The turning point in my career came with the realization that Black should play to win instead of just steering for equality.
Too many times, people don't try their best. They don't have the keen spirit; the winning spirit. And once you make it you've got to guard your reputation - every day go in like an unknown to prove yourself. That's why I don't clown around. I don't believe in wasting time. My goal is to win the World Chess Championship; to beat the Russians. I take this very seriously.
If you don't win, it's not a great tragedy - the worst that happens is that you lose a game.
I play honestly and I play to win. If I lose, I take my medicine.
As Olafsson showed me, White can win... It's hard to believe. I stayed up all night analysing, finally convicing myself, and, incidentally, learning a lot about Rook and Pawn endings in the process.
I love the game - and I hate the Russians because they've almost ruined it. They only risk the title when they have to, every three years. They play for draws with each other but play to win against the Western masters. Draws make for dull chess, wins make for fighting chess.
If I win a tournament, I win it by myself. I do the playing. Nobody helps me
Genius. It's a word. What does it really mean? If I win I'm a genius. If I don't, I'm not.
When I win, I'll put my title on the line every year, maybe even twice. I'll give players a chance to beat me.
Americans like a winner. If you lose, you're nothing. I'm going to win, though. It's good for the match that Spassky has a plus score against me. We've met five times. He's won three times and we've drawn twice. But I'm a stronger player and a long match favors me.
The Russians have held my title for ten years and they're going to be in for it when I win the Championship. They're going to have to wait and play under my conditions.
