'My decision to break away from fide was a mistake'

Since he retired from competitive chess in 2005, Garry Kasparov has steadfastly avoided speaking about the game. His favourite topic since has been Vladimir Putin and 'repression' in Russia.

But in an exclusive interview to Vijay Tagore, - first time to an Indian newspaper - the former world champion talks about the game, unification in the chess world, Vishy Anand and, of course, Vladimir Putin. Excerpts:

I read you speak about murders and repressions by Putin in Russia. Why do you say so?
I am only reading aloud the headlines that would exist if Russia had an independent media. The murders and assaults are a matter of record - of critical journalists and opposition figures.

When such crimes are encouraged by the government, whether they are a direct participant or not, it is less a government more a mafia. It isn't about Putin, it's about what he is doing and what he represents. Darkness, repression, robbery, and a return to Russia's totalitarian past.

How come many people in Russia, including your one-time protege Vladimir Kramnik, seem to love Putin?
A small minority of Russians profit handsomely from the actions of this regime. If you are well positioned and don't care about what happens to the rest of the country, the 85% who are worse off and falling, it's easy to love Putin. But don't believe these ridiculous opinion polls. Surveys have little meaning in a country with no free press and an increasingly potent secret police. I'm sure Saddam Hussein was polling even higher than Putin!

Is Russia ready for full western-style democracy?
Let's find out! It's ready for a chance at it at least. There are frequent comparisons between Russia today and the USSR, but don't forget there was a brief period of democracy before Putin. Things are better now than 20 years ago, but worse than 10 years go, that's what matters.

What kind of opposition you face?
Every kind I can imagine and the Kremlin is always inventing new ones. We are harassed and intimidated constantly, no matter how small the activity. Of course we are denied access to the media, and any news source that gives us a platform runs the risk of being shut down or worse.

We hear you were once beaten by a chess board by Putin supporters?
Yes, although this was just a trivial provocation. This was in the early days after my retirement from chess in 2005. They were hoping that after a little physical treatment the chess player would return to chess. But I have a hard head! I'm lucky that Russians play chess, not cricket.

What are your chances of succeeding against Putin in 2008?
Well, we are continuing no matter the odds, so this isn't a helpful line of discussion. I believe the Putin regime has weaknesses that can be exploited and that can cause the entire structure to collapse. They have several paradoxes they cannot resolve and they can't keep the lid on tight forever without an explosion.

What if you succeed?
There are many degrees of success. Our task is to be prepared for every opportunity that appears. It will take a long time to repair the damage Putin has done to the country. It will take years to discover in how many ways things are broken here. We need to rebuild entire democratic institutions from scratch. But first off is free and fair elections. This basic, essential right has been lost.

What if you don't?
I've never been one to waste my time with such things. There will be plenty of time for reflection if things do not work out. But this isn't a short-term fight. As Hemingway wrote about the fight against Fascism, "I'm in it for the duration."

What do you make of Indian democracy?
It might be messy but at least it's a real democracy! People vote for their candidates and the popular vote decides things. In Russia today we can only dream of this.

Who do you think will win the World Championship in Mexico?
I'm in no way trying to please your readers by saying that Vishy Anand is the clear favourite.

The chess world apparently is united.
Only until the next opportunity arises for self-interest to trump the greater good. The chess federation (Fide) has already changed its own rules several times and the players have no confidence. If there is no steady system the players will continue to do as they like, only looking out for themselves.

But were you not responsible for division in the chess world?
I've said before that my decision in 1993 to break away from the world chess federation, Fide, with Nigel Short was the worst mistake of my career. It was a serious miscalculation on my part. I thought we could start fresh with a professional organisation, but there was little support among he players.

It led to short-term progress in commercial sponsorship for chess, but in the long run hurt the game. I tried many times to reunite the chess world, but as usual the strong personal interests on all sides prevented this. There is apparent unity now, but it is extremely superficial because Fide still puts its own petty interests ahead of those of the players and the players themselves will not sacrifice to fight for their rights against Fide.

Where do you see yourself in the history of chess? Many say you are the greatest ever.
Of course that is for others to say, and for future historians, not me. I'm proud of my record and I think it stands up well. But it is difficult to compare players across eras and there are many criteria to be used; each might favour a different player. Lasker played at a high level into his 60s, Fischer was further ahead of his peers than anyone, etc.

Chess continues to advance over time, so the players of the future will inevitably surpass me in the quality of their play, assuming the rules and regulations allow them to play serious chess. But it will likely be a long time before anyone spends 20 consecutive years as number one as I did.

Any chance of a comeback?
No, and these days I'd be too busy to play chess just with the activities I have lined up for the next year or two. My new book, How Life Imitates Chess, is coming out all over the world and my speaking engagements also keep me on the move.

So is it politics, not chess, that is in your mind?
Chess will always be a part of me and a part of my life. I still have chess books to write and I have no wish to abandon what was 25 years of my life. But I have moved on, and politics are my life today. Building the democracy that Russians deserve is a challenge that will last a lifetime.

Finally, any plan to come to India?
No, I'm afraid I have no plans. But I wish all your readers the very best.