  | Interviews |
| Meet IM Fikret Sideifzade (Captain of the Azerbaijan Team), 14.10.2003
You have a young team with great potential. Could you tell us more about it?
In fact, our team is the youngest on this Championship. We had the same people last year on our Olympic team in Bled. The only one missing os Vugar Gashimov, who is recovering after a health problem.
Since 1996 these boys repeatedly rake medals from World and European Championships. Teimour Radjabov - 7 times, Vugar Gashimov - also 7 times (6 times second!), Shakhriyaz Mamedyarov and Gadir Guseinov - 4 times each.
Our ladies team consists of the two sisters of Shakhriyaz - Zeinab and Turkhan Mamedjarova - a unique line-up in the history of the European Championships. They have also achieved some respectable results - Zeinab is a Junior World Champion under 18 and under 20, this year she won a Bronze medal at the World Championship in Baku. Her younger sister won the title under 14 in 2002.
You have not brought with you any reserves this time. What is the reason?
Financial as usual. We decided that 9 rounds is not a too long a distance and our young players can manage without reserves.
How do you succeed producing so many talents with that financial situation?
We rely on our traditions. Remember Kasparov grew up in Baku. Since that time the interest towards chess in our country increased considerably. We have 50 specilaised chess schools. Our chess is more popular than even football, probably because our football players have not got significant successes. And last but not least - we have a solid base, which we inherited from the socialist times. Right now we have two more great hopes - R. Mamedov, vice-European Champion under 16 from Montenegro 2003 and E. Safarly, who recently won the World Championship under 12, and last year made a double under 10.
How did you plan your line-up for the Championship?
Teimour Radjabov's place was reserved. His name needs no comments. Mamedyarov (as a Junior World Champion) and Guseinov (based on his performance at the European Championship in Turkey) won the right to play at the World Championship for men and thus also were the natural choice for our National team. Rasul Ibrahimov defeated the other competitors in a qualification match-tournament. As to the ladies the two sisters were victorious with ease on our ladies' championship.
We have a difficult match today. What do you consider your prospects?
We have the task to rank among the first 10. Otherwise we would consider a draw a good result against the strong team of Georgia.
Finally, to conclude, what are your impressions of Plovdiv and Bulgaria in general?
The Championship is very well organised. The playing hall is excellent, the accomodation and food are good. Plovdiv is an extraordinarily beautiful city.
Thank you for this conversation. We wish you success for the Championship and in the future. |
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| GAMES ON LIVE |
11 - 20.10.2003
The championship is over.
| 9th round |
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Results:
Multimedia CD:
