Last year turned to be quite successful for a young Moscow chess player Maria Severina. She became a World Women’s U18 Blitz champion, a bronze medalist of the World Women’s U18 Chess Championship. Chess successes didn’t prevent Maria to enter a prestigious capital university. And now she is a participant of the Moscow Open 2014, RSSU Women’s Student Grandmaster Cup.
- Good afternoon, Masha. How is it all going on at the tournament for you?
- That’s the most complicated Moscow Open in my career. My brains are nearly boiling. The opponents are very strong, they create many problems.
- This didn’t prevent you to start with two victories in a row.
- And these two points cost me much. The matter is that I’m attending the studies at the University at the same time. Last exam session I was at the World Championship and I hardly managed to get the permission to leave. By the way I almost didn’t take any serious training because of the studies. I had I chance to pass the last exam not so long ago. We have 4 exam sessions per year…
- Where are you studying?
- I’m a student of the first course of the International Economics and Finances faculty of the Higher School of Economics. All the studies are in English.
- Are you planning to work using your profession in the future?
- It’s hard to say anything right now, but most probably yes. However, the chess is a big part of my life and it will always remain with me. Though I have to admit that it’s very hard to take the trainings now when I’m a student. This influenced today’s result…
- What’s happened today?
- I played against Meri Arabidze, a very strong Georgian player. And again I didn’t have time for the trainings. Meri caught me at the seventh move, I responded not so successfully, spent much time, made an extra move… And that was the finish.
- You are among the three best players even with just two points.
- I want to gain strength. Yesterday’s game exhausted me. I came home and didn’t understand anything. I was lying on the bed with my eyes open and was recovering for one hour. Today I haven’t strained all my nerves, I even managed to have some rest, so I will keep on competing!
Anna Kalyaeva asked the questions