The youngest participant of the World Blitz Championship, one of the rising stars of Russian chess Aleksandra Goryachkina tells about her tournament progress.

– Aleksandra, you are just 15. How do you feel playing with much more experienced opponents?

– I am used to playing against more experienced opponents, as I do it for many years. By the age of 12 I won everything in junior chess and moved on to women’s chess.

– Are you on the same level with older players?

– I can’t say that. Everything depends on rating and experience. Of course I accumulate some knowledge, but my opponents at this championship know a lot more, so it’s quite hard for me.

– Are you friends with your opponents?

– Chess players are rarely on friendly terms, if they play on the same level. Junior trainers always say it, too. In junior chess I didn’t communicate with any of my rivals, and only when I surpassed them, we started building some relations. Chess is a very competitive sport, and I cannot understand how one can be friends with her rival.

– Are you comfortable in Khanty-Mansiysk? What can you say about the weather? Nobody expected snow in April!

– The tournaments in Khanty-Mansiysk are always well-organized, and I feel comfortable. I am from Salekhard, so I am not disturbed by the weather. Despite snow and wind I feel warm here.

– How did the first tournament go? Do you still have energy for the blitz?

– The first two days were disastrous, sometimes I lost three games in a row. On the last day I improved my score and finished at 50%, which is mediocre, but more or less okay. I still have energy for the blitz, I just need to make my moves quicker.

– Your father came to Khanty-Mansiysk with you. Is it important for you to have him here?

– He is of a great help! The first two days he lived in another hotel, and it was harder for me to choke up my losses without him, so I asked him to stay. When daddy is around, it is a lot easier for me to play. We discuss my mood and positions between the games. My daddy is a chess trainer in Salekhard.

– Do you need inspiration to play?

– No, I can do without it. I just come and know that I should play. I love chess, although it is almost my job now. I have no idea, what I would be doing without chess. If there was no chess in my life, it would be empty, and I have no idea how to fill the void.

– What will you do after the championship?

– I’ll go home and study for the school. I am in 9^th grade how, but have almost no time to study. The teachers understand my situation, but every year it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with other students. I don’t look any further and didn’t make any plans. However, I would like to compete for the World Champion title in the knockout tournament later this year.