whiteshark: requote, Dec-17-08, Karpova:
Ilya Odessky: <You are asking non-specifically: TV, chess show – and I want to be more specific. Why nobody advertises Kosintseva sisters? Where are they – on TV and radio, in magazines and newspapers? Why nobody makes megastars of them? There are no contra-indications, and possible occasions are countless.
First of all, they are sisters – one could remember Polgar, and besides, sisters – this is already a plot. Chess talent is great, plus spotless credit history – no suspicious actions, because nobody knows anything at all about them. One could make up tales in tabloids and reveal the truth in analytical issues. A number of references is 1000 more important than a quality of them – a first law of PR, remembered cold by Kosteniuk.
'A famous chess player Tanya Kosintseva planted a tree!' A day after: 'Nadya Kosintseva rescued a neighbor's cat!' Next day: 'Tanya and Nadya Kosintseva returned the cat to its owner. 6-year-old Vova Batarejkin was very grateful. He turned out to be an avid chess player: 'Now I am your fan forever!'
A key phrase is 'a famous chess player'. It has to be repeated as an obvious fact. Then a reader, being afraid to lose the pace of life, thinks: 'Wow, famous! I didn't know. I should follow them more closely. How could I have missed?' And then there is some Biel tournament, and girls do very well: one must not forget telling the media about the outstanding victory. A reader opens 'Sport-Express' – look what a strong girls, they crush everybody. Turns on the radio – the sisters say that during the Biel tournament they consumed only some special drinking yoghurt, etc.>
<If a female chessplayer is confident, if she is motivated to please a young man or a trainer, there are no obstacles on her way – and the pattern of chess pieces on board will have the least influence.>
<As for my personal preferences, I give them all to Vera Nebolsina. There are several reasons for it. First, Vera is a vegetarian, a stubborn one. The girl does not eat fish and meet for ideological reasons – one can go crazy about it! Do as you wish, and I consider it a true feat.
Second, she wakes up at 7, sometimes even at 5. If I wake up before noon, it means I didn't sleep well and the day is spoiled. Vera rises at cock-crow, does morning exercises, takes a hardening shower (in my opinion, the Gestapo torture) – brr! She is a hero twice.
Knows non-Russian language – characteristically, French. She came to the '64' editorial office on a way – from where and where to, do you think? From China – to Moldova!
'From shade to light she flies across
She is herself the shade and light.
With all the marks and signs are lost
Where came she from to our sight?
She flies and squats for modest rest,
She must have been a Chinese guest,
There are no others of her kind.'
There are no others of her kind...>