Chessdom has published the second part of an Interview with GM Svetozar Gligoric done by Smbat Lputian. Below are a few selected questions and answers from that interview that I found most interesting with my commentary:


Smbat Lputian: Is there something you could identify which prevented you from becoming champion? You mentioned that creativity was your greatest passion in chess, but in a match, the result becomes the paramount factor.


Svetozar Gligoric: Well, of course I have played many matches. Maybe on the account that I was not driven to become champion as some were, it was unpleasant for me to be in the tense environment that envelops you during such a match. For example, in my candidates match against Tal, after five games I was leading, but the expectations of my fans and friends who were constantly visiting me and calling me and encouraging me to win, I began to feel exhaustion from this added burden. The pressures of those expectations probably undermined my subconscious will to win, and when I lost the match, I felt more relief than disappointment. I could add that there was a similar expression of emotion by Petrosian, in 1969 after he lost the title to Spassky. The first meeting we had after his loss, he confided in me that he also felt this gigantic relief, stating how content he was that he was now an ex-champion forever, and was no longer burdened by the additional weight of being world champion. In fact, his results after this loss were much better than those while he was the champion.


Gligoric was always lauded for his creative genius but did indeed feel tremendous pressure during matchs and his results suffered. I remember reading his book "I Play Against Pieces" in which he virtually makes this same admission. It's a brilliant book, by the way, you should pick it up.

Smbat Lputian: You have lived a long life, seen the world, felt many emotions. What would you identify as the essence of life?


Svetozar Gligoric: The most important things are love and creativity. The harmony between man and woman, as in music, as in life.


I like this quote for sheer remarkableness. Gligoric is obviously a hopeless romantic but some part of me is as well ... that is perhaps why I have always enjoyed his life and games.