— What does it mean for you to receive the Chess Oscar, a public recognition or a sport track record?
— World Champion is a particular track record. As for the Chess Oscar it is handed over summarizing the results of the entire past year. In my case both achievements coincided. However people who vote for the Chess Oscar (journalists, chess players and other authoritative people) consider their personal favours, irrespective of titles, ratings, etc. Therefore Chess Oscar is the public recognition in the first place.

— How would you vote? Could you name at least three top players...
— Just like Kramnik: 1. Topalov, 2. Anand, 3. Aronian. I would place Svidler the fourth.

— Only three players have been awarded with the Chess Oscar since this award was revived by `64` magazine: Gary Kasparov has won it five times in the recent history, Viswanathan Anand — four times and Vladimir Kramnik has won it once. Topalov is the fourth chess player in this list. Did you want to win the Oscar earlier, particularly in 1996, when you won a number of tournaments?
— Yes I did. That time I thought I deserved the Chess Oscar. I used to think that to win six tournaments is more than enough to be awarded with this prize. But I do not vote for the Chess Oscar. It has been ten years since that time. I do not know where I was all these years, or whether I was at all in the top three… But now I am very pleased to be in one row with Kasparov, Anand and Kramnik.

— So we have moved to Kramnik. We have Ilyumzhinov’s announcement that the contracts for the match Topalov-Kramnik have been signed.
— The announcement was not a surprise for me. We were waiting for the date of the match to be published. So now that it happened we take rest. I am glad that this match will in fact take place.

— As the World Champion you support FIDE and personally President Ilyumzhinov. Would you change your attitude if after the FIDE Congress another person would take the helm of the World Chess Federation?
— I would not. Hundred years ago there was no such organization and the World Champion took himself the decisions regarding whom to play with and when to play. I believe that FIDE must be a regulatory authority. The title of World Champion belongs to FIDE and a Champion bears this Title for the specified period of time. The Champion should assist FIDE in every way. I personally like Ilyumzhinov because he holds on to the sport principle that a champion shall practically prove that he is the best; and Kirsan has always tried to bring this principle in chess. I myself genuinely believe in this principle. Irrespective of the results of the election I would be assisting FIDE. However I am convinced that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will win it, even though for the first time over long he has serious competitors.

— How about one million dollars, which the champion will be paid for the match?
— I did not go into the details of my contract. You had better ask my manager Silvio Danailov whom I completely trust in such matters. We have been working together for 15 years and if he says something then it really should be done. As far as the million dollars for the champion is concerned… It automatically obliges a champion to play the match. If the prize money is less than this a champion can choose. I think it will be the underlying principle for the next championship match. It was not stipulated for me personally. One million dollars is the means to make a champion play in a match. But I would not refuse anyway, I met FIDE wishes.

— Do you think the title of World Champion will lose some of its value if the lost party (Topalov or Kramnik) will not be able to struggle for the highest title till 2009?
— The reason of the current exclusive situation is that the championship system is changing. Of course the number of the participants in the match-tournament could have been changed. But the decision is taken by FIDE and not me.

— Has the title of the World Champion provided additional privileges or imposed additional obligations?
— My remuneration for participation in tournaments has risen. I do not think that I have additional privileges due to this title. If there were not the match with Kramnik, than already in 2007 I would participate in the World Championship Tournament on the same common basis as the other participants. But what I really acquired are additional obligations.

— Imagine you had the absolute authority as a Champion Dictator, what would you reform in chess?
— The primary target is to achieve and provide financial backing for chess. The rest is of secondary importance.

— What do you think about the “Sofia Rule” saying that competitors are not allowed to propose a draw?
— I approve of this idea! This will only do good for all professional tournaments. If people are paid for short dull drawn games, this only do harm to organizers. They feel themselves deceived. There should be some system or mean to prevent it.

— What is your opinion of gambling, which many chess players go in for?
— I do not gamble; it is not appealing to me. I happened to be in casinos (in Las Vegas, Monaco), but I have never parlaid.

— Will we see you in the Chess Olympiad in Turin?
— Nope, I will not participate in the Olympiad. I have finally received three-week rest; for the first time. Before the tournament in Sofia which is becoming one of the most relevant chess events in the world.