If you have not already done so, Please read my earlier interview that I had conducted with Denis Lazavik. Enjoy this candid Q&A session.
TGN: Do you prefer to play computer chess online, or in person with a real board and pieces?
DL: Lately, I’ve been playing a lot of classics, and I was surprised to discover that I hate flying. Because of the war, it’s quite difficult to get from Belarus to almost anywhere, so flights are usually very long. Because of this, I want to say online right now. But I can well imagine that if I had been beaten several times on the internet using the engine, I would have said that I choose OTB. So I reserve the right to change my mind at any time.
TGN: What chess piece is your favorite?
DL: Knight
TGN: What is your favorite food?
DL: When you spend a lot of time traveling, you start to appreciate some ordinary home-cooked food more. So something from home cooking.
TGN: Have any pets?
DL: Yes, I have a cat.
TGN: Do you play any other games on your computer when not playing chess?
DL: No, and I don’t plan to. I already feel like an e-sportsman from time to time, so I don’t plan on adding computer games to my life.
TGN: What is your favorite country you have visited?
DL: I really liked the Czech Republic when I went there in 2016. There was an incredible zoo there, which doesn’t exist in Belarus. It made a huge impression on me back then, when I was less than 10 years old. I think it was one of the few trips where I saw something worthwhile, something other than a hotel room and chess.
TGN: What is your favorite movie?
DL: East/West (1999)
TGN: What music do you enjoy?
DL: In general, I like rap. I try to listen to different music, something that is still difficult for me, so my horizons are clearly limited in this regard
TGN: You mentioned you enjoy learning about history, what has been your favorite subject of history to study?
DL: The history of modern times, starting with the 1917 revolution, followed by the creation of the Soviet Union, its collapse, and the subsequent events of the 21st century. By studying this, you can probably get a good understanding of how we ended up where we are. So, in short, the 20th and 21st centuries.
TGN: Do you have a phobia?
DL: It’s hard to say now, but I think I would be scared if I saw a giant spider or a six-meter snake slowly creeping up behind me, or if I heard the sound of a chainsaw in the dark. But I don’t think you can call that a phobia. As a child, I was afraid of many things, like most children, but now I am afraid of the things that any average person is afraid of, or perhaps I haven’t lived long enough to know otherwise…
TGN: If you could play chess against anyone from history, who would it be?
DL: I would be interested in playing with people I can play with, but the chances are extremely slim. For example, Kasparov, Anand… I’m not really interested in thinking about who I would like to play with from among the people who are no longer with us.
Thanks again, Denis!
TheGameNarrative 