Boris Spassky

Nowadays young people have great choice of occupations, hobbies, etc, so chess is experiencing difficulties because of the high competition. Now it's hard to make living in chess, so our profession does attract young people.

The place of chess in the society is closely related to the attitude of young people towards our game.

We were like bishops of opposite color.

Recently I saw Kasparov and he looked to me as still young and potent champion.

I don't want ever to be champion again.

Time control directly influences the quality of play.

Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.

On the other hand, chess is a mass sport now and for chess organisers shorter time control is obviously more attractive. But I think that this control does not suit World Championship matches.

I also follow chess on the Internet, where Kasparov's site is very interesting.

In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King - and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you.

Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.

We can compare classical chess and rapid chess with theatre and cinema - some actors don't like the latter and prefer to work in the theatre.