After such a tough match you need time to recuperate. You can't play such a match in the same year; you need at least a couple of years.
Vladimir Kramnik
2
An impatient person plays differently than a more patient person.
Vladimir Kramnik
3
At some point he seemed to lose all confidence trying to break down the Berlin Wall. He was still fighting as only Kasparov can, but I could see it in his eyes that he knew he wasn't going to win one of these games.
Vladimir Kramnik
4
But with the Berlin, I was able to allow him to get near, but not quite near enough, and I knew where to draw the line with the fortresses I had set up.
Vladimir Kramnik
5
Even if you play perfectly, a fault of your opponent's can destroy the entire beauty of the game.
Vladimir Kramnik
6
Every top player has his own style, just as every painter has his own personal signature.
Vladimir Kramnik
7
For me art and chess are closely related, both are forms in which the self finds beauty and expression.
Vladimir Kramnik
8
I accepted that the endgame was better for White, but he has to win over the board, not with his legendary home preparation - that's crucial!
Vladimir Kramnik
9
I believe every chess player senses beauty, when he succeeds in creating situations, which contradict the expectations and the rules, and he succeeds in mastering this situation.
Vladimir Kramnik
10
I feel that my relationship with Kasparov now is much the same as it had been before the match - good. As for his reaction, well it can't be nice to lose your title after so long, but he was very generous.
Vladimir Kramnik
11
I made a better decision in choosing my team. Sure, I had a bigger choice of players to choose from - but I couldn't have asked for a harder working group of players who did an incredible job.
Vladimir Kramnik
12
In chess one cannot control everything. Sometimes a game takes an unexpected turn, in which beauty begins to emerge. Both players are always instrumental in this.
Vladimir Kramnik
13
In this respect I suppose I'm the total opposite of Garry. With his very emotive body language at the board he shows and displays all his emotions. I don't.
Vladimir Kramnik
14
It made a big difference to my match stamina. I couldn't imagine I would have been so energetic during the match - it really gave me a welcomed extra boost!
Vladimir Kramnik
15
No - I'm quite calm inside during the game for most of the time - not 100%, but generally very calm.
Vladimir Kramnik
16
Okay, when you start to fight for equality, like Anand did in 1995, you could end up losing game 10, like he did, without putting up any kind of fight.
Vladimir Kramnik
17
Only he, who penetrates into the depth of the game, can express his personality in it.
Vladimir Kramnik
18
So basically it's very simple: to start with, if you want to win the match, you shouldn't be afraid of him. There are still many, many things to do, but above all this is the most important: Don't be scared of him!
Vladimir Kramnik
19
The Berlin Defence suited my strategy for the match. I had a defensive strategy - Actually, I had in my pocket some other sharper stuff to fall back on - but first I wanted to try the defensive strategy with Black and it worked so well.
Vladimir Kramnik
20
The development of beauty in chess never depends on you alone. No matter how much imagination and creativity you invest, you still do not create beauty. Your opponent must react at the same highest level.
Vladimir Kramnik
21
The strength of the playing ability is much more important. Only if the strength of the opponent's playing ability is comparable, does the game develop.
Vladimir Kramnik
22
When I speak of the beauty of a game of chess, then naturally this is subjective. Beauty can be found in a very technical, mathematical game for example. That is the beauty of clarity.
Vladimir Kramnik
23
With the Berlin I was able to set up a fortress that he could come near but not breach.
Vladimir Kramnik
24
You know, our ratings after this match will be very close - I think I can also become the world number one in the not too distant future. However, I'm sure that Garry will also have something to say about this!
Vladimir Kramnik
