The 10 participants at the 2018 CIV Rapid & Blitz Invitational were interviewed by WGM Alina L' Ami prior to the start of the tournament. These interviews provide a fascinating glimpse into the minds of the top players on the continent.
Alina's wide ranging questions covered standard topics including where the players currently live and where they were born, how and when they learned the game, and whether they think chess be a full time profession in their country and on the African continent.
She also asked event specific questions such as:
- How did you prepare for this event?
- How do you rate your chances in the tournament?
- Will you play better in the rapid or the blitz?
- What is your prognosis for the top 3 places?
- What does it mean to you to participate in this GCT style tournament? and
- How important are tournaments like this for chess in Africa?
At the end, some of the players were also asked for their predictions for the upcoming match in London between Caruana and Carlsen as well as who they would like to see as the next President of FIDE (Short, Dvorkovich or Makropoulos).
All 10 interviews are now posted on the KCF Africa YouTube Channel which can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYGat_LojOP0opyvD6sy1tg
The individual interviews can be access through the links below for anyone interested in getting a fuller appreciation for the players participating in this great event:
GM Bassem Amin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOo5-jDFFEc
GM Kenny Solomon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwVHesGkDFM&t=100s
GM Amine Haddouche
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0fxK012BM
GM Slim Belkhodja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8azXSSi3noU&t=1s
IM Andrew Kayonde
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM0sdHaZZuc&t=35s
IM Fy Rakotomaharo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ABvF54gtgk&t=4s
IM Mokhliss El Adnani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYzqhlc6UIU
IM Oladapu Adu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSJp82RHaUE
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SNyplS6B0Y
IM David Silva
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqtGVU2crXA
Alina's wide ranging questions covered standard topics including where the players currently live and where they were born, how and when they learned the game, and whether they think chess be a full time profession in their country and on the African continent.
She also asked event specific questions such as:
- How did you prepare for this event?
- How do you rate your chances in the tournament?
- Will you play better in the rapid or the blitz?
- What is your prognosis for the top 3 places?
- What does it mean to you to participate in this GCT style tournament? and
- How important are tournaments like this for chess in Africa?
At the end, some of the players were also asked for their predictions for the upcoming match in London between Caruana and Carlsen as well as who they would like to see as the next President of FIDE (Short, Dvorkovich or Makropoulos).
All 10 interviews are now posted on the KCF Africa YouTube Channel which can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYGat_LojOP0opyvD6sy1tg
The individual interviews can be access through the links below for anyone interested in getting a fuller appreciation for the players participating in this great event:
GM Bassem Amin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOo5-jDFFEc
GM Kenny Solomon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwVHesGkDFM&t=100s
GM Amine Haddouche
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0fxK012BM
GM Slim Belkhodja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8azXSSi3noU&t=1s
IM Andrew Kayonde
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM0sdHaZZuc&t=35s
IM Fy Rakotomaharo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ABvF54gtgk&t=4s
IM Mokhliss El Adnani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYzqhlc6UIU
IM Oladapu Adu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSJp82RHaUE
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SNyplS6B0Y
IM David Silva
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqtGVU2crXA