[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Quotation Time #4: The answer is...

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Quotation Time #4: The answer is...
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1206515715.shtml


   given below. But first, for those who didn't notice [1]the quote the
   first time around, here it is again:

     In the years when Tal was becoming World Champion, he had no
     understanding of chess. But how he could fight! Now he understands
     everything about chess, but he has not the same will-power...

   The author of these lines was...Viktor Korchnoi*, in the context of an
   article explaining his loss to Anatoly Karpov in their 1974 Candidates
   Match. Here are some of the surrounding passages:

     Yes, Karpov is a rare type of chess player, I would say. In his
     play first here and there one suddenly notices faults. But what
     enormous will-power! I have never seen in anyone such an ability to
     summon up his strength for a game. It's absolutely staggering! In a
     short space of time he puts in a colossal amount of work. With his
     will-power, one might say that he put a break on my play. This man
     is capable of putting into a game all that he possesses, all that
     he knows, he is a man who is able to impose his influence on an
     opponent. This demands enormous efforts on the part of he himself,
     and, as the example of Tal has shown, such a player may not last
     long. [DM: Korchnoi was definitely wrong if he thought Tal's fate
     would befall Karpov, who remained in the top 2 for almost all of
     the next 22 years.] Karpov has given so much, and within six months
     will have given even more. [DM: Korchnoi here anticipates the match
     with Bobby Fischer that was to occur in 1975.] I will once again
     cite the example of Tal. [DM: The original quote ensues.]

     I sensed the influence of Karpov's will on me during the course of
     the whole match. As time trouble approached I felt physically how
     he summoned up everything against me, strained himself to the
     utmost, and watched me ever so closely....

     It turns out that it is the factor of will-power that now plays the
     determining role in chess. For this reason it was Karpov who
     emerged the winner. Although I still consider myself superior in
     the creative sense, as regards will-power he is clearly my
     superior. Karpov was able to inflict his will on me, and he won.**

   These excerpts may reveal more about Korchnoi than about Karpov, and
   there's probably an element of sour grapes present as well. Still,
   it's interesting and worth thinking about, as Karpov is not the only
   player known for his psychological intensity. There's Tal, as Korchnoi
   notes, but Fischer and especially Kasparov were known for emitting an
   almost palpable and destructive psychological force. Needless to say
   (I hope!), the excesses should not be emulated, but those with strong
   wills can, with training, surely utilize them to achieve their ends
   without attempting to crush the opponent psychologically. Difficult,
   but not impossible!

   * Cited in Anatoly Karpov & Alexander Roshal, Chess is My Life
   (Pergamon, 1980), p. 183.

   ** Ibid., pp. 182-183.

References

   1. http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1206371454.shtml