Player Profile: Dave Vigorito
We continue our weekly series of profiles, this week introducing New England IM Dave Vigorito. Vigorito is a successful chess player (obviously), the author of a brand new book on the 4.Qc2 Nimzo-Indian, an online chess lecturer, and a player with a fine reputation as an informal trainer.
On with the interview!
1. Name:
David Vigorito
2. Age:
36
3. Title:
IM
4. Where you live, where you’re from:
I live in Andover MA. I grew up in Massachusetts and lived in Nevada from 1996-2006. I moved back east last July. Apparently I grew tired of the great weather, fine Mexican food, and clearly marked streets.
5. Family:
I have parents, a sister, and two cats.
6. Other interests:
I have only five interests: chess, food, sports, music, and women, although not necessarily in that order.
7. Favorite book/author (not chess):
Unfortunately I no longer read very much. I did however read the DaVinci Code due to societal pressure.
8. When (and how/from whom) you learned to play:
I think I learned to play when I was around 8, but I did not play tournaments until I was 16.
9. Favorite/most influential chess book (if any):
When I started playing, I liked Soltis' Art of Defense and Pawn Structure Chess. My first book was Chernev's Combinations: The Heart of Chess.
10. Favorite player (other than yourself):
Kramnik. I like to play in the center and make draws.
11. A game (not your own) that made a big impact on you:
Shabalov - Kraai, Foxwoods 2007.
12. Your best game:
I have not really played any good games. I could say Petran - Vigorito, Budapest 2003, because it was an unusual openng and a very difficult game.
It also secured my second IM norm. Kudrin - Vigorito, Cambridge 2000 was also satisfying because he went into my preparation and the game gave me a small measure of revenge (see below).
13. Your greatest moment in chess so far:
In the World Open in 1997 I beat three GM's in a row and then drew Smirin with Black before losing to Kudrin (Black again - no fair). It was my first IM norm and I was half a point shy of a GM norm. It caused a stir because I was rated only 2359 and was on board 2 in the last round.
14. The most valuable thing you did to become the player you are:
I have a very good trainer - myself. Unfortunately I also have a very lazy student - also myself.
15. What you value most about the game:
Chess is like music to me. I find beauty in harmony.
16. Your chess credo:
Make every move count.
17. Three tips for amateurs:
1) Play as much as you can against players that are better than you, but not so overwhelmingly better that you cannot compete.
2) Do not play too much blitz. It will make your play cheap and superficial because you will learn to depend on cheapos and the clock.
3) Do not switch back and forth between a bunch of crappy openings. This will only impede your development. Play something normal even if it takes longer to learn.
18. A tip for ambitious players:
Absorb as much information as you can. Play, learn openings and endings, and go over your own games and the games of players whose names start with K.
19. A game you’d like to present:
I will show Vigorito - de Firmian, Philadelphia 1997 because it has a sacrifice and people like sacrifices. Nick is a nice guy and he was kind enough to remind me of this game after he crushed me last year when I played the ridiculous Berlin Defence against him.
20. Any of your work/services you’d like to plug:
Well my first book Challenging the Nimzo - Indian recently came out. It is a big book on the 4.Qc2 Nimzo. My publisher is Quality Chess Books (Learn From the Legends, Experts vs the Sicilian) and it is available on Amazon.com:
http://tinyurl.com/yxhceo . I am also available for lessons, lectures, and writing. message fluffy on ICC or reach me at dvigorito [at symbol] msn.com . But please do not send me any Nigerian banking spam!
Click here to see three of his games (vs. deFirmian, Petran and Kudrin), with his (Informant-style) notes.
On with the interview!
1. Name:
David Vigorito
2. Age:
36
3. Title:
IM
4. Where you live, where you’re from:
I live in Andover MA. I grew up in Massachusetts and lived in Nevada from 1996-2006. I moved back east last July. Apparently I grew tired of the great weather, fine Mexican food, and clearly marked streets.
5. Family:
I have parents, a sister, and two cats.
6. Other interests:
I have only five interests: chess, food, sports, music, and women, although not necessarily in that order.
7. Favorite book/author (not chess):
Unfortunately I no longer read very much. I did however read the DaVinci Code due to societal pressure.
8. When (and how/from whom) you learned to play:
I think I learned to play when I was around 8, but I did not play tournaments until I was 16.
9. Favorite/most influential chess book (if any):
When I started playing, I liked Soltis' Art of Defense and Pawn Structure Chess. My first book was Chernev's Combinations: The Heart of Chess.
10. Favorite player (other than yourself):
Kramnik. I like to play in the center and make draws.
11. A game (not your own) that made a big impact on you:
Shabalov - Kraai, Foxwoods 2007.
12. Your best game:
I have not really played any good games. I could say Petran - Vigorito, Budapest 2003, because it was an unusual openng and a very difficult game.
It also secured my second IM norm. Kudrin - Vigorito, Cambridge 2000 was also satisfying because he went into my preparation and the game gave me a small measure of revenge (see below).
13. Your greatest moment in chess so far:
In the World Open in 1997 I beat three GM's in a row and then drew Smirin with Black before losing to Kudrin (Black again - no fair). It was my first IM norm and I was half a point shy of a GM norm. It caused a stir because I was rated only 2359 and was on board 2 in the last round.
14. The most valuable thing you did to become the player you are:
I have a very good trainer - myself. Unfortunately I also have a very lazy student - also myself.
15. What you value most about the game:
Chess is like music to me. I find beauty in harmony.
16. Your chess credo:
Make every move count.
17. Three tips for amateurs:
1) Play as much as you can against players that are better than you, but not so overwhelmingly better that you cannot compete.
2) Do not play too much blitz. It will make your play cheap and superficial because you will learn to depend on cheapos and the clock.
3) Do not switch back and forth between a bunch of crappy openings. This will only impede your development. Play something normal even if it takes longer to learn.
18. A tip for ambitious players:
Absorb as much information as you can. Play, learn openings and endings, and go over your own games and the games of players whose names start with K.
19. A game you’d like to present:
I will show Vigorito - de Firmian, Philadelphia 1997 because it has a sacrifice and people like sacrifices. Nick is a nice guy and he was kind enough to remind me of this game after he crushed me last year when I played the ridiculous Berlin Defence against him.
20. Any of your work/services you’d like to plug:
Well my first book Challenging the Nimzo - Indian recently came out. It is a big book on the 4.Qc2 Nimzo. My publisher is Quality Chess Books (Learn From the Legends, Experts vs the Sicilian) and it is available on Amazon.com:
http://tinyurl.com/yxhceo . I am also available for lessons, lectures, and writing. message fluffy on ICC or reach me at dvigorito [at symbol] msn.com . But please do not send me any Nigerian banking spam!
Click here to see three of his games (vs. deFirmian, Petran and Kudrin), with his (Informant-style) notes.
Posted by Dennis Monokroussos on
Monday April 30, 2007 at 7:33pm