Vassily IVANCHUK: “I going to quit chess"

****reprint from the WC site****

Vassily IVANCHUK: “I was thrown out of the saddle”

After the loss in the Round 2, Vassily Ivanchuk looked like a broken-hearted man. It was obvious: he is a genius; it is just difficult to stand up to the loss to the young and unknown So Wesley from the Philippines. Undoubtedly, these were the emotions which caused him to declare that he would stop his professional chess player career.

•  I committed chess suicide, - starts Ivanchuk. – In the first game all went ok, I was about to win. I was almost sure that I was winning! And then… then, I just went crazy. At one point, I could make a stalemate, but my position seemed to have good perspectives and I decided to continue playing. Perhaps the decision was right, if it were not for time trouble. Having two minutes against ten, you are doomed to failure. So, the result is obvious: an inadequate situation estimation which led to a tragedy. In the second game I, was trying to make a draw, but I missed something. My opponent, by the way, played very badly.

•  Have you every followed the games of So Wesley? How can you define him?

•  Of course I have seen some games. I could define certain characteristics, but I see no sense in it. I am not objective now.

•  You previous visits to Khanty Mansiysk could not be called successful, as well. Do you think that the main reason is that you play a lot during a year.

•  It has nothing to do with the number of games! My unlucky days started when I could not win against Vladimir Kramnik in the final round of the Tal Memorial in Moscow. But I could have!. The real tragedy started after this. I was so unlucky at the Moscow FIDE World blitz championship, as I have never been unlucky in all my life. I blundered all possible pieces: queen, rooks, and pawns. At that blitz tournament, it was as if I was thrown out of a saddle. And plus, I was losing.

To my mind, I should leave the professional chess now. Chess will become a hobby for me from now on. As for the signed contracts, yes, I will play in all tournaments where I have to. Perhaps I will even participate in a tournament before the New Year. I should win SOMETHING! And that will be the end. No serious plans, no professional goals.

•  It is just one mini match. You should not lose hope.

Just a classic Ivanchuk temper tantrum ... He will get over it soon enough ... And if he does quit, who cares? We still have MAGNUS to watch!! GO CARLSEN!!

Ivanachuk is my favorite player. The guy is one of the best. When Carlsen is 50 he will be a lot like Chucky.

Ivanchuk is great player.

I wish for him not to quit, but that is his choice.. at one point people quit, this may be one point.

There is normally less then 10 people on the planet that are stronger then him. I would not call that a lot.

hopefully he doesnt quit. he spent so many years playing chess and worked real hard to enter proffesional chess playig. if he quits then it will all be for nothing.

"And also considering that this "stronger" is very fluent and hardly measurable."

-When I said stronger I was taking about FIDE chess ratings which are very measurable.

"if he quits then it will all be for nothing."

-Actually he had a very long and great career allready. His accomplishments are hardly all for nothing.

I am about to quit playing chess, too. But it is to hard to quit something that you put so much effort. And I am a bad player even here on chess com. So I gess it is million times harder to him, so he will probably cool of and continue playing

Yeah, looks like a little tantrum. Notice he said he's not giving up chess entirely. He isn't going anywhere.

I hope he doesn't quit. He can still accomplish a lot in the chess world.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Chucky is my favorite contemporary proffessional chess player!  this better be a Chucky temper tantrum, i couldnt imagine not seeing his games anymore.  ive been enjoying his creative play for years this breaks my heart.  yes his play hasnt been spectacular recently but he is a stronger player than Karpov, and he didnt quit laying after his strength declined.  truely he is still one of the top pl;ayers in the world, hes just in a slump, he needs to adjust his psych meds, take a few months off to re-boot his hard drive, and come back stronger than ever.  i think he's burnt out, he plays alot for a top pro...ah man this sucks...

Chucky is completely insane anyway. But thats why we love him. He is either the best in the world or completely terrible. He certainly is streaky. From the pictures I think he should adjust his meds and take a couple months off to recharge.

Too much chess !

as long as he's getting another hobby (or other "life goals") he should wax that unibrow. it's revolting.

Its very sad to hear. I love Ivanchuk, he is my favorite player without a doubt. He should of definitely won TAL Memorial vs Kramnik.BISHOP D3 takes PAWN G6. It would of been very strong fallowing mate, instead he blundered Knight F3 D4. Against So Welsey, he had a perpetual check even though in chessbase article i've read that just like he said he was Stronger in that position according to one of the GMs who was doing live commentary. I personally think he DOES plays too many games within a year (too many tournaments). He should consider playing less tournaments because he definitely top echelon! 

Hey, I've said the same thing about twenty times or more in my career and I'm still here, winning and losing with the same regularity as I did when I said enough.  Of course, I'm not a GM and don't have as much invested in chess as he does, but I think it's the same--this babe chess just won't take no for an answer.  I may be wrong, but I don't think that chucky will go the way of fischer.  I don't believe he'll go cold turkey--just take some time off to recharge the batteries.  I can't see how someone with his obvious passion for the game would stop with the chance of having regrets about his decision.  He'll be back.

I don`t think so...Carlsen said this to a norwegian newspaper after becoming Blitz Champion: "I will continue chess as long as i am motivated, but i dont see myself playing chess as long as the older guys in this tournament"...

Nice quote Sim. Still things change with time. Easy to say that when your young.

Yes of course...this could just be something he feels right now, who knows...but i would imagine that after being of of the worlds top players a few years alredy and just 18 of age will maybe make him a little fed up when hi is into his 40`s...but we will just have to wait and see...i sure hope he continues for ages...

Ya no kidding.

what a straight up crybaby. i can't believe anyone cares about him retiring.

with so much tournament experience you would think he would have stopped making excuses a while ago.

"I COULD'VE WON"

HAHAHAHAHAH good riddance!