International Master (IM) Oliver Kurmann is embarking on an ambitious quest to achieve the Grandmaster title, a challenge he acknowledges comes at a “worst possible” time. In a recent interview with the Swiss Chess Federation, Kurmann delved into his plans, career trajectory, and the training methodologies he employs, including his reliance on tools like ChessBase. His ultimate goal, to become a Grandmaster, forms the core of this “detailed and engaging conversation,” despite the title hinting at its seeming impossibility.
Having already secured the three necessary Grandmaster norms – at the Politiken Cup in Copenhagen (2008) and the Swiss Team Championships (2012, 2021) – Kurmann’s focus now shifts to his Elo rating. He currently stands 118 points away from the coveted 2500 mark, fully committing himself to overcoming the remaining hurdles.
The lawyer and admirer of Garry Kasparov has taken a sabbatical from his professional career to dedicate himself fully to chess. He candidly admits:
“Given the current Elo deflation, it’s more challenging than ever to make significant rating progress at this level. Furthermore, I’m at an age where many players typically see a decline in performance. Despite these factors, I remain optimistic and am eