Grandmaster José Martínez Alcántara – Jospem explains why he will not play in the Chess Olympiad, discusses who is tougher -Bortnyk or Danya – talks about Hikaru Nakamura, shares his opinion on the double elimination format, and makes predictions for the Speed Chess Championship Finals in Part two of his interview.
Q: Will you play at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest?
A: I couldn’t qualify for the Mexico team because I was preparing for the Clash of Claims in Madrid. On the exact dates of the last qualifier I was preparing for the match. And they didn’t consider me in the first team.
Q: But you are the highest rated player, by far.
A: Yeah, maybe by far, but they have their own rules and I can’t do anything.
Q: Ok, that’s fair. So if you are not playing, who are your top picks to win the Olympiad, Open and Women’s.
A: USA is always the favorite. India, Uzbekistan, can repeat their achievements. Yeah, maybe teams India, USA…
Q: Netherlands is like 4th or 5th seed.
A: Netherlands? Giri…?
Q: Giri, van Foreest, Bok, Warmerdam, L’Ami.
A: Yeah, they have a very good team also. Spain has a good team. But mainly India, Uzbekistan, Armenia is always fighting, USA…
Q: And in Women’s section maybe?
A: In the Women’s section also China. Oh I forgot China, yeah, China in both sections. Then in Women’s maybe Bulgaria has a really good young team…
Q: They are reigning European champions.
A:…USA, India, the same teams… many countries have strong teams in both sections.
Q: I looked at your rating profile. In the past two years I was surprised to find that you played classical games only in Latin America, like Peru and Mexico. How much are you missing out because you’re not playing in Europe or in some bigger tournaments maybe in USA?
A: Before the pandemic I was playing a lot in Europe. But when the pandemic arrived I just became more lazy, maybe the person that does not want to travel. Because before the pandemic I was traveling a lot, for myself, I didn’t have a sponsor, but after that I just spent time online and I liked it.
For sure I can play in Mexican tournaments, Peru… doesn’t have tournaments actually so that’s why I went to Mexico. I play in those tournaments, sometimes they are very strong, they have good conditions. I will not spend any money to travel, to pay the hotels.
Yeah, I just basically do some coaching, doing other stuff, so I don’t have the necessity to go to Europe. Because I’m not focusing on classical chess, that’s why.
Q: You don’t feel the ambition to break into top 20 maybe?
A: In classical chess? Classical chess is a totally different game, you need a lot of effort, a lot of sponsor support, preparation…
Q: Tickets are expensive to go back and forth maybe?
A: Yeah, actually they cost a lot. You need coaches. It is almost impossible to do 2700 without a coach, without partners, without other stuff.
Q: Yeah, that’s true. You are very active online and among the strongest players in online quick formats. That was one plus that you stayed home and played chess instead of traveling. And this is how you got you involved with Kramnik in the first place, because you played great in Titled Tuesday.
Actually, just few days ago you won the Titled Tuesday with perfect 11/11 score, you beat Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura on the way. You dedicated this victory to your mother in a tweet, that was really nice. And you are only the third ever player to manage to win Titled Tuesday with the perfect score. The other two are of course Magnus and Hikaru. You joined this esteemed company.
So what makes you actually so good?
A: In that tournament, in the last Titled Tuesday, or in general?
Q: In general.
A: In general…I’m not the only one. I cannot say I am the only strong online player. We can count more players who are playing every single tournament online since two or four years ago. Naroditsky, Bortnyk, Renato, Minh Le for example, I don’t know…
Q: Who is tougher opponent for you, Bortnyk or Danya?
A: Bortnyk, because Danja is focusing more on commentating, so he didn’t play a lot. He is not improving his play. Bortnyk also is not improving actually, he has coaching time, he uses the same openings every single time, so he’s not changing anything. That’s why maybe he’s not having good results.
But at some point myself I was studying new openings, because you know you cannot play the same. I was trying to improve something for Champions Tour. But they, Naroditsky, Bortnyk, I cannot say…. Bortnyk for example beat Magnus and Hikaru few weeks ago, he won the tournament, not with the perfect score, but he beat Magnus and Hikaru. So there is not a lot of difference. There is maybe one day when everything goes your way. Also Naroditsky won the Titled Tuesday some weeks ago.
For sure I don’t coach as much as they do, so I’m focusing totally on online chess and competing. I know they have part-time jobs as coaches, maybe in Charlotte?
Q: In Charlotte, yes.
A: The difference is I am not taking more than 4 hours per week, maybe less sometimes. That is the slight difference between me maybe and Bortnyk, Naroditsky, Terry, Minh Le, typical guys that play Arena Kings, Titled Tuesdays, Bullet Brawl, all the stuff, they are always competing, always active and that matters a lot.
