We offer you interview with Georgian grand master Zurab Sturua, who did his important bit in Georgian chess. Instead of pratician chess player now he is a coach. Fortunately Zurab has a talent in this too, Georgian Chess Federation charged him to train our national team many times. At the moment Sturua is Nana Dzagnidze's personal coach and we are glad to mark that their cooperation has already had a remarkable result. On Fide Grand Prix tournament in Jermuk, Amrenia Nana has shown the best result among the strongest women chess players. Her advantage was so big that even chess specialists were amazed. We were also pleasantly surprised because she hadn't been successful at the beginning of the year. How she managed to improve her results and keeps her stability, Nana's coach Zurab Sturua will answer on these questions.

 

Failures aren't rare for chess player's career, even the strongest grand masters have it. Nana also had set-backs but we managed to overcome it and go in advance. We started working together in March, our aim was to stop back-down. We analyzed everything and made conclusions. First exam was Dubai Open, where Nana showed satisfying result, she even improved her rating a bit. She believed in her powers again and took the third place on Fide Grand Prix tournament in Nalchik, she cuold be the second too but anyway it was a big success.

 After Nalchik we realized that crisis was overcome. A little time later Nana took 2.5 points from 3 in Chinese League.

 It is necessary to signify that Nana has very big chess talent, it is unquestionable. My aim is to help her realize it.

 Talent also needs work, Nana has always worked hard but that wasn't enough, so what was the problem?

 Psychological problem is main, but we had to improve physical conditions too because she was getting tired in the final rounds. it is easy to solve physical problem, but psychological one needs more work. She had to estimate chess positions objectively and act with cold mind. It is necessary to act with heart too, but heart and mind should work together and balance each other, otherwise you won't  achieve anything valuable.

 What about Armenian tournaments?

 Before Armenia we had been on several collections, we trained in Tbilisi and Bazaleti too. This year tournament in Armenia was the strongest one. Average rating was 2487. Nana had fantastic result 7.5 points from 8. After 8 rounds her performance was 2922. In the final rounds she just needed to make draws and she did it, it is real professionalism.

 Dzagnidze is in the list of leaders, but two tournaments are ahead, Nana has to play only one tournament, how are her chances on victory?

 According to the rules participants should play 4 tournaments from 6 and 3 best results will be chosen for the final score. Before nalchik Nana took the second place on Chinese Grand Prix. For the victory she has to take the first or second place in the last competition. Her main rivals are Russian Tatiana Kosintseva and Indian Hamp Konerua. Kosintseva has more chances if she wins the tournament in Mongolia. Nana decided to play in Chile instead of Mongolia. we will have more time to prepare.

 You worked as a coach in Dubai too, did it grow your professionalism?

 In the United Emirates chess level is low, I prefer working with georgian chess players it is better to train strong I have to be more mobilized with them. I grow as a coach in Georgia more.

 Do you play in tournaments?

 In this age I can't play in the tournaments during the whole year. But I thikn coach must play sometimes and give his or her apprentice own example.

 Can Nana Dzagnidze fight for World Championship and is she a leader of Georgian women chess now? Of course we shouldn't forget that Maia Chiburdanidze is still active player.

 It is a fact that she can fight for World Championship, the main thing is to prepare properly. There is nothing permanent in the universe, everything is changing and chess isn't exception old generation is replaced by new. Nana can be a leader. Maia Chiburdanidze is a whole epoch in the World chess, but she couldn't play on grand Prix, Dzagnidze beat her in Jermuk. Results will show whether Nana is the first in Georgia or not.