‘Vincent thinks if Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa can succeed, why can’t I? Peter Leko

Leko became the youngest grandmaster of his time when he was awarded the title at 14 years old in 1994. He came closest to becoming the first Hungarian to win the World Championship title, but a 7-7 draw in the 2004 match against Vladimir Kramnik allowed the Russian to retain his title. In two other World Championships that were played in a knockout format, Leko fell short, finishing fifth in 2005 and fourth in 2007.

He has since moved away from active play and keeps himself busy with commentary stints around the world, as well as training Germany’s Vincent Keymer. In an interview with The Indian Express, he spoke about his protégé Vincent’s rise among the chess elite, their bond, and why he never became world champion, among other things.

Excerpts:

Vincent won the Chennai Masters 2025 with a round to spare, beating a quality playing field. You were part of Viswanathan Anand’s team during the 2013 World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen. How does it feel that your student has tasted a big success in the same city?

It’s a sensational feeling because the tournament was very tough. It was a fantastic event. The Chennai Masters is a highlight of the year. Playing in Chennai, playing in India right now, is a fantastic feeling. I know Vincent enjoys going to India, the whole atmosphere, with people so enthusiastic about chess. There are so many spectators, so many cameras focused on the players. As a player, as a sportsman, as an artist, this is extremely important. It gives you extra energy.

Then, all the craziness that happened at the beginning of the tournament… the fire at the hotel and so on. For me personally, it was very emotional. I was there in the same Hyatt Regency hotel during the World Championship match between Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen. I was Team Vishy, so I had so many emotions. Just hearing that the tournament was taking place in that very same hotel, then the fire and everything… I was so happy and relieved when I heard the players could move back and the tournament could continue.

What Vincent has been doing is exceptional in the last six months. He won the Weissenhaus Freestyle event, crossed 2750, and broke into the world’s top 10. Is there anything different he’s been doing with you? What’s your general sense of his playing style these days?

The win in the Weissenhaus Freestyle Chess gave him a lot of confidence. Anish Giri also discussed it in an interview after the tournament. He mentioned how Freestyle Chess seemed to “open up” Vincent. He gained so much confidence from beating Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Alireza Firouzja to win Weissenhaus. It was a sensational run. We’ve talked a lot about how, after this, there’s no reason to fear anyone or any situation. If you can play on equal terms against the very best in Freestyle Chess, without any opening preparation, then that’s a huge psychological breakthrough.

The success of the likes of Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and (Nodirbek) Abdusattorov… Gukesh is a World Champion at 18, Praggnanandhaa is among the elite, and Abdusattorov has been in the world’s top 10 for quite some time. Vincent thinks… ‘Wait a second, I’m not worse than these guys. If they can succeed, why can’t I?

Peter Leko breaks down Vincent Keymer’s playing style, describing him as a natural strategist. (Freestyle Chess/Lennart Ootes)

I understand that when a player suddenly makes a breakthrough, people ask, What’s the secret?” But usually, there is no secret sauce. That’s the trick. It’s a continuous growth. You don’t suddenly become a completely different player overnight. You already have an extremely high level inside you, and then, based on small extra factors, it comes to life.

You mentioned his versatility. After Freestyle, it’s clear he’s dynamic, adaptable to different time formats, optimistic, and pragmatic. If you had to analyse Vincent’s playing style, what would you say?

He’s clearly a great strategist. He prefers complex battles, is very ambitious, and always looks for a fight but not in a chaotic way. He seeks harmony in positions, and once he achieves it, he’s unstoppable. His style depends on imposing his will on the opponent.

There was a sweet moment when you left your commentary to hug Vincent after his win at Weissenhaus. Back in 2018, at 13, Vincent said, With Peter, everything is fun. You share a strong bond. How did this all start?

Vincent is like family. It’s not just a professional relationship. It has a long history. When I was young, I struggled financially in Hungary, but Germany supported me, helping me become the player I am. I’ve always wanted to give back.

I met Vincent in 2017, when I felt my playing career had peaked. He was a 12-year-old in Germany, and I was asked to coach him at the World U20 Championship. We travelled for hours to Tarvisio, Italy, and when we arrived, I asked him to show me one of his games.

He explained every move, his thoughts, his feelings and in that moment, I knew he was special. He had an innate understanding of harmony in chess. I told my wife, “This will be a long partnership.” Six months later, he won the Grenke Open, beating a 2700+ player.

Vincent said your training sessions are intense but at the same time it’s quite fun. He told us about some bike rides. Tell us about that.

Yup, bike rides are a must in our training camps. After hours of chess, physical exercise is crucial but it has to be enjoyable. If you force yourself, it doesn’t help. Riding recharges us, so we can focus again. Working with computers can be frustrating as they dismiss every brilliant idea. But when we test ideas on each other, seeing the other struggle makes it practical. If it surprises us, it’ll surprise opponents.

Vincent was Gukesh’s second for the World Championship. Was that a difficult decision considering they both are of the same age and there’s always a chance of making yourself vulnerable to your opponent?

We discussed it. (Grzegorz) Gajewski also said in one of the interviews that one of the absolute key moments to pick Vincent for team Gukesh was not exactly just because he’s a good player, but they understood the way Vincent was supporting Gukesh during the Candidates even after not being part of his team. But he was rooting for him and also wished him luck.

After Gukesh lost to Alireza Firouzja in a crucial match, we discussed this and Vincent told me that he should message Gukesh to show his support. Gukesh wanted someone in his team who genuinely supported him. With computers, preparation is less about secrecy and more about surprise. Vincent enjoyed contributing, and Gukesh’s win gave him a confidence boost.

You once said you never had that “incredible determination to win at all costs”. Is this the reason why you never became world champion?

Throughout my career, I had a problem of playing too many draws. Somehow, I was a little bit too peaceful. This was always a complex issue. You see it also in Anish Giri. He’s a brilliant player, who knows so much, but he also has this tendency of playing too many draws.

In my case, it was probably connected with the fact that, as a youngster, I started playing immediately against the very best players in the world at that time. Back then, there were no computers and I was raised and became super grandmaster without computer knowledge. So all the older chess players were much more experienced. They knew the opening theory better and I always had to defend myself. There were moments when I was at the peak of my career and was able to handle this problem but it was always there throughout my career with me.

Do you think Vincent does not have this trait?

I deliberately try not to interfere with many things that Vincent is doing. I always wanted to make sure that Vincent keeps his own mindset. He loves to go for a fight, doesn’t want to play for a draw and always wants to win. I also tell him that “you don’t have to worry. All you have to worry about is getting stronger every day, and that’s your only task.

Where do you rank Vincent among prodigies like Gukesh, Pragg, and Abdusattorov? Can he reach the Candidates or World Championship?

Qualifying shouldn’t be an obsession. Great players focus on growth, not just results. If you’re too fixated on qualifying, you lose the process. Vincent has the talent; he just needs to keep improving.