Garry Kasparov chats with Brazilian icon Jô Soares
Autor: Rodrigo Ribeiro | Publicado: 2011-09-09T11:15:00-03:00

Retirado do site Chessbase.com.08.09.2011                      – While visiting Brazil, Garry Kasparov  was interviewed by the Brazilian talk show host and icon, Jô Soares.  Soares, a well-known polyglot, conducted the entire interview in  English, and had come very well-prepared as he started the discussion  with the champion's retirement in 2005, talking about the inauguration  of the Kasparov Chess Foundation in São Paulo, and more. An excellent  interview.On Friday, September 2nd, while promoting the inauguration of the  Kasparov Chess Foundation in Brazil, Garry Kasparov was interviewed by  the famous Brazilian talk show host, Jô Soares, who had a very  interesting chat with the champion. In Brazil, Soares is the national equivalent of David Letterman, whose format he clearly admires and emulates. Jô,  as he is amicably called, is a lifelong icon of Brazilian TV having  started his career over fifty years ago, when he was just twenty years  old, after studying in Switzerland and the United States. He is known  for his great wit, starring in several stand-up shows of his authorship,  and for his culture, speaking English, Spanish, Italian and French.  Needless to say, he conducted his interview with the champion in  English, and it was gratifying to see he had come well-prepared.  His very first question made this very clear. Jô Soares: Why did you stop playing professionally in 2005? Garry Kasparov: You reach your limits. It happens. For me it was  not just about winning or losing, mainly winning of course, but it was  about making a difference. JS: I see. GK: Look, I was 41 and I had reached all the limits. I had  conquered all the mountain peaks, I had accomplished more than I had  thought of, and you always have to improve yourself, and look for other  things, and I decided I would have to go.   Later, Jô asked Garry about his current trip to Brazil. GK: There are certain things that are happening. Chess is  expanding and there is a lot of support from top officials here for  chess in the education system, and that is my top priority now. And  hopefuly, early next year I'll be able to open the Kasparov Chess  Foundation here in São Paulo. JS: That's fantastic. And to put all kids learning to play chess. GK: It's not about learning chess to become great professionals.  Its about learning chess to improve educational skills. It's already  proven beyond any doubt that chess in the education system helps kids,  and I think it's a very cost-effective system to improve education. JS: Can you give us an example? GK: I'll give you one example: there was an experience run in  Germany by one of the German universities. They had classes, two  classes. One had extra hours of mathematics. Another class, the same  class, parallel, had extra hours in chess. At the end of the year, they  compared the results in... mathematics! The class with chess won. But  moreover it's about social integration, because it helps kids to gain  some self-esteem, it boosts their attitude, sense of logic... JS: ...confidence... GK: ...Confidence, you know, and discipline. Plus now it is  related with computers. So you know, it could be a part of the computer  learning. I think there are so many great things, and at the end of the  day: it's cost-effective, because you don't have to build a stadium, a  swimming pool, a tennis court. It's there.  The debated the issue of chess as a sport and then Soares asked Kasparov about training. JS: If you get a great pianist, he has to rehearse about... eight  hours a day. I once spoke with Oscar Peterson and I asked, "Why do you  rehearse eight hours a day?" GK: To not lose the sense. The ever expressive Kasparov gesticulates with his fingers to explain his point JS: No, he said, "If I only do it seven hours, the next day there is someone playing better than me."  Garry Kasparov's face says he understands this all too well JS: How do you rehearse? Do you play against yourself? GK: No, I don't do it now, but when I used to... it's a great  point. It's what I call the gravity of past success, because you can get  complacent.  Caught up in a subject he obviously feels strongly about  JS: Sure... GK: If I did it yesterday, if I won yesterday. I could do the  same story and I'll win. It happens in chess, in music, in football...  anywhere. The moment you stop making progress, there are others catching  up, because people are learning from you. You cannot rely on the same  technique to win, so you always have to be creative. I was always trying  to improve things, looking for the options with computers with my  coaches. I was not just preparing for a specific game, but conceptually,  how to move the game forward.  Click here to see the full video of the interview (in English)