I've been to so many deals with so many of my peers. I hate to say it, but you go, and it's some tournament or big party or dinner, and you don't even know what you're raising money for. It's like, 'Oh, it's for the kids.' Thanks. But what are you doing?
The Olympic Games is the most important tournament for Russian guys.
I had a lot of success in big tournaments as well - won Masters Series in Rome - so a lot of things are coming together. I've done a lot of hard work in the off-season. A lot of physical work, a lot of work on my serve and on my return game.
My dad sacrificed many things in life for me. He abandoned a very promising and lucrative career of an army officer just so that he could continue helping me with my chess and accompanying me to tournaments.
I want to get good enough so I can play in Mia Hamm's golf tournament for her foundation and have an event of my own someday. I'm so competitive, I don't want to go and just pretend I'm a good golfer.
Every tournament's different.
When you start off a new tournament, you want to do well.
Outside boxing, I did well in cross country competitions and I won a schoolboys' doubles badminton tournament at once. I was pleased because it was a hobby to me.
If I win seven tournaments in a row, I get so confident I'm in a cloud. A loss gets me eager again.
I played tournament chess from fifth grade up into high school.
