Ernesto INARKIEV: - For me the main chess doping is psychological
motivation. There were a couple of cases in my life when I seemed to
have exhausted my resources but I overcame myself. In case we speak
about doping in its denotative meaning, I think that it is possible if
you feel exhausted.
Alexander GRISCHUK: - The principal doping in our profession is the
desire to play, to struggle at the chessboard. It gives me strength,
because when you don’t feel like playing but have to, you cannot do
everything you could. As for food and beverages… in case of a
professional approach it can be very promising. I think some
stimulating agents could be suitable for chess. Any doping agent should
be applied with care because in the event that you use it on a
long-term basis, it can result in severe consequences.
Evgeny ALEXEEV: If under the doping one can understand the stimulus for
the chess game, as for me, I have only one – it is striving to the
victory.
Rustam KASYMHZANOV: - In point of fact, as far as I understand, you
want to hear something about concrete chemical substances using by
chess players? For many chess players alcohol can act as doping during
the tough period of their chess career. It helps them to come to life,
to organize themselves for the further emotions. I am trying to abstain
from any kind of doping lately, including alcohol and coffee during the
game. I am trying to play on the human resources. And you can see the
results now… (Yesterday Kasymzhanov lost 2 straight games). May be, I
should stop all this?
Peter LEKO: I think, chess is more intellectual than physical kind of sport. There is no point in speaking about chess doping.
Teimour RADZHABOV: It is difficult to say what you can use in order to
win the game. Coffee, tea, cigarettes can’t promote good results. If
you have slept well, have come to the game in a good mood – it is not a
guarantee of success as well. But if we talk about real doping, in
particular, to comment the case at the Dresden Chess Olympiad when the
leader of the Ukrainian team Vasily Ivanchuk has not come to the doping
test, it will take a lot of time..
Vladimir AKOPYAN: Chess is a job for grandmasters since childhood,
though a pleasant one, and the attitude to this profession is serious,
as to the real one. Playing at top level, one has to work hard and
spend a lot of time on the preparation for the tournaments. A strong
tea helps me to be in good shape, while I have never liked coffee.
During the game I can drink several cups of tea.
Vugar GASHIMOV: Usually during the game I drink only water. Chess, I
can say, is a kind of doping itself, even a drug. All grandmasters have
become addicts of this wise game since childhood and can’t get rid of
it for the rest of their life.
