Today in the day-off we decided not to break our tradition and we offer you one more interesting conversation. Our guest is a famous grandmaster Viorel Bologan who trains one of the participants of the supertournament Zhu Chen.

- How did you become the coach?

- To tell the truth it was unexpected. Few months ago I was asked to become the coach of Zhu Chen and accepted this offer. So I live in Qatar now.

- You are a famous grandmaster, played a lot and suddenly became the coach. Why?

- It is interesting. I would like to try to do something except playing. What is more, if somebody thinks that I can teach someone something, it is great. I must try.

- You are the coach of an experienced chess player. How do you work together?

- I train not only Zhu Chen. There are some leading chess players of Qatar. I train all of them. It seems as if we are on good terms. What is more, the most important here is a mutual wish to gain better results. If we aim at it we will gain everything.

- You are for the first time in the supertournament “North Urals Cup”. What can you say about the organization and level of the tournament?

- Since the first day it was obvious for me that the tournament is organized correctly and on a very high level. Everything is easy: this tournament is organized by the people who like to do it and who can do it. The main proof is the great wish of best chess players to come here.

- What do you think about chess in Russia?

- I see great perspectives. Chess are being developed, it is obvious. Especially it concerns Urals and Sverdlovsk region. The highest authorities do a lot for chess here. If the Government of the region seriously supports this game it means that the future of Urals chess must be unclouded. Already now it gives results. I know that soon Chess Academy will be opened in Yekaterinburg; there are grandmasters schools, strong players among men and women. In general, chess traditions in Urals are fantastic. There are a lot of sportsmen in Russia who studied in Urals chess schools. These traditions must be prolonged. I can compare with Tomsk as I play for this city and can exactly say that here in Sverdlovsk region much more is being done for chess. I agree with the statement that I heard during the opening ceremony of the tournament: Sverdlovsk region is the centre of Russian chess life. It is hard to deny it. .

- You gave the multi-board chess-play for young players of Krasnoturinsk and region. How do you evaluate the level of playing of our children?

- I must confess that they are not so young when playing (laughing). Everybody played the opening actively. I even lost to some boy and another surprised me with his tactical skill, it was a pity to defeat him. But it is better for him and I hope that it was a useful experience for all children. In any case it was interesting to play with them.



Source: http://www.northuralscup.ru/2007/news27eng.shtml