My father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.

I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.

I really enjoy the experience of playing humans. The psychological game is so much more important.

I got the travel bug when I was quite young. My parents took me and my sisters out of school and we travelled all over Europe. It was an eye-opening experience and, although I love Norway, I also enjoy visiting new countries. I don't get homesick.

Chess only appeals to quite a small minority. It does not have the cachet of a mainstream popular sport.

All I expect are wins and to get pleasure from the game. And if someone thinks something about me, if someone's dissatisfied with something... that's not my headache. I hope someday I'll become World Champion - and I'll make all these people happy. But even if for some reason that doesn't happen it won't stop me getting pleasure from chess. I'm sure of that.

I was lucky enough to attend schools where they were understanding about when I needed to go abroad to play chess. Of course, socially it is important to go to school and interact with people your own age.