Kasparov: I had been watching my parents trying to solve some chess studies, and I was so amazed at this mysterious game that I tried to understand the rules, and I guessed some moves. Later, my father taught me how to play chess at age six.

Kasparov: First talent. That’s the number [one] quality you need to get to the top; also determination and my ability to work hard and to concentrate when it’s necessary.

Kasparov: This event on MSN.com opens a new era in the history of chess. Successful completion, in my opinion, will lead to the creation of a virtual chess space, where many other big events could take place in the future. Because the Internet is a very good “box” for chess. Chess belongs on the Internet. Here, anyone can participate, anyone can interact through the Internet, and that’s why I think modern technologies are giving chess the upper hand [over] the traditional physical sports.

Kasparov: To play the next generation is always the challenge. I can remember, very well, the time when I was very young and I had to challenge all the players in the previous generation and then I played my generation. And now, I’m a very lucky world champion. I’m playing successfully against [the] next generation, and in fact, not only playing successfully; I’m beating [the] next generation. I’m very proud to see how these young guys are dealing with [the] computer. Because I believe the ultimate success of the next millennium will be related [to] computers and to see how these young players are making the moves with computers is very important.

Kasparov: There are differences and similarities of me playing Deep Blue, and me playing the rest of the world on MSN.com. [The] Deep Blue match was a very tough event, a very competitive match. Here, we’re also playing a game, and it involves playing so many people -- hundreds of thousands of people. And I think it’s better playing with hundreds of thousands of humans rather than face 256 microprocessors. And I also think it’s important that anyone who joins the world chess team, no matter if you’re a novice, a chess expert, or even a grandmaster, has the opportunity to play.

I think the whole atmosphere will be friendlier by definition than in the match with Deep Blue, which was hostile by definition. Here, despite the fact that I will try to win and I believe the rest of the world will push hard to win, I have no doubt that the overall atmosphere on MSN.com during the match will be a friendly one. And that will be a very good contribution for the game on the Internet.

Kasparov: Now on the Internet, chess as a game could exercise one of its greatest advantages. It can be played interactively by people sitting in their dining rooms, or from their offices, or the kids can play from their classrooms. And I think it gives chess an enormous advantage over traditional sport like tennis, basketball, or soccer, where you can just play with simulators, not with the real game. This interactive element will make chess very successful because I’m sure it will help us create a club atmosphere.

Kasparov: Playing online is very different from playing one-on-one, such as in a normal chess environment or normal tournament environment. I have to admit these games are quite different because the psychological role plays an important role in traditional chess. There is less psychology online.

Also, anyone can use a computer to assist a player during the event. That’s why I think the future form of chess on the Net will be more like what I call advanced chess, man plus computer vs. the same combination. For many people who are not very good at chess, I think this combination gives a unique opportunity to feel part of something really big happening; a high quality of chess that’s being played and you are part of this process.

Kasparov: I play many games. But I had to decide at one point to limit my other activities because I’m a chess professional, and every other game which is also attractive takes your time. And every minute taken out of chess is very damaging for your profession.

Kasparov: I don’t have a favorite game. I play many games. I play Backgammon. I play many card games. I play some of the mind games. But again, I also try to limit my involvement not to become very passionate about any other games because I have to reserve at lot of energy for my main game, chess.

Kasparov: I think we all have superstitions. I think it just depends on the strength of the superstition. Some people are completely overtaken by that. Some of them are just following that but it does not occupy their mind. I have some superstitions. I like the number 13. I was born on April 13th. I’m the 13th world champion. So naturally, I look for anything related to the number 13 to make myself comfortable. But at the end of the day, I know that it’s just a superstition and maybe it’s not going to work. But if I discover something related to the number 13, it makes me happy. (Zone comment: He says this with a smile.)

Kasparov: I think the most exciting technologies are computer technology related to the Internet. Because I believe the Internet is the future because it gives a chance to all the people to interact. And I cannot imagine our life in the 21st century without interacting on a regular basis.

Kasparov: Obviously when you’re trying to climb to the top, that’s more exciting, but I’ve discovered when you defend this position on the very top of the mountain, it’s also quite exciting. I decided at one point that maybe it’s time to set up a new record and not just to defend previous generations or your own generation, but to beat, convincingly, the next generation which I’m doing successfully now.

Kasparov: In theory anything can happen. I am vulnerable in a game of chess. And I would like to disregard the opinion that this game is a one-sided game and that Garry Kasparov is the clear favorite, and that he’s going to win easily because the majority will never vote for a good move.

I think with the support of these young players, [the] experts, the quality of the moves of my opponent or opponents will be enormously high and I will have to mobilize my resources and to play very carefully and to analyze each move, to play a steady game and to avoid any mistakes. Unlike in a tournament game, I cannot rely on the blunders of my opponent. There will be no blunders. And the combination of man plus machine, even if we’re talking about a not very strong player, but a good reasonable player, someone with a knowledge of the game plus very powerful chess software; this combination is dangerous. We’re going to see a very tough challenge on the world champion. We’ll see a very high quality game.