1. How long do you think you will hold the championship? 
Kasparov: When I won my title I promised to keep it till the next millenium. I am very close to keeping my promise. Seriously, I believe I have quite a few years ahead of me.

2. Should there be separate world championships for match and tournament play?
Kasparov: I don't think it makes sense for chess.

3. When did you think you would become world champion?
Kasparov: When I won the Sokolsky Memorial in Minsk in January 1978 - I was confident I had a very good shot. I was not yet 15 years old.

4. Who will be your next challenger, if you beat Shirov?
Kasparov: Unfortunately, the match with Shirov is still up in the air, but from the public and sponsors perception, Anand undoubtedly looks (like) the best challenger.
5. Who was the strongest player not to become world champ?
Kasparov: Obviously Keres, but Anand also has a chance to join his company.

6. Are you in your prime - if not when was it?
Kasparov: I hope I am now, but sometimes I doubt it.

7. Who was your chess mentor and who influenced your chess style the most?
Kasparov: Mikhail Botvinnik had the greatest influence on my game, and I was heavily influenced by games of Alekhine and Fischer.

8. How many hours a day do you study chess?
Kasparov: At the training camp, I spend up to 6 hours regularly.  On a daily basis, I still try to spend 1-2 hours a day.
9. Which opening novelty of yours are you most proud of?
Kasparov: The most attractive one was game 10 against Anand in the 1995 NY match, but also I was proud of my novelty against Shirov in Linares 1998.  Not very often you can find new good ideas before move 10 in Sicilian these days.

10. Where would Bobby Fischer rank today if he never stopped playing?
Kasparov: Very hard to imagine, but I think he would be today behind Karpov.

11 . Will future world champions keep getting stronger?
Kasparov: Probably, but with heavy influence of computers I think it will be more about changing attitude and approach rather than strength.
12. On whose authority do you consider yourself World Champion - you
are merely the world's strongest player?
Kasparov: On the authority of tradition that is 112 years old, and my legacy is as good as Capablanca's and Alekhine's.  I don't believe FIDE has any legal right to claim the ownership of the title which was introduced to the public almost 40 years before FIDE's creation....and I would like to note that FIDE proclaimed Botvinnik the 6th World Champion, i.e. recognizing old tradition and not starting its own line of champions

13. Why was the quality of your play so low against Deep Blue?
Kasparov: I think this impression is wrong and it's obviously created by unspeakable quality of game 6, and partially of game 2, but both games had very little to do with chess, but rather with psychology. In fact, any serious analysis proves that the quality of games 3,4,5 was extremely high.  I would say higher than the average quality of a world championship match.
14. Who do you think will be Champion after you?
Kasparov: Since the creation of a world champion requires me losing in a match I am not very happy to make such predictions.

15. Why was you match with Shirov canceled, and are there plans to reschedule?
Kasparov: Mr. Rentero unfortunately couldn't fulfill his promises and didn't come up with the money which forced both players to look for other alternatives.  There was a good chance in early September to organize the match in California, but Shirov thought the prize fund too low.  I believe his expectations were too high because since that time we didn't receive any serious offers.  Sadly the chess world didn't take Shirov's challenge seriously, although he earned his rights by convincingly dismantling Kramnik.  I think that the chances to see the match are virtually nonexistent now.

16. How would you do in a 6 board simul against the strongest chess programs?
Kasparov: Definitely not as good as against the Israeli top 6 team, but I still think I have a chance to win.
17. Why was there no rematch with Deep Blue? Any plans for future Man vs. Machine contests?
Kasparov: As everyone might know, IBM has dismantled Deep Blue after the match, so there is no opponent because other companies are not interested to follow IBM's footsteps.

18. If Ilyumjinov is jailed for his acts do you foresee your participation in a FIDE World Championship match?
Kasparov: Whatever happens to Mr. Ilyumjinov, I am afraid it's not going to change the rotten nature of FIDE politics.  I think I can play with a FIDE challenger, but I don't want FIDE to be the organizer of a world championship match with my participation.

19. Efim Geller passed away recently - are there any stories you would care to share with us about him?
Kasparov: Efim Geller (was) a man of outstanding chess abilities.  I didn't get much time to work with him, but even several short sessions  I had with him before my match with Nigel Short, demonstrated to me  his deep and impressive understanding of the game
20. Which one of your games most typifies your style?  And which one was the hardest?
Kasparov: Computers will play more and more important role and I think that the form I call Advanced Chess (MAN + MACHINE) will become popular in the 21st century.

21. How do you see the future of chess?
Kasparov: I first of all like to mention game 16 from matches in 1985 and 1986 with Karpov.  But the list is quite long, and I would rather mention the most memorable games.  Among which I would point out game 24 in Sevilla.  I also think the idea to reshuffle pieces in the opening position will get substantial support in the future.  Also (the) Internet will become the most important arena for chess competitions including high level professional chess.

22. What type of car do you own/drive?
Kasparov: Mercedes 320.

23. How do you rate your chances in the upcoming blitz match with Kramnik?
Kasparov: It's a very unusual event, because no one has ever tried to play a long blitz match on that level. But I am ready to bet on myself.
24. Have you responded to Bessel Kok about his offer of a World Championship match?
Kasparov: I responded positively signaling my readiness to discuss this offer very seriously.  I am sure that a man of Bessel's knowledge and influence can be the right person to solve the current crisis.

25. Why do you think Deep Blue might have had human assistance in your match?
Kasparov: Simply because in game 2 (the) machine did something which contradicted any conventional knowledge of the computer's ability. There were a few other moments in the match I would like to get clarification on but as we know refused to release printouts of the machine's thinking and lately even dismantled Deep Blue.  In fact they destroyed the only impartial witness.  I don't think that further discussion of my word versus their word makes any sense.  It's up to IBM to give sufficient documentation for everybody to analyze to determine whether my claim was a sound one.

26. Do you feel that any young chessplayer has the potential to become a Grandmaster with proper training?
Kasparov: Today with a devaluation of a GM title everything is possible. There is a lot of chess knowledge available and if you have determination and stamina I don't see why not.
27. How important is physical activity preparation and control for key matches?
Kasparov: I pay a lot of attention to my physical condition; to be fit under the terrible pressure of big competitions.  Obviously this is becoming more important with age.

28. What would be your biggest tip for a young player wishing to improve up to master level?
Kasparov: I don't think you can reduce chess to one tip - I've been looking for one for the last 30 years.

29. Who do you consider the strongest blitz player of all time?
Kasparov: I am very much against the idea of comparing strengths of players from different times.  I think it's too subjective.

30. How do improve when you are already the best?
Kasparov: One day you find it's hard to improve further, and in my position further improvement is an ability to study the study the game with the same determination and to compensate losses of energy with acquired experience.
At this point Kasparov apparently took questions from the audience.  For some reason, whoever was typing for him suddenly toggled their caps button... and didn't have the presence of mind to turn it off. For the most part, the questions that he was answering could not be seen.
 

Kasparov: Master and Margarita was the book that made the biggest impression on me.

Kasparov: GM TITLE IS DEVALUATED BECAUSE CHESS HAS THE SAME INFLATION AS ANY ECONOMY.

Kasparov: ON THE BOTTOM WHICH AUTOMATICALLY THE TOP AS WELL.

Kasparov: I THINK IT'S WRONG TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON OPENINGS.  AND IF YOU INVEST YOUR TIME IN THE ENDGAME OR TYPICAL MIDGAME YOU'LL SEE GOOD RETURNS.

Kasparov: I AM SORRY THAT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF LITERATURE DOESN'T GO ABOVE WAITZKIN....

Kasparov: I AM NOT PLANNING TO COME TO (the) U.S. BEFORE NEXT APRIL.

Kasparov: I BEGAN TO ENJOY CHESS NEARLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEARNING IT.

Kasparov: Very little time is spent by top U.S. players on studying the game seriously... and there is a need to bring chess into the mainstream to upgrade its image.

Kasparov: REGARDING THE NEXT K-K MATCH YOU CAN VIEW IT LIVE ON THE ICC NEXT FRIDAY, WHILE KARPOV WILL BE WATCHING IT FROM THE AUDIENCE IN MOSCOW.

Kasparov: EVERY LEGACY EVAPORATES WITH TIME. SO IF THERE IS NO MONEY FOR MATCH WITH SHIROV SOON WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHALLENGER.

Kasparov: KASPAROV CHESS ACADEMY IN TEL-AVIV IS WORKING MAINLY ON INTRODUCING CHESS INTO THE EDUCATION PROCESS.

Kasparov: It was not me but Shirov who rejected the offer from California, for he thought prize fund of $1,000,000 was insufficient.

Kasparov: MONEY-BASED CHALLENGES DEPEND ON PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE, OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T FIND THE MONEY FOR THE MATCH.

Kasparov: CHESS IN SCHOOLS IS A GREAT IDEA, I HOPE THE ACADEMY IN TEL-AVIV WILL SOON BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A UNIFIED WORLD PROGRAM.

Kasparov: MY SON'S FULL NAME IS VADIM.

Kasparov: He can already pick out knights from all (the) other pieces.

Kasparov: 6 world champions - I don't want to reduce the importance of 7 others.

Kasparov: I don't play ghosts - so Fischer is not a possibility.

Kasparov: I HOPE THAT INTERNET TRANSMITTED GAMES WILL RAISE THE IMPORTANCE OF CHESS AND CHESS EVENTS WORLDWIDE.

Kasparov: THANK YOU (for the) QUESTIONS - I will see you next week during my match...with Kramnik.