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Peter Leko walked into the media room of the Chess World Cup at Resort Rio within the North Goan village of Arpora late one night final month, appeared on the second recreation of the semifinal match between Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko on a journalist’s laptop computer, and commenced to speak. He defined how brilliantly the Chinese language Grandmaster defended in opposition to the Russian in a troublesome state of affairs.
Leko’s evaluation was lucid, in depth. It was a bit like listening to Ian Chappell discuss on the Channel 9 broadcast about how Shane Warne was plotting one more dismissal of Ian Bell. The previous challenger for the World title is among the most admired commentators in chess. The Hungarian, who was as soon as the world’s youngest Grandmaster, continues to play, too, at 46. Certainly, earlier than choosing up the microphone on the World Cup, he was shifting the chess items till Arjun Erigaisi knocked him out within the fourth spherical. Excerpts from an unique interview Leko gave The Hindu:
You have got an enormous following right here in India as a commentator.
I had an fascinating expertise whereas on a sightseeing tour round Goa throughout a relaxation day on the World Cup. I used to be at Fort Aguada when two guests out of the blue approached me, they usually requested me, ‘Are you Peter Leko?’ I used to be fully shocked, however stated, ‘Sure, I’m, however how are you aware?’ They instructed me they recognised me from my voice. That was a nice shock. This love I felt throughout the entire match was particular. I used to be getting a lot love and help from the group. I actually felt like I used to be at residence.
When did you uncover that you possibly can be a commentator?
I had various expertise speaking in regards to the recreation as a prodigy in Germany. I used to be visiting a whole lot of golf equipment as a result of Germany was supporting me. And I used to be visiting a whole lot of golf equipment for simultaneous shows or chess occasions like that. Whereas I used to be enjoying the simultaneous video games [against a large number of players], I used to be giving lectures, and I came upon that individuals very a lot loved how I talked in regards to the video games.
I at all times discover it very fascinating when you may open your soul and inform what you have been considering and why you made sure choices. And even with the errors, with the sensible strikes, this was at all times very particular. Then throughout the pandemic, I obtained an opportunity to commentate on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. It was an incredible expertise. I teamed up with Tania Sachdev and he or she at all times brings her super ardour and power.
Beginning younger: Leko realised folks loved listening to him very early in life. ‘I had various expertise speaking in regards to the recreation as a prodigy in Germany,’ he says.
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Getty Pictures
Hungary appears to supply high quality chess commentators. There’s Judit Polgar…
Sure, she is unimaginable. I take pleasure in listening to her and doing commentary alongside her. We each have an incredible love for the sport.
You got here to Goa not as a commentator, however primarily as a participant. You had match till you bumped into Arjun.
I used to be having fun with the entire World Cup tremendously. I used to be, initially, extraordinarily joyful to get the prospect to play within the World Cup, which I used to be not anticipating. I used to be considering I’d be serving to Vincent Keymer in his preparation for the World Cup. However then out of the blue, in the course of September, I used to be nominated by the Hungarian federation for the World Cup as a result of Richard Rapport certified by Elo score. I simply sensed I wished to be a part of it. I additionally wished to go to India. I wished to expertise this love of chess in India.
And on the World Cup, you have been the primary participant to take an in-form Arjun into the tie-breaks.
I believe our match additionally value him a whole lot of further power. He is aware of that I’ve superb preparation. It was definitely not a straightforward match for him.
What makes Arjun particular?
As somebody who has accomplished a lot commentary on his video games, I’ve discovered that he’s the participant whose strikes are most tough to anticipate. He at all times comes up with some surprises.
He doesn’t play precisely in line with my older classical chess imaginative and prescient. For instance, when Magnus Carlsen performs, I really feel like 90% of his strikes I can mechanically really feel and anticipate, as a result of he performs very logically. With Arjun, there may be at all times this unpredictability additionally in his opening preparation. He’s at all times looking for some hidden concepts that aren’t in style.
Any participant that reminds you of Arjun in type?
Alexander Morozevich, who was additionally a really authentic participant. He was the World No. 2 sooner or later. And that was a really powerful time frame, as a result of there have been gamers like Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. It was an unimaginable technology, as there have been additionally gamers like Boris Gelfand, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Alexei Shirov… I used to be privileged to be a part of that technology. However again then chess was not that intensive, as a result of there was not this pc craziness.
You performed the World Championship in opposition to Kramnik in 2004 and that match was drawn, however in line with the foundations of that point, all he wanted was a draw to defend his crown.
I’m proud that I obtained there, after profitable the Candidates. My match ended 7-7.
If it was now, it could have gone to the tiebreakers.
Sure. I attempted to be goal in that match.
The Vishy view: Through the course of an extended affiliation, Leko has seen Viswanathan Anand from the vantage level of a good friend, a rival and a second.
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AFP
After dropping the primary recreation, you got here again strongly to win the fifth recreation and even took the lead, till Kramnik received the final recreation to attract degree and retain his title.
Sure, that was throughout my finest years as a participant — between 2002 and 2006. These 4 years, I used to be very sturdy. At the moment, Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, and myself have been the world’s prime 4. And whichever participant was in one of the best form received the actual match of the time.
You additionally labored as Anand’s second.
We have been associates and we began working collectively in 1996. Vishy invited me to Spain in Could, 1996. He was dwelling there then, and I used to be 16 years previous. It was an unimaginable expertise. Then we continued working. On the World Championship [knock-out] in 1997 in Groningen we each performed, however I misplaced within the first spherical. I used to be very upset and we have been coaching companions. I began supporting him throughout the match. After which I used to be additionally with him already. He invited me to Lausanne for the ultimate match in opposition to Anatoly Karpov.
In 2012, earlier than the Gelfand match [which Anand won], I used to be not an official member of the staff, however I really helped him for nearly a month. I used to be in a coaching camp with him. We largely checked out openings, the principle ones Boris performed. Yeah, however then Boris additionally was extraordinarily sensible, and he got here up with surprises.
Printed – December 20, 2025 12:51 am IST
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