How long have you played chess and what brought you into it? 

Like many children I learned the game from my father. I played often a speed chess game (5+5min) during 10 minute school breaks with my classmate. I also played one letter chess tournament during my student years but I quit it under threat it would take all my time! 

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You represent the chess club of the Finnish parliament. What kind of chess skills does an average MOP have? 
 

Very limited and patchy. There are a few players though, the brightest star is Arto Satonen and then a few amateurs like Kimmo Kiljunen and myself. 

 

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How do you think boxing will affect the quality of chess? 
 

Not sure it will – chess is played largely by intuition. But then again, I have personally never been in a situation where I would have been hit hard on my head! 

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How well are you familiar with boxing? 
 

As a schoolboy I followed closely the fights between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. These days I occasionally watch various combat sports. 

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How do you see chess and boxing fit together as a sport?

The sport is a hilarious innovation where two traditional but very different gentlemen’s combat sports are combined. Both require cold-blooded concentration skills and sacrificial will to fight. A very tough sport surely! 

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Is there still anything you would like to add?

It is always great when Helsinki can host pioneering international events! 

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Interviewed by Tero Weckroth

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