Reggio Emilia, Wijk aan Zee. All this led to the fact that Nano Naprindashvili became the first woman to receive the international status of a grandmaster among men. This happened in 1978. A similar status among women was obtained two years earlier.
Until 1990, the Georgian chess player took an active part in many major competitions. During this period of time, the victory in the interzonal tournament in Bad Kissingeg and Kuala Lumpur, as well as the second place in a similar competition in Smeredevsk-Palanka, are considered important.
For numerous achievements in the field of chess, Nona Gaprindashvili was assigned government awards. So, in 1965, the medal "For Labor Distinction" became the first regalia of a chess player, in 1966 she was awarded the Order of Lenin, in 1985 the grandmaster became the owner of the Order of the Badge of Honor. And three years earlier, a Georgian woman grandmaster became the first to be awarded the Chess Oscar prize.
But even after 1990, Nona Gaprindashvili was not going to stop there. During the last years she continued to play in the tournaments among veterans, earning new prizes. And many fans are sincerely glad that over the years chess does not fade into the background in her life.
In July 1987, it was recorded maximum rating Nonna Gaprindashvili. It amounted to 2495 points. Now this figure is much lower than the record - 2305 points, but still allows you to remain a favorite among modern chess players.
Social activities and personal life
After Georgia became an independent country, Nona Gaprindashvili began to take an active part in its public life. Until 1996, she headed the National Olympic Committee. Another major appointment was the presidency of the IOC. One of the goals of this work was to make decisions that would allow the development and popularization of chess in Georgia.
Nona Gaprindashvili directed her efforts to improve the lives of other people in another way. Since 2002, she has been elected as a deputy of the city council of the city of Tbilisi. And in 2008, a woman grandmaster began to head the Democratic Party of United Georgia. She served in this capacity for several years.
Although Nona Gaprindashvili has always been a busy person, she tried to pay attention to her son David. From a young age, the boy accompanied his mother to all tournaments. He was always there when she received the next award.
Currently, David is an adult. He has his own family and work in the UK. And Nona Gaprindashvili became a good grandmother for her grandson and granddaughter. And although her schedule is still quite busy, she does not forget to devote more time to her family.
Chess player quotes
“I can’t imagine life without a checkered board and wooden figures, sometimes silent, indifferent and monotonous, and sometimes eloquent. temperamental and sharply dissimilar to one another.”
“I was compared to the rest of the participants (men's tournaments) in unequal conditions, and not only because men are more resilient both physically and mentally. Not only because men are desperately fighting to the last breath, tenaciously taking advantage of any chance that has turned up, which is rare in women's competitions. Men are definitely ashamed to lose to a chess player, even if she is a world champion. They play with me with full dedication of all their strength, even risking losing the next game due to fatigue... Do you think grandmasters, meeting a woman for chessboard, show at least a drop of gallantry? No matter how!”
“I always had a thought inside me: I play because I want to fight only for the highest awards.”
“I have nothing to hide and nothing to be modest: I have not committed such acts in my life that I could not explain. And I can be proud of that.”
Video about the life and game of the chess queen
Good day, dear friend!
The popularity of women's chess certainly cannot be compared with men's. I suspect that rarely anyone knows the names of all world champions. However, Nona Gaprindashvili is hardly among the “unknowns”. There are several reasons for this.
Nona Terentievna "sat on the throne" for 16 years (62-78 years). Agree, the period is more than solid.
She was the first to play "men's chess". Max Euwe wrote:
“In my deep conviction, Nona Gaprindashvili surpasses the famous. Gaprindashvili's game is much more versatile and brighter. She is a versatile chess player with great creative potential.”
She was the symbol of women's chess in the 1960s and 1970s. Significantly raising their authority and popularity.
Start
Nona Terentievna Gaprindashvili a native of the city of Zugdidi, in Georgia. She was born in 1941. There were five children in the family, Nona was the youngest. It was thanks to her brothers and sisters that the girl became familiar with chess and took her first steps.
First coach Vakhtang Karseladze , a person who, in many respects, thanks to whom women's chess in Georgia reached outstanding heights.
Over time, an experienced well-known coach joined the work with a talented chess player Mikhail Shishov.
The joint efforts, plus Nona's talent and determination, gave a truly amazing result:
At the age of 15, she wins the Georgian Championship with the result 15.5 points out of 16 possible .
