In an interview inside a new car with Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Uzbekistan's first world chess champion, they discussed modern chess, the rise of the younger generation, Uzbek chess players, and state awards.

Kasimdzhanov noted that today the opportunities for practicing chess have increased significantly. The internet, computers, and electronic databases allow young chess players to study games from around the world and prepare thoroughly.

“Perhaps in the future, even stronger champions will emerge,” Kasimdzhanov said.

He noted that in recent years, attention to chess and the number of tournaments in Uzbekistan have increased significantly.

“You will see me more often now”

When a journalist asked why Rustam Kasimdzhanov had appeared less frequently in the media during a certain period, he replied that he was always busy with work.

“I was always doing work, always busy. But now we have more work in Uzbekistan. There are many tournaments, many plans, and a lot of attention. My experience is also proving useful. Therefore, God willing, you will see me more often now,” he said.

Kasimdzhanov stated that his main focus now is not on foreign chess players, but on representatives of Uzbekistan.

“If our boys play well, to be honest, I am not very interested in how others are playing. At the Olympiad, I didn't pay much attention to other results either,” he said.

In his opinion, today there are no stronger chess players than Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov.

“I believe that our boys will become true champions. I believe that Javokhir will also return as an official world champion in November and December,” Kasimdzhanov said.

“We still have a lot of work to do”

When asked about his conversation with the President, Kasimdzhanov mentioned that the President told him: “We still have a lot of work to do.”

“I understand this well. The President has many ideas and many intentions. We will give it our all,” he said.

During the conversation, Kasimdzhanov also spoke about the awards being given to athletes by the state.

He said that in previous years there were no such large rewards as there are today. However, the chess player always felt the love of the state and the people.

“When I won a medal at the Olympiad in 2000, they gave me a Tico,” Kasimdzhanov said.

He recalled that he drove that Tico with joy at the time.

“And now, as we can see, times have changed, our state's capabilities have changed. Opportunities in the country have increased. The car, as you can see, has also become bigger,” he said.

To the journalist's remark, “Well, that's fitting for the achievement,” Kasimdzhanov gave a brief response:

“Fitting for the achievement.”