| Peter
Leko @ Linares 2003
 Peter Leko is now matured. Remember his play some three years ago - he was
hesitant and some called him the drawing master.
But he came to Linares very determined to prove that he is not. He had the most decisive games, he was completely fit physically and mentally.
Every time he lost, he fought back and came again and his win at Linares,
the "Wimbledon of Chess" is really deserving, and brings a change of guard, in the
decade long KKA (Kasparov-Kramnik-Anand) dominance.
Our correspondent Vijay Kumar spoke to him immediately after his
final game against Kramnik.
Vijay :
Congratulations on winning the coveted Linares title, how do you
feel now !
Leko : It is really a wonderful feeling to win such a strong tournament which I ever won. This is the first time I finished ahead of
Garry Kasparov. I already a had a couple of nice victories - two times at Dortmund and one was last year
- the Candidates tournament at Dortmund and actually that was my last Classical tournament and now I again won just after half year's break. I am now preparing for my final match for the
World Championship against Vladimir
Kramnik.
Vijay:
How are you going about your preparations for your Candidates match against
Kramink ?
Leko :
Actually it is not a candidates match. It is actually the final of the
World Championship, which I did not follow earlier. It is now clear after this tournament, everybody can understand that it is the
Championship final and it will be a fantastic final.
We both are in very good shape and we have prepared a lot so
I am looking forward to it because it will be my first final. Kramnik already has some experience and that will be to his advantage but
I am well prepared and will continue to prepare for the final.
Vijay: Which one you will rate as your best victory
here !
Leko :
It is a very competitive tournament hence it is very difficult to pick up any one victory as my best, however my second victory against Radjabov could be considered as the best, because of some nice technical strategies involved in the game.
However my second game against Kasparov was the best. I played a brilliant game, though I was pressing but I came in time trouble where I blundered and finally came close to
losing the game, but than in a miracle way I saved it with a draw as we both had
just 30 seconds each. So it was a big drama.
Vijay : You played two games against Anand ,
which one you liked most !
Leko :
Long time ago everybody was saying that I am a rock solid player. I had played before and I have won incredible games and I also lost many but as a challenger I decided to experiment and go for all out.
In my two encounters with Vishy, I gave him my first game as an opening present but sure he did not use his chances 100 percent. Anyway he kept on pressing and finally with precise play he converted his advantage in to victory. Well many people saw this loss might influence my tournament but actually it gave me a lot of motivation.
I have never won against Vishy and lately drew all my games , so I wanted to finish this game well. I did a lot of preparations, I got a slightly pleasant game ..I kept on pressing and finally at some point ,may be near the end he [Anand] collapsed under pressure.
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