Career and Title
AT 1961 year Gaprindashvili wins the right to play in the Candidates Tournament (Vrnjachka Banya) and confidently wins it with the result 13 out of 16 leaving all competitors far behind.
The series of defeats continued in the match for the world championship with the then champion Elizaveta Bykova . The ambitious and purposeful applicant was unstoppable. Game Score 9:2 speaks for itself.
One of the games against E Bykova in this match:
E. Bykova - N. Gaprindashvili , Moscow 1962, 0:1
So in 1962 year the world got a new champion - Nona Gaprindashvili. For 16 whole years.
Only in 1978 Nona Terentievna resigned as a champion, losing to another brilliant representative of Georgian chess Maye Chiburdanidze .
In the future, she repeatedly confirmed her high class. Including in men's competitions, winning a number of tournaments.
Nona Terentievna won interzonal tournaments twice more, in 1982 and 1990.
Regalia
Nona Terentyevna is the fifth world champion in history. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
- The first female chess player to be awarded the title of International Grandmaster among women in 1976 and among men in 1978.
- Five-time champion of the Soviet Union. Chairman of the Fide Women's Commission in the 80s.
- The first winner of the Chess Oscar.
President of the National Committee of Georgia in the period 89-96.
She was awarded the Orders of Lenin and the Badge of Honor, a medal for labor distinction.
sayings
The purposefulness of Nona Gaprindashvili is well characterized by her own phrase:
“I always had a thought inside me: I play because I want to fight only for the highest awards”
Nona Terentievna always loved blitz. She especially remembered meetings with:
In general, Tal won in our matches. I resisted, won some games, but the overall score was in his favor. So, I wanted to win a match against him and that's why I said that I want to play with him when he is drunk. He said he didn't mind, and one day I caught him. We were at some party in England, he had a drink, and then we started playing blitz.
It was incredible! Drunk, he played blitz in such a way that you can’t get close! I will never forget this, because his usual game is nothing compared to how he played back then!
About playing with men:
Men are definitely ashamed to lose to a chess player, even if she is a world champion. They play with me with full dedication of all their strength, even risking losing the next game due to fatigue ... Do you think that grandmasters, meeting with a woman at the chessboard, show at least a drop of gallantry? No matter how!”
Family and society
Nona Terentyevna takes an active part in the public life of her country. She headed the National Olympic Committee, one of the political parties in Georgia.
Nona has always prioritized her son David. The boy accompanied his mother to competitions, he was always there.
Today David has his own family and lives in England. And Nona Terentievna, despite being busy, successfully and with pleasure fulfills the noble role of mother and grandmother.
Nona Gaprindashvili in the documentary "Comet Tail":
We emphasize once again: Nona Gaprindashvili - the first of the fair sex, who forced her to treat women's chess without any discounts , irony and sarcasm. She plays really strong, versatile, not succumbing to excessive emotions.
Nona Terentyevna is a true role model for young people. Both as a chess player and as a person with an active life position and love for loved ones.
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The legendary Nona Gaprindashvili is one of the brightest figures in the world of chess. Fifth world champion, five-time champion of the USSR, multiple Olympic champion in the national team, winner of international tournaments. How many times did Nona Terentyevna become the first? She is also the first female grandmaster, the first woman to receive the title of male grandmaster, and the first female Oscar winner.
Until now, Nona Gaprindashvili is active in life, many young girls will envy her energy. True, a considerable part of her energy is now not going to chess - she is actively involved in the political life of her country, fighting for justice, not being afraid to be in opposition to the authorities. When Nona Terentyevna began to talk about the problems of Georgia, she spoke of one of her most important parties.
But the conversation about politics started after the interview, in the office of Vasily Ivanovich Zhukov, rector of the RSSU. Before that, while chatting over a cup of coffee during the World Blitz Championship, we talked only about chess…
"GAPRINDASHVILI" in Georgian means "THE FLIGHTING DAUGHTER"...
Maria Fominykh
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- Nona Terentievna, you are known to be very fond of blitz. What episodes related to blitz do you remember the most?
– In my younger years, I played blitz quite well. I love to play even now, and in general I still enjoy chess, but especially blitz. Of course, the most memorable meetings with the greatest man and chess player; brilliant and talented, he was intellectual and humorous… In a word, he had everything. This is Misha Tal. And it so happened that we once played in a row with him, first in England, then in Iceland. In England in different tournaments, and in Iceland in one.
