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

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

Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's OK to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.

I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It's always better to be too confident than too reluctant.

I think with chess as with everything, marketing is the main issue.

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

One of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people - men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach.