I started by just sitting by the chessboard exploring things. I didn’t even have books at first, and I just played by myself. I learnt a lot from that, and I feel that it is a big reason why I now have a good intuitive understanding of chess.
One of the things that first attracted me to chess is that it brings you into contact with intelligent, civilized people – men of the stature of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, who was my part-time coach.
I am trying to beat the guy sitting across from me and trying to choose the moves that are most unpleasant for him and his style.
You need to have that edge, you need to have that confidence, you need to have that absolute belief that you’re the best and that you’ll win every time.
Maybe if I didn’t have the talent in chess I’d find the talent in something else. The only thing I know is that I have talent in chess, and I’m satisfied with that.
You have to choose the move that feels right sometimes; that’s what intuition is.
I don’t think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It’s always better to be too confident than too reluctant.
There wasn’t any particular player I modeled my game after. I tried to learn from everyone and create my own style. I studied past players. Truth be told I never had a favorite player. It’s just not my nature to go around idolizing people. I just go try to learn.
Without the element of enjoyment, it is not worth trying to excel at anything.
I learnt an enormous amount, but there came a point where I found there was too much stress. It was no fun any more. Outside of the chessboard I avoid conflict, so I thought this wasn’t worth it.
Right now I’m really happy with how things are going with my chess career, so I’m not thinking of doing anything else.
Chess only appeals to quite a small minority. It does not have the cachet of a mainstream popular sport.
My father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.
Contrary to many young Colleagues, I do believe that it makes sense to study the Classics.
People ask what my goal is. I don’t have a goal.
I get more upset at losing at other things than chess. I always get upset when I lose at Monopoly.
Once you’re a chess player, you spend a lot of time thinking about the game and you can’t get it completely out of your head.
I don’t consider myself a particularly young chess player. I have been playing in the best tournaments in the world since I was 16 years old. In other sports, if you have been playing for seven years, you are not a young prodigy any more. You’re one of the pros.
Unfortunately I’m still not a fashion expert.
I got the travel bug when I was quite young. My parents took me and my sisters out of school and we travelled all over Europe. It was an eye-opening experience and, although I love Norway, I also enjoy visiting new countries. I don’t get homesick.