Levon Aronian and children

In Round 9 of the FIDE Grand Prix Tournament in Nalchik first to leave the board were Boris Gelfand and Levon Aronian. The opponents rightly evaluated the situation and smartly avoided of what could have happened. To the joy of both players, the game had a quick end. This was also a joy to many, particularly to Larisa Ismayilovna Temirova, the headmaster of Nalchik School N 30, who had come to see the game with several teenagers and to meet with their idol Levon Aronian, as well as the well-known chess reporter Yuri Vasilev, since the latter is fond of talking on different topics with Aronian, which as he said, he enjoys greatly.

Larisa Ismayilovna Temirova.- These are my pupils. Since I like chess very much, I also contribute to involving as many children as possible in taking up chess. Our school has a chess club. These children are first class players and two of them are candidates for sports master already. We decided to come here for the opportunity of viewing the games of so many champions and taking photos with them.

-Who is your idol?

-Levon, of course. We are his fans and hope he will win necessarily. Though, it’s possible that this is not a patriotic approach of ours but I think, it’s not the nationality that should play any role in chess. We simply like Levon Aronian’s game very much.

-Gold words.

-You know, when many years ago my father taught me to play chess... Had I been given an opportunity to contact with such a brilliant grandmaster, I would not remain on amateur level merely. This is why I took my pupils here, this meeting can promote them. I have great hopes that one of my pupils is to become the World’s next champion title carrier.

Children told Levon about their achievements and promised to play vs. him some 10 years later. Then Yuri Vasilev started talking with Levon on this or that topics. Certainly, he first enquired about Round 9 game.

-Levon, Borya said, you created non-trivial problems with your novelty.

-19 Lg8 was studied by my second Gebriel Sargsyan and one of my best friends Hrant Melkumyan. They analysed the situation and decided that this can be applied. I had resolved to apply it during this tournament, however, I didn't know who it it is going to be aginst. The right person appeared to be Borya (Gelfand).

-I knew Borya is a perfect man and a brilliant chess-player, but to this extent...

-He defeats me playing both black and white figures. The situation is tragic for me up to now. Anyway, I am not concerned. Eventually, at least I am defeated by a good person, the player smiled and one could not make out whether he was serious or kidding.

-What other occupations do you have here, besides chess?

-I play tennis if I have time.

-Are you a good tennis-player?

-No, I am very untalented. I just train.

-Do you manage to hit the ball?

-Sometimes.

-Who do you play with?

- Gaby.

-Does he manage to hit the ball?

-Again sometimes, but more frequently than I do.

-In other words, you enjoy tennis.

-Yes, especially as we feel to be some tennis-players.

-Can you imagine what players  you are like?

-I don't know tennis enough to name the fully untalented ones.

-Usually, I remember, you manage to read books, watch films during tournaments. How is the situation in Nalchik?

-I watch films. I enjoy watching something before I go to bed...

- What Truffo films have you seen in Nalchik?

- A good film «The man who loved women».

-I like the title. Is it worth seeing?

- You will like it. Here the shots are made in the eyes of a concerned man.

-Concerned in this very context?

-Yes.

-Is it a light film?

-Very ridiculous.

-What are your feelings over the meeting with the young chess-players willing to play against you in some 10 years?

-It's nice, surely. Eventually, I serve as an example for some...

-But you will be older in 10 years and you may not be invited to Nalchik.

-Yes. I am sure not to be invited to any of the tournaments in 10 years.

-Maybe you will be invited as a commentator, like Spassky is now.

-There is a chance.

-One of the local journalists said that Nalchik is not a common city for your family, and as if your mother and father met here.

-Yes, I’ve heard this of them. They came here on a holiday as tourists.

-OK, Levon, you are just obliged to give a gift to your father and mother.

-I tend to.