In Iceland, the tour didn't start until half past seven in the evening. Can you imagine, the games ended at about half past one in the night! But what to do? The organizers wanted it that way because of the public, and we couldn't protest. There were embassy workers there, among them two very nice couples, they were with us all the time, they came to cheer. But Iceland is remembered most of all by the fact that Tal and I got chess and clocks there and blitzed every day.
Once I told him: "Misha, it's probably better to play with you when you're drunk." Usually a drunk person always plays worse, and I wanted to take advantage of this.
And by the way, in England on the day off they staged a blitz tournament. We paid dues, and prizes were formed from them. There were no clocks in that tournament, we played gong. As soon as the gong hits, you must immediately make a move, otherwise a defeat is counted. It’s more difficult to play like that than with a clock, you have to adapt. It so happened that five people reached the final - one winner from each semi-final. And in the very first round of the final, we met with Tal, and I won. He sacrificed a piece, but I defended the position. After that, I won all the other games and took first place.
But in general Tal won in our matches. I resisted, won some games, but the overall score was in his favor. So, I wanted to win a match against him and that's why I said that I want to play with him when he is drunk. He said he didn't mind, and one day I caught him. We were at some party in England, he had a drink, and then we started playing blitz.
It was incredible! Drunk, he played blitz in such a way that you can’t get close! I will never forget this, because his usual game is nothing compared to how he played back then! He played brilliantly, with sacrifices, beautifully.
– I recently read an interview in which Lilienthal called Petrosyan the most outstanding blitz player. Tal is best known for his achievements in blitz. Why then Petrosyan?
- I have not played with Petrosyan, but I can guess. Petrosyan was distinguished by his intuition. And in blitz, when there is no time to count, intuition is very important. Since Lilienthal said so, he can be trusted. Surely he played with him and saw. But I can say that intuitively Petrosyan excelled everyone.
– Do you consider yourself an intuitive chess player?
- To be honest, I'm more like Tal. And not only in chess. The championship of the USSR was held in Baku. I was invited to be a guest. And there, one researcher conducted psychological tests with us. He asked all the chess players the same questions. It turned out that Tal's answers and mine coincided by 98%.
In my younger years, I often found interesting ideas at the blackboard. When I began to know the debut on good level I was no longer world champion. For sixteen years I was a world champion, I won many Olympics, and the debut was by no means my strongest side. On the contrary, it was only when I lost the title of champion that I began to seriously engage in openings, Georgy Konstantinovich Borisenko helped me in this. His wife Valentina Borisenko is a five-time champion of the Union. We played together in many tournaments, and he accompanied her. I wonder how I got to work with him.
After the match with Chiburdanidze, we parted ways with my coach Gipslis. But after all, life does not end with the loss of a title, and I was looking for a person with whom I could work on chess. I knew that there was such a young talented person, Elizbar Ubilava, who worked with Nana Ioseliani. But for some reason, their union broke up at that moment, and he was alone. And I needed an assistant, because when two chess players work together, it is useful for both. I suggested that he hold a training camp, and he agreed.
And now, my first training camp after the match with Chiburdanidze. Ubilava said he knew Naum Rashkovsky, the Russian grandmaster, very well. They were friends, and he offered to invite him to the collection too. Naum is a man with humor, open, has his own chic. But it turned out that he took more from this collection than he gave us. I told him: “Naum, for the first time I see that the coach at the training camp takes more than he gives.” And he replies: “But I will soon give you such advice that you will thank me all the time.” Of course, I didn't take these words seriously.
But when the next training camp approached, Rashkovsky suggested that we invite Borisenko. And when he started working with us, I realized that I had achieved everything without knowing how to work on chess, especially openings. Until now, I enjoy the game thanks to the fact that I have my own experience in the openings that I play. I go a little to the side, always looking for my ideas in the position. This is of great importance.
Now, technically, the computer helps chess players a lot, but at the same time, you still need to move the pieces with your hands and look for something of your own. Everyone knows the basic theory, this will not surprise anyone. Borisenko was one of those leading coaches who helped find his way. Among them are Boleslavsky, Furman, Bondarevsky. Georgy Konstantinovich now lives in Uzbekistan, and although he is almost 90, he continues to work successfully.
