Interview with Anton Smirnov
International Master Anton Smirnov is 15 years old and represents Australia at the Baku Olympiad. He had an excellent start, winning his first three games. After drawing Norwegian Grandmaster Aryan Tari in the fourth round, he joined Susan Polgar for a quick chat.
- Hello Anton, how was your game today?
Basically, I got a slight edge from the opening, but I think I made some inaccurate moves and then we got a draw, so…
- Your team is doing fine so far; board 1 drew with the World Champion, and board 3 also drew. This is pretty remarkable for Australia! I want to ask you: you are only 15 years old, you are in 9th grade in school; how do you manage to combine your school work with chess tournaments and studying?
I have to skip some school; actually I am skipping a whole term. This is my first tournament, then I go back to Australia, where I do not have so many tournaments.
- Is this your first time in Baku? How do you like it?
Yes, it’s my first time and I like it very much! I think this Olympiad is better than the one in Tromso (2014).
- You are rated almost 2500, which is quite remarkable for you age; what are your short-term and long-term goals in chess?
My short-term goal is to become a Grandmaster; as for long-term, I don’t exactly know. I don’t plan to become a professional chess player, because I think I do not have the potential to become a really strong one. So, I would like to have a regular professional career outside of chess.
- You are very modest; you are almost at the Grandmaster level at such a young age, you could have greater ambitions, but of course it’s your choice. I wish you best of luck in this tournament, as well as your path to becoming a Grandmaster as soon as possible; we will be following you!
