For me, the most important thing is to continue to play well and to be a positive figure and hopefully a role model for kids as well.

I've never really had a favorite player, past or present.

I am trying to beat the guy sitting across from me and trying to choose the moves that are most unpleasant for him and his style.

If you want to get to the top, there's always the risk that it will isolate you from other people.

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.

Contrary to many young Colleagues, I do believe that it makes sense to study the Classics.

You need to have that edge, you need to have that confidence, you need to have that absolute belief that you're - you're the best and you'll win every time.