Transcription
Round three, game two. We have with us Peter Leo, who has just won its game against Alexenko Kirin and out here with a two-0 victory heading into round four. How do you feel about it?
>> Yeah, very good. Relieved, of course. Uh, I'm very happy to play good chess. Well, today's game was also kind of nerve-wracking because I spent way too much time in the opening. I just ran out of time of uh, opening this file, which happened. And okay, because I'm not playing uh, I do remember that like four years ago I was analyzing this, but four years are four years, and when you are uh, mostly the commentator or coach, yeah, then you look at so many things, you forget all your openings. So I spent something like uh, 40 minutes for for moves which definitely were my preparation, and I could have blundered out, but there were some questions, some crazy questions which does not work, but I have to, I had to make sure. So I played the game almost with one hour, one hour behind on the clock, and I was sure that my position is good. Yes. So this was giving me uh, the confidence, and also, you know, when you win the first game, then you might be thinking that, okay, I only need a draw. Well, with one hour behind on the clock, there was just no time about thinking about something like this. It was uh, much more about, you know, just the position to be absolutely focused already, and then I think I, I got the upper hand from the complications, and uh, just when I was very comfortable, feeling uh, very good, then suddenly the time travel, mutual time travel was coming, and then I think I showed some sign of nerves. This is typical when you are not in uh, everyday chess, yeah, that you are not used to this time trouble, and everything, and then suddenly I gave him counterplay, and uh, maybe he should have had enough counterplay to make a draw, but it was very difficult for him as well, and finally he missed something, and then it was over, and I'm very happy.
>> As you spoke about the one deficit that came up on the clock, at what point did you actually stop thinking about your preparation and start thinking about the board itself?
>> Well, since I just didn't recall anything, I only knew knew that the reason why I'm not remembering because I don't exactly believe in white's play. Yeah. So, this was giving me comfort. Yeah. That uh, I, I do remember that I was kind of saying like, okay, I just don't believe in this for white. Uh, but when you are sitting at the board and your opponent is blitzing out all the moves, then you suddenly have double swords. Yeah. It's not like you can consult the engine and then confirm, yes, you see, I don't like it. I have no engine. So I had to make a decision and uh, and okay, it was a complex, complex game. He was also in a must-win situation. Yeah. So I think he was first very happy to have the upper hand on the clock. But then I made, I think, a good decision, and it was also very difficult for him to play. Yeah. Just like whenever in Italian, the bishop goes to G5 and then to G3, it's a very unbalanced position. So I was hoping for my chances, but I was very upset with myself that why did I spend those 40 minutes?
>> As you spoke about the one game lead that you had coming into round game two, did you feel that his opening choice wasn't up to the mark as he may have had to be more desperate from?
>> No, no, no. I think he did right because if you get one more time advantage, it means that you did something right. Uh, I can also say that well, I repeated hundreds of lines. Uh, so if he would have played something else, he, I would have felt much more comfortable. Yeah. So it's, um, I think it was a good choice. You anyway never know exactly what is the right choice. Also yesterday, we had a crazy match, a very double-edged game which uh, which I felt like I was in control. I was uh, pushing, but he had tremendous counterplay, and also it was time trouble. I missed something, and then he had chances to to equalize, and then he he blundered also a mutual time. Well, this is a World Cup. It's a knockout. Everybody's nerves are collapsing, I guess in time trouble, but clearly those who are in shape. Yeah. Non-stop practicing, non-stop playing, they've probably handled these situations more easily. Uh, for me, of course, this is my first individual tournament after kind of six years. Yeah. Okay. I did play two times now for the Hungarian national team, last year at the Olympiad and this year European Team Championship, and uh, so I have some practice, but still, I'm not an active player.
>> Yeah, the one hour was well spent since you get one extra day for rest tomorrow. And what, what are your plans for the rest day coming up, and you've got two lined up in a row?
>> Yes. Well, it's, it's very good. It's very good. It's needed because uh, well, the the time pressure takes all the toll. Yeah. That uh, this, this clearly uh, I also felt like yesterday I, I needed time to recover, and usually I'm doing quite a lot of preparation in the evening. But yesterday I was like, you know, not 100% sure that how much energy do I uh, have left to to to make preparation already last night, and I had to make some compromise. So it, it will be very nice. Yeah. Just also one day completely to forget about uh, my own play. Yeah. Just to calm the nerves down. Go to the beach, not for a swim, just just for a good walk. Yeah. Because I think this is one of the things that chess players always need. Yeah. That you, you move, you get some fresh air, you don't think about anything, you look at the beauty uh, of the sea and the scenery, and then you come back uh, with new energy to continue fighting.
>> Those are great plans off the board. Well, there was a small statistic that we had come up with where the chances of you playing Vincent Kimmer in this event was 0.2. After round two, it rose up to 0.3. What are your takes on that? Do you ever think of a game like that happening?
>> I don't think about anything. Yeah. Except the the next game, the next move. Uh, I don't know, maybe it's even my last individual tournament. Yeah. I just want to enjoy. Uh, I just by accident ended up playing the World Cup. I was not intending to. I thought like I will be helping Vincent from home. Uh, but then suddenly, middle of September, came this news that a report qualifies by rating. This gives the chance for our federation to nominate a new player, and the federation s like, well, Peter, if you would like, we would very much like you to play, and because I'm already playing for the national team, I s like, okay, then I'm playing for my country again. And also it's India, and you know, I'm, you know, my commentary and everything, yeah. I know everything what's happening in India, this incredible uh, success what what is going on, the surrounding around Indian chess, all this boom, and it's, it's just fantastic to see. Yeah. Because I was like the rival friend of Vishi. Yeah. We were playing all the time, and I, whenever I look at this, I feel like this is his legacy. Yeah. This is what Vishi created with his incredible, you know, I don't know, this is even hard to put in words. Yeah. That for 30, 40 years of brilliancy. Yeah. And then this is the result with all the young players and with all the country in completely craziness for chess. I felt like, okay, I have to come here and I have to try this World Cup, and I'm just enjoying every minute.
>> Well, we are glad to hear you are enjoying. India is grateful to have you here, and as a spectator, I'm enjoying every game you are playing as well.
>> Thanks a lot.
>> Thank you for everything, and congratulations again on qualifying for round four.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you.