Peter Leko walked into the media room of the Chess World Cup at Resort Rio within the North Goan village of Arpora late one night final month, appeared on the second sport of the semifinal match between Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko on a journalist’s laptop computer, and started to speak. He defined how brilliantly the Chinese language Grandmaster defended towards the Russian in a tricky scenario.
Leko’s evaluation was lucid, in depth. It was a bit like listening to Ian Chappell speak on the Channel 9 broadcast about how Shane Warne was plotting one more dismissal of Ian Bell. The previous challenger for the World title is likely one of the most admired commentators in chess. The Hungarian, who was as soon as the world’s youngest Grandmaster, continues to play, too, at 46. Certainly, earlier than selecting up the microphone on the World Cup, he was transferring the chess items till Arjun Erigaisi knocked him out within the fourth spherical. Excerpts from an unique interview Leko gave The Hindu:
You’ve a giant following right here in India as a commentator.
I had an fascinating expertise whereas on a sightseeing tour round Goa throughout a relaxation day on the World Cup. I used to be at Fort Aguada when two guests immediately approached me, and so they requested me, ‘Are you Peter Leko?’ I used to be utterly shocked, however stated, ‘Sure, I’m, however how are you aware?’ They instructed me they recognised me from my voice. That was a pleasing shock. This love I felt throughout the entire event was particular. I used to be getting a lot love and assist from the group. I actually felt like I used to be at residence.
When did you uncover that you can be a commentator?
I had numerous expertise speaking in regards to the sport as a prodigy in Germany. I used to be visiting numerous golf equipment as a result of Germany was supporting me. And I used to be visiting numerous golf equipment for simultaneous shows or chess occasions like that. Whereas I used to be enjoying the simultaneous video games [against a large number of players], I used to be giving lectures, and I discovered that folks very a lot loved how I talked in regards to the video games.
I at all times discover it very fascinating when you may open your soul and inform what you have been considering and why you made sure selections. And even with the errors, with the sensible strikes, this was at all times very particular. Then in the course of the pandemic, I bought an opportunity to commentate on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. It was a tremendous expertise. I teamed up with Tania Sachdev and he or she at all times brings her large ardour and power.
Beginning younger: Leko realised individuals loved listening to him very early in life. ‘I had numerous expertise speaking in regards to the sport as a prodigy in Germany,’ he says.
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Hungary appears to provide high quality chess commentators. There’s Judit Polgar…
Sure, she is unbelievable. I get pleasure from listening to her and doing commentary alongside her. We each have a tremendous love for the sport.
You got here to Goa not as a commentator, however primarily as a participant. You had a superb event till you bumped into Arjun.
I used to be having fun with the entire World Cup tremendously. I used to be, to begin with, extraordinarily glad to get the possibility to play within the World Cup, which I used to be not anticipating. I used to be considering I’d be serving to Vincent Keymer in his preparation for the World Cup. However then immediately, in the midst of September, I used to be nominated by the Hungarian federation for the World Cup as a result of Richard Rapport certified by Elo score. I simply sensed I needed to be a part of it. I additionally needed to go to India. I needed to expertise this love of chess in India.
And on the World Cup, you have been the primary participant to take an in-form Arjun into the tie-breaks.
I believe our match additionally price him numerous further power. He is aware of that I’ve superb preparation. It was actually not a simple match for him.
What makes Arjun particular?
As somebody who has accomplished a lot commentary on his video games, I’ve discovered that he’s the participant whose strikes are most tough to anticipate. He at all times comes up with some surprises.
He doesn’t play precisely in response to my older classical chess imaginative and prescient. For instance, when Magnus Carlsen performs, I really feel like 90% of his strikes I can robotically really feel and anticipate, as a result of he performs very logically. With Arjun, there’s at all times this unpredictability additionally in his opening preparation. He’s at all times looking for some hidden concepts that aren’t fashionable.
Any participant that reminds you of Arjun in fashion?
Alexander Morozevich, who was additionally a really authentic participant. He was the World No. 2 in some unspecified time in the future. And that was a really powerful time period, as a result of there have been gamers like Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. It was an unbelievable era, as there have been additionally gamers like Boris Gelfand, Vasyl Ivanchuk, Veselin Topalov, Peter Svidler, Alexei Shirov… I used to be privileged to be a part of that era. However again then chess was not that intensive, as a result of there was not this laptop craziness.
You performed the World Championship towards Kramnik in 2004 and that match was drawn, however in response to the principles of that point, all he wanted was a draw to defend his crown.
I’m proud that I bought there, after profitable the Candidates. My match ended 7-7.
If it was now, it will have gone to the tiebreakers.
Sure. I attempted to be goal in that match.
The Vishy view: Through the course of an extended affiliation, Leko has seen Viswanathan Anand from the vantage level of a pal, a rival and a second.
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After shedding the primary sport, you got here again strongly to win the fifth sport and even took the lead, till Kramnik received the final sport to attract degree and retain his title.
Sure, that was throughout my greatest years as a participant — between 2002 and 2006. These 4 years, I used to be very sturdy. At the moment, Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, and myself have been the world’s prime 4. And whichever participant was in the most effective form received the actual event of the time.
You additionally labored as Anand’s second.
We have been associates and we began working collectively in 1996. Vishy invited me to Spain in Could, 1996. He was residing there then, and I used to be 16 years outdated. It was an unbelievable expertise. Then we continued working. On the World Championship [knock-out] in 1997 in Groningen we each performed, however I misplaced within the first spherical. I used to be very disenchanted and we have been coaching companions. I began supporting him in the course of the event. After which I used to be additionally with him already. He invited me to Lausanne for the ultimate match towards Anatoly Karpov.
In 2012, earlier than the Gelfand match [which Anand won], I used to be not an official member of the staff, however I truly helped him for nearly a month. I used to be in a coaching camp with him. We principally checked out openings, the primary ones Boris performed. Yeah, however then Boris additionally was extraordinarily good, and he got here up with surprises.
Printed – December 20, 2025 12:51 am IST
