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

There wasn't any particular player I modeled my game after. I tried to learn from everyone and create my own style. I studied past players... Truth be told I never had a favorite player. It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people. I just go try to learn.

The Nanjing games are homework by Garry Kasparov and me, [...] Today's game was provided by Garry.

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 honestly don't read that much. Obviously I read chess books - in terms of favorites, Kasparov's 'My Great Predecessors' is pretty good.

I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.

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