Okay, we didn’t count Hikaru, because Hikaru can win every single tournament and it’s not a surprise.
Q: You played in the Speed Chess Championship, and you were paired against Hikaru. How was that event for you? Did you expect more?
A: Against Hikaru I couldn’t expect more, for sure. I would enjoy to play against other Grandmasters, not Magnus or Hikaru, to maybe dream to pass to the next round. But against Hikaru I for sure know that I will not win the match.
Maybe if I could have punished Hikaru’s mistakes in some games, to make two more points, maybe three, because I was winning 3 or 4 games where I lost or drew. So I missed a lot of opportunities but in general I think it was a very good match for me. The final result could have been closer, but still in his favor of course.
Q: Actually, you are on very friendly terms with Hikaru. I remember him praising you many times on his stream, and I think you offered a draw after he blundered a queen? Something like that happened recently?
A: Yeah, he blundered a queen, I did not expect. I know he will beat me in the match and I didn’t want to take that victory because it doesn’t have sense. I want to make a fight in a normal situation.
Q: That was really nice of you. How did you become such good friends? Hikaru is not the easiest person on earth.
A: I don’t know if he considers me as a friend.
Q: I know that he respects you a lot.
A: He’s seen me a lot playing online tournaments. He plays a lot, he plays every single tournament in Chess.com events, so in my case I also play every single tournament. We are playing each other a lot of times, he knows me… I don’t know, maybe my skill. I mean, he has other friends, I am not the only one for sure.
Q: Speaking of Hikaru and Magnus, the Final 4 of the Speed Chess Championship will be played live in Paris. Who do you think will win?
A: I think Hikaru and Magnus will go to the Final, but I am excited to watch the Semifinals.
Q: What do you think of Hans Niemann’s chances against Magnus?
A: If Magnus plays in a normal way, or maybe better than his normal level, he will for sure win the match, I don’t have any doubts. Hans is strong and he is becoming stronger, but I think it will not be enough against a strong Magnus.
Q: Actually, what do you think of Hans and his play? He just won some matches against very strong opponents.
A: Yeah, he’s motivated, he’s preparing a lot, he has a lot of support, he’s studying. He has a lot of online experience before this year, he was playing every single tournament, maybe two years ago. He has a lot of experience in bullet, in blitz, he has skills like Hikaru. So if people keep in mind the knowledge, the skills and the experience, he can have those good results.
Q: And what do you think of the format of his matches against the World? It’s 6 classical games in 3 days, then 6 rapid games, and then 12 blitz games.
A: They are interesting actually. He wants to gain classical rating I think, he wants to make some interesting format, I like that. He’s gained a lot of classical rating, so maybe he’s aiming to reach top 15 without playing open tournaments. It’s a smart move, because if you play open tournaments you have a lot of risk to lose rating.
Q: It’s very tough.
A: Every single player can play for a draw. In classical chess if you play normal chess, and not bad, you will never lose, with white at least. So it’s hard to win with black.
Q: Would you play this format? In a match against someone?
A: Without classical yes. With classical I’d have to prepare for sure. I would need some time, not just one month.
Q: Somebody commented that actually Hans insisted on two classical games in one day, because he knew he’s younger than his opponents and maybe it was easier for him.
A: Those are his tournaments, he can set his own rules. Mainly, his opponents were two older opponents (Vitiugov, Bacrot) and two not old but not young opponents (Vidit, Giri). So yeah, he is playing older guys. Now he will play Nihal Sarin I think? That is a good challenge for him.
Q: I thought this match was cancelled, I don’t have the confirmation.
A: I saw his tweet before.
Q: And speaking of formats, what do you think about the double elimination format from Chess.com?
A: I love it. I love double elimination format because sometimes you don’t have a good day and you need a second opportunity to show your best, no?
In the Speed Chess Championship I was hoping there would be a second opportunity, second life, but that was not the case.
For example, in the Bullet Chess Championship I lost the first match then I won four in the row and I was almost in the Semifinal.
Q: I remember that, I was working with you. That was exciting.
A: It is also really entertaining for the people to see not just one elimination, you want to see the comebacks.
Q: So Jose, as a final question, what will be the next event for you?
A: How many days in August, 31? So 31st is Bullet Brawl, and next is Titled Tuesday. No OTB. (laughing)
Q: So that’s as far ahead as you want to look.
A: For the Olympiad it’s 99% I will not play, but there is some chance. I don’t know how but they told me there is 1% chance that I will be in the team for Olympiad. I am the first replacement, but I don’t know.
In other case, I need to be in Peru, I want to be at home with my friends and family. I need to recover. Maybe I will play some Mexican otb tournament in the final months of the year.
Q: Thank you Jose, it was great pleasure speaking to you, and hope to see you soon again.
A: Thank you.
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