The Luzhin Defence Page #5

Quite a remarkable one.

We all missed it.

If only it wasn't so all-consuming.

It's like a fever with him.

The doctor stopped him playing once...

and we took him off to Europe to escape

the wretched game, but it didn't work.

I try to limit the hours

he spends at the board, but...

oh, the arguments.

I'm sure. And being a busy author and

artist, it must be quite a distraction.

Yes, it is.

That's what none of them understand...

the need to immerse oneself.

It must be very difficult for you.

Which is why I would like to

put forward a proposition, if I may...

a possible solution to this dilemma.

I have excellent contacts

in the world of chess...

and with your permission I would like

to take Aleksandr under my wing.

We could travel the country,

he could play exhibition matches...

and obviously I would attend

to his education personally.

I would tutor him myself.

Your son has a very rare talent

that needs to be nurtured.

I will consider it a great honor

if you would allow me to do that.

I would consider it

my duty, in fact.

You will be in good hands.

He knows all the right people.

It's not my world.

You see?

I want you to write and tell me

about all the places you visit...

and your victories.

Good-bye, Sasha.

As a so-called child prodigy,

he was a curiosity.

Under my charge,

he became a phenomenon.

I spent many years nurturing him...

in the hope that one day

he would become world champion, but...

in the end I had to accept the fact

that at heart...

he was merely a contestant,

not a winner.

He doesn't play well

under pressure.

The last time I played him...

we spent 14 hours at the board...

and believe me...

every minute of it

he was under intense pressure.

It was a certain combination

I had in mind.

If you devoted your moves to putting him

under pressure at the board...

and my concern was putting him

under pressure away from it, then...

Mr. Valentinov...

do you want to see me win...

or him lose?

Does that really make

any difference to you?

I'm very glad

you came to watch me play.

Very glad.

But...

for the moment, it...

it somehow disturbs me.

In answer to your proposal...

I've decided...

My dear Aleksandr!

Leo Valentinov.

- Natalia Katkov.

- Delighted to make your acquaintance.

I want to hear all about you.

I also want to catch up on everything

that Aleksandr has been up to.

It's been years.

Too many years.

Oh, look at you now.

So thin.

Heard that your father died.

Come, I will

buy you both a drink...

and you can tell me

everything that you have been doing.

I was his chess father,

so to speak.

His teacher and chaperon

at first.

Please.

And as the years passed by...

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