But, since I won so many games without knowing the openings, it means that my intuition also worked, because I could make a sacrifice at such a moment when others in this position simply would not look for it. It helped me a lot. When I started playing with men, my findings were especially helpful. When a player uses a novelty, he immediately receives a psychological advantage. I remember Victor Cioculte saying that he was the second chess player in Romania, after Georgiou. Chokylta and I often played together in tournaments. And I remember how once a novelty was played against me by Black in the Sicilian. I thought about it for half an hour. And it turns out, while I was thinking, Chokyltya said to others: “Nona does not know this move, now she will think and find a refutation.” And I actually found a refutation and won the game. And I have enough such parties.
In 2001 I published a book of the best games. There are three sections: short games, games against women and against men. Against men, there is not a single game won in the opening. I only knew the ideas and sometimes I could apply them. Now, when I communicate with female chess players, I give them the following advice: work on your openings, look for your ideas in them. Unfortunately, most of them don't listen. And this is a very important point.
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There is only one draw in my book. And do you know why she got there? I played in the open with Velimirovic. He sacrificed a piece in the Sicialian for three pawns and still wanted to capture a fourth. I then thought about it and realized that if I hesitated, then he would simply suffocate me. He had already castled long, he had pawns on a2, b2 and c2. I saw how to complicate the game and played b4-b3. After that, something incredible began, the kings moved to the other flank. I had to defend myself, but I found incredible tactical defense. It was the year when the USSR Chess Federation established a prize for the best game year - it did not matter who played, a man or a woman. I made a draw with Velimirovic, we agreed when there was almost nothing left on the board. After the game, chess players surrounded us and applauded both of us. Of course, the party ended up in Informator, there were no computers then. Then we analyzed this game, we didn't find a win anywhere for him, although he had the initiative. And I received a prize - "For the best game of the year."
I have always been good with tactics. There was such a chess player in Georgia - Blagidze, he became the champion of Georgia several times. I sacrificed the f4-pawn completely out of the blue in the game with him. And then she made a beautiful combination and checkmate. Tal liked this combination so much that he showed it to Botvinnik. Tal said that this was my party and offered to find a solution. Botvinnik was not found. I asked Tal: Did Botvinnik approve of the pawn sacrifice? It turned out that no, Botvinnik told him: “I don’t even look at such pawns!”
Different styles, different attitude! I sacrificed a pawn because I immediately got an advantage in development and an initiative on the kingside. I sometimes wondered how I even came up with such ideas? Apparently it was in me. I consider tactics to be my greatest strength, although I weaknesses I didn't have anywhere.
I had an interesting meeting with Furman in Holland. He played in the men's tournament, I played in the women's. Then one day they arranged a general blitz tournament. I got off to a bad start, but Furman got off to a good start. The moment we met, he was in the lead. And I defeated him - I donated two figures, I did everything. Then he told me: “Yes, Nona Terentyevna, I didn’t know that you are so good at combining.” It hurt me - everyone knew that I could do it, because all my high-profile victories were connected precisely with tactics. But he put it this way because he was offended, because he was in the lead, although it was only the first half of the tournament. But anyway, I answered him: "It's too bad that you didn't know."
After the tournament, we flew on the same plane. Balashov showed sketches, we solved them. And suddenly I hear Furman say to me: “Nona Terentyevna! I want to say that I misunderstood. It’s not that I didn’t know that you combine well, but I just forgot.”
– Do any of the modern chess players seem close to you in terms of style?
- It's hard for me to say. I don't play much and that's why I'm not very familiar with the work of modern chess players. In order to judge, you need to know very well. I don't play with them now, I see only separate games.
- Maybe among the Georgians someone is close?
- Dzagnidze stands out from the Georgians, she sees tactics, this is her forte. But I can't say that we have similar styles. I can't name anyone.
– What is the current situation with women's chess in Georgia?
– You see, we have been winning everything in chess for almost forty years. Sometimes there was an internal world championship. Georgians played in the finals of the World Cup, both in the semi-finals and in the quarter-finals. Georgians played for the Olympic team of the union. (For example, the 1982 team looked like this: Nona Gaprindashvili, Nana Alexandria, Nana Ioseliani, Maya Chiburdanidze - M.F)
If you take my career, I was at the top for 40 years. Even when I lost the title, I won many tournaments. Twice then I was very close to playing a match for the world championship. I didn't win absolutely won positions in the last games. Maybe she lost her concentration then, or her nerves could not stand it at the last moment. But in terms of history, it was an interesting moment when, after so many years, I could come back and play a match for the championship again. But I missed this chance.
In 1982 she received the first women's chess "Oscar", this prize was awarded according to the results of the year.
I won every tournament that year. In Soviet times, the phenomenon of Georgian chess players arose. Therefore, even in Russia, although chess has always developed here, this has not happened. It was a real phenomenon, and therefore, for it to ever happen again, a lot of time must pass. I, Nana Alexandria, chess players of my generation continued to play at a time when new strong girls were already growing up. We continued to play, and the young ones pulled themselves up. Therefore, our hegemony was so stretched in time.
Now only young people perform. And it is necessary that the experienced ones, who won the championships, also play. Yes, Georgians won the Olympics two years ago. But when compared with the results that were before, this is only a particle. In general, they do not dominate now. The Chinese are more dominant, and the Russians have risen. Ukraine is now very strong. But I think that our traditions will nevertheless make themselves felt, and, of course, chess players will appear who will seriously aim at the world championship.
What is your prediction for the next Olympics?
- I think this generation can achieve results in team competitions as well. I can't say for sure whether the Georgians will win the Olympics in Khanty-Mansiysk. They just can compete for prizes. Everything will depend on the details. It is very important how the leader plays. Without luck, of course, there is also nowhere ... Unfortunately, I will not go to Khanty-Mansiysk. I will be in Georgia, this is connected with my political affairs.
It amazes me that every time the Chinese team puts up a new line-up at the Olympics. There are probably too many of them.
So there is no clear favorite?
- Yes, main feature now in chess is that there are no stable results. There is no such thing as someone winning several years in a row. The winners change all the time. Therefore, it is difficult to make predictions.
– In his election campaign, Anatoly Karpov said that now chess is in a much worse position compared to Soviet times. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gives other estimates. What is your opinion?
– I don't understand how you can not thank Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. My generation, which was so successful, always looked weak financially. We received salaries, which were enough from month to month. The bonuses were small. For the World Championship I received 900 rubles. Prizes abroad were modest. It was then that Fischer managed to get the prizes raised. And we gave away half of the winnings. And now look how many women's commercial tournaments! Here is the World Blitz Championship, the Grand Prix series. There was nothing like it in our time. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov raised the average level of chess players. The first numbers can always earn. But now there are conditions not only for elite chess players. You can play chess and still feed your family. Not appreciating what he has done is ingratitude. If we talk about the fact that there are no those classic long matches, then life no longer allows. Chess is getting faster, now most people watch games via the Internet. Time makes its own adjustments. But the fact that there are many new tournaments where you can show results and earn money suggests that chess is not in such a bad situation.
- Many people worry that spectators do not come to tournaments.
– Just other interests now. Is it Ilyumzhinov's fault that the spectators don't come? Everyone now wants to sit at home, watch games and still do their own thing. Now even qualifying tournaments are held on the Internet. I say that Ilyumzhinov did a lot for chess only because I really think so. How much did he spend own money? He gave back, not the other way around. I have always been considered an objective person, I always say what I think.
If we talk about women's chess, then at one time I could not earn money for an apartment, and Dzagnidze had already managed to buy an apartment for herself. Appreciate her progress and mine. I have 12 Olympic medals, but I would never have been able to buy an apartment if the state had not given me one. Modern chess players do not play better than we used to, but they earn more.
But it is clear that women see that men earn much more, so this issue is raised. I think this difference will gradually decrease. At the FIDE Congress, the question was already raised that women need to increase the prizes, but not all at once. However, I can reassure the women: we were earning less than you can earn now.
– But your generation had fame. You were recognized on the street and are still recognized today. Dzagnidze is unlikely to be recognized.
“Of course they recognize me. But to be recognized, you need to be at the top for many years. Can you name a chess player who wins everything all the time? Even I need to remember who the world champion is now. Previously, all grandmasters were personalities, everyone had their own style, and the depth of the game was different.
- Now you play in the veteran world championships, last year you became the champion among women.
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“I once came very close to winning the men's championship. At the World Championship among veterans in 2005 in Italy, I played well, everything worked out for me. But in the decisive game against Lyuben Spassov, she made a terrible mistake in a winning position. This move by the king to f7 is still in front of my eyes! As a result, Spassov won the game and the tournament.
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L. Spassov - N. Gaprindashvili
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