"The young generation of players who are at the top now are so much more exciting than the players of the past..." — Levon Aronian

Levon Aronian

American GM

“I love playing against the younger generation.

That’s something that gives me the most pleasure in playing chess. To see how they understand chess, to see how their style is evolving, and to follow and try to surprise them. That’s a great joy.

And for them to come here and see the city, to see the club, and to see the respect that chess players have… That makes me proud for St. Louis.

The young generation of players who are at the top now, they are so much more exciting than the players of the past. Because they try to beat you with white and black. They try to go for the sharpest openings. And this is a challenge.

It’s something that, I think generally in life, if you want to stay youthful, which I’m also aspiring to do, you have to be in touch with the younger generation to see the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times.

And I love the zeitgeist that is now, that everybody is just playing all kinds of random openings, and I want to do that too. I’m trying to be on the same wave with them.”