The ranking-favorite of the Women’s Student Grandmaster Memorial of A. Pochinok is the RSSU senior, Alina Kashlinskaya. The Moscow grandmaster told the correspondent of the official Moscow Open 2015, RSSU Cup website, what mood she has at the threshold of the stuggle and how she manages to combine her studies and chess career.
- My spirits are pugnacious. I haven’t played in a tournaments with classical time control for quite a long time: I played just one game in the Bundesleague after the Super Final of the Russian Championship. That’s why I’ve missed chess so much after such a long break, and I want to show a good manner of play. I don’t set any goals, just want to play with dignity, and as everybody knows good play leads to good results.
- Do you know your opponents well? Have you played against them before?
- Generally, I know most of them, though I can’t say we face each other often in other tournaments. I have played several times with Dinara Saduakassova and Gunay Mammadzada. I’ve heard all the names before, no rookies here.
- Does the fact that your home university hosts the tournament make you feel under greater responsibility?
- Yes, there is an extra responsibility, also considering this being my last year in the university. I want to play well and end my student performances on a good note. I hope to graduate the university successfully, after all (laughing). We didn’t feel any pressure from the university senior management. On the contrary, they provided us with all the conditions so that we can play and combine our sports careers with studies. I thank them for the flexible schedule, as I can't imagine what other university I could study in if no such possibility existed. Most of teachers treat our professional activities with understanding. It's good to have a university supporting chess players and developing the game of chess. When I talk to guys from other countries, many of them complain that they can’t play chess while getting their higher education. Chess falls out from their lives for several years as they don’t have a chance to study and play in the tournaments, but we have such a possibility.
- But for all that you study at the Faculty of psychology and not the chess department…
- Yes, I attend the Faculty of psychology, but still it's much easier for me here than compared to any other college. As I’ve said many times before, I was not in favor of the profession of a coach when I was choosing faculty as I think one must have sufficient awards to work as a chess coach. And I wanted to get a profession that can both be useful in life and used in chess as well. It seemed like psychology is quite useful—it's as relevant to everyday life as to professional activity.
- Alina, thank you for the chat and good luck in the tournament!
- Thank you!