2023-08-26 15:00:00
It could be the guitar, acupuncture, stamp collecting or karate that was breathed in his house, in San Antonio de los Baños. However, Wilver Vargas chose chess, achieved the title of Master Fide, and his Elo Rating amounts to 2304. Recently, he has achieved notable successes.
On Saturday, August 12, he finished third in the XXXV Castillo de Luna Chess Open, held in the city of Rota, Cádiz province, Spain, among 90 chess players. Despite adding seven points in eight rounds, he missed the crown.
Five days later he took revenge at the I Real Sociedad Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar International Chess Open, also in Cádiz, where he came first with 5.5 points out of seven possible. Both were rapid play tournaments.
“I had never tried myself in that modality before in person. I’m not a fan of fast games (25, 15 or 10 minutes), although I’m good at them.
“I even chose this sport because of my father. I joined a baseball team, competed in karate and volleyball, practiced judo, and even ran marathons. In those years I loved playing soldiers with him. One day he bought me a chess set and he told me it was a war game, but on a board.
“Since then I enjoy it and fight to become a Grand Master. Each dream has its stages and its own goals; Now I am fighting to become an International Master”.
-What do you consider the optimal way to improve in chess?
“Train every day, only with short breaks. The day you rest, the opponent wins that time.
-Do you prefer to follow what you studied or improvise?
“Almost always, chess players prepare ourselves with training programs, and we review the games of the opponents; however, very rarely do the same movements, so I like to improvise with other plays.
-What have we gained and what have we lost with the use of computer programs and their analysis?
“It has helped us a lot in terms of training, only it has taken away the beauty of the combinations, reading the books and reviewing the games in front of a physical board.
“Today chess is played very mechanically, due to the use of computers. Up to 30 moves are recited from a machine. That means less combination creation and less beautiful games.”
-Do you also play against the computer?
“Like any chess player. The truth is that I don’t like it. I prefer to face in person against humans ”.
– Is it more difficult or easier?
“For me, more difficult; it predisposes me for fear of losing ”.
-What is usually more decisive: talent or dedication?
“In addition to enjoying it, it is dedication that brings results. There are very talented people, but they don’t dedicate enough time to it”.
-They say that Vassily Ivanchuk is not a world champion because his nerves and emotions fail him when deciding on a movement.
“Unfortunately, it is so. Nerves and emotions influence. You have to control them. Ivanchuk is a genius; I enjoy watching him play, and I would have liked him to be world champion.
“It happened to me this year in the eighth round of the Guillermo García tournament; he was already one move away from passing first. It was after Hurricane Ian, in a tense game of more than five hours. I couldn’t with my emotions and I fell defeated; It affected me so much that I lost the last one, without any encouragement, and that took me to sixth position in the table”.
-Everyone has a bad game. What do you learn when it happens?
“Athletes also have bad days. We always want to do well, although sometimes things don’t work out; So, I lock myself in, I immediately try to find my mistake… and I would like it to be the next day to go with everything for more victories”.
-Which competition do you remember most fondly?
“One of the most beautiful days was when I got a medal in a 15-16 tournament in Matanzas; I remember that national a lot ”.
-What has been your best game?
“Especially one against Master Fide Roberto Salgado, from my town. Many years ago and I still remember it, because it decided a national in which I participated in the UCI, and I used a beautiful combination to give mate”.
-How many hours a day you train? Do you prepare physically?
“The truth? I have been undisciplined when it comes to training, although every day I see some chess and play. I dedicate many hours to it and I should train even more.
“I like baseball, playing cue with my childhood friends and participating in marathons: I ran in the last event dedicated to Andarín Carvajal in my town. And sometimes I go up to the stadium. That is mostly my physical preparation.”
– Is it possible to train motivation and mental strength?
“I think so, in a circle where tranquility and the support of all the family and friends abound. That motivates me and gives me strength, even when I’m far away, like now, when I travel to compete”.
-What do you think of the idea of incorporating chess as one more subject in schools?
“A magnificent idea. Many children would get to know this beautiful sport and we would have more champions, as well as a country with a huge culture about the game of science.
“How nice that you ask any child on the street about Capablanca, and know his story! Or that you ask them and they recognize the main figures of Cuba and the basics of chess! He also disciplines them and develops the intellect in the other subjects”.
-What is your favorite opening?
“I play everything. With black I prefer the French Defense. Eduardo Cabrera, a coach from Güira de Melena, helped me a lot; since he taught it to me, it stayed there in my repertoire.
“As a child, Félix Lemus took me to some competitions, although most of the time my main coach has been my family.”
-Who are your idols?
“My idols are José Raúl Capablanca, Leinier Domínguez and above all my father. To him, to my family, my girlfriend, my friends and all those who support me in one way or another, I dedicate each of my triumphs”.
Wilver assures that computer programs steal the beauty of combinations
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