Dutch GM Anish Giri recalled feeling overwhelmed among Top players in an interview with Lichess.org on January 24. He highlighted Hungarian GM Peter Leko’s deliberate kindness to young players and shared how his own shyness eventually transformed into his current talkative reputation.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Dutch GM

“When I was much younger, I was very impressed with all the top players. All of them left a big impression on me.

I remember Peter Leko spoke to me, which was very special for me. And then later I heard from him that it’s a thing he does on purpose. He’s being kind to young players, he has raised a whole new generation!

I couldn’t imagine speaking to anyone, and I remember, at some point early on in my career, I was standing in some other event with Boris Gelfand and Vishy Anand and some other players and I was so overwhelmed… I just couldn’t speak, I just didn’t dare to speak to them.

And now I’m the person that, everybody says, speaks the most. Quite a change!”

Anish Giri is widely regarded in the media as one of the fun-loving and talkative Top-level chess player. He will compete in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus.

Credit: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess