The 5 Greatest Chess Interviews Ever

A list nobody can argue with

Hans Niemann’s recent Meltwater Champions Chess Tour interviews led to a kerfuffle. Many are confused that an interviewee could actually “say things” instead of “not saying anything meaningful”. Bland is best, they say. Is it true, though?

Controversy for the sake of controversy might seem cheap but shouldn’t we appreciate genuine emotion & even genuine pain? Every chess player knows exactly how Hans felt after losing those games, it’s just rare to see someone so high-profile talk about it in front of a camera. If we feel exactly the same way he did, what’s the problem with him expressing it?

Anyway, here’s the definitive list of best ever chess interviews.

#5 - Anand vs some guy

This is how you deal with stupid questions.

#4 - Smooth.

#3 - “The chess speaks for itself.”

This may be the boldest statement ever made before losing 6 matches in a row and we must salute it.

#2 - Grischuk.

All of the Grischuk. He’s consistently the king of interviews and he only narrowly misses out on the #1 spot by one moment of agony/genius.

#1 - The Immortal Sokolov.

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