LatestChess:- What is your role as a president of Commonwealth Chess Association? How do you promote the game in the Commonwealth countries?
Nigel Short:- I have been less successful than I would have hoped to be as CCA President. I have not yet achieved various goals, like starting a website. On the positive side, I am far more open than my predecessor P.T Ummer Koya. Furthermore, I am always on the look out to expand the frontiers of Commonwealth chess. In particular, I am currently actively looking at promoting chess in places as diverse as St. Lucia, where they have an active chess in schools project, and in southern Africa.

I am far more open than my predecessor P.T Ummer Koya...

LatestChess:- Do you consider the possibility of cheating at high-level tournaments as a serious problem? What measures would you suggest to reduce such a possibility? What methods FIDE should apply to keep a check on external help during the game?
Nigel Short:- Cheating with computers is potentially the gravest threat to chess today. There are various measures that can be taken to minimise this risk, but to explain this would require a lengthy paper...

Cheating with computers is potentially the gravest threat to chess...

LatestChess:- Many believe that Topalov occasionally, if not constantly, was in non-verbal communications with his manager Silvio Danailov. With reference to Corus event you recently said, "Topalov could have received external help". Could you elaborate?
Nigel Short:- I am not quite sure where you quote is from or the context in which I may have said it. However the word "could" means exactly that and nothing more. Stating the possibility that something may have happened does not necessarily imply that I think it did.

LatestChess:- According to you, "The titles are not the same as they were twenty years ago". You talked about the malpractices of giving titles in chess world. Apart from abolishing all the titles in chess, what can be done to avoid malpractices of giving titles?
Nigel Short:- Another time. This is a long story...

LatestChess:- Recently FIDE charged against you under violating articles 2.2.10 and 2.2.11 Fide code of ethics. You said, ''I have nothing to retract and I look forward to humiliating them in any hearing or court.'' What would you like to say about this matter?
Nigel Short:- It is a disgraceful abuse of process, seeking to stifle legitimate criticism, by using the internal apparatus of the organisation. I have no doubt I will win the case.

I will win the case against FIDE...

LatestChess:- What future lies ahead for the chess world? what is required from the FIDE administration to deliver results to its members ?
Nigel Short:- The organisation of FIDE chess tournaments must be handed over to a professional body.

LatestChess:- What should be the roles of Players body's like Association of Chess Professionals or Chess Players Association of India? and How useful are they in present administration? and are you associated actively with any of them?
Nigel Short:- I do not believe any of these bodies can have more than a marginal role. I say this as former President of the GMA, which was arguably the most important players' body. This is not to say they have no place or function - only that their influence is never going to do anything other than peripheral.

ACP or CPAI influence is never going to do anything other than peripheral...

LatestChess:- how did u feel after your famous chess game with Timman where you marched with your King to h6 in Middlegame? and which is your favorite game played by you? (apart from this Game)
Nigel Short:- I was very nervous when I played Kh2 because I was rather short of time. I had not fully worked out that Bc8 was crushingly met by g4, and I am not sure that I would have played it. However after Rec8 I knew immediately that I was going to mate him.
View the famous chess game between Short and Timman.

LatestChess:- Thanks Nigel. It's been good talking to you. Could you share your blog URL or email address with our readers?
Nigel Short:- check http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=153449152

We are thankful to Grandmaster Nigel Short for this interview.