GM Felix Izeta speaks ......

GM Felix Izeta is one of the organiser of the recently concluded Donostia Chess Festival commemorating the famous 1911 San Sebastian tournament. For the 2012 edition, there was an innovation, the so-called Basque system was introduced. Both chess players play each other two games at the same time one with White and the other with Black. The tournament was not rated. What do you think? Anastasiya Karlovich for Chessbase conducted an interview with GM Izeta, see here. Again you should read the entire interview but I excerpt here an interesting bit about life as a professional chess player:

When I was young, I was in love with chess. I decided to be a chess player no matter how much time and effort it took. Then I succeeded in reaching a certain standard, enough to be invited to chess events. 25 years ago it was easier to get invitations to chess tournaments because at that time there were no eastern players in Europe, but only a few good players from South America and Western Europe. The life of a chess professional was pleasant at that time. Players like Campos, Eslon, Castro, Bellon, were highly considered, respected and I wanted to be one. Normally, when I want something I'm able to put extreme efforts to get it. I quit the university for the sake of playing tournaments and I believe it was a very good decision. The University of Life is more important and makes you wiser. I learned much more from travelling and playing tournaments than I could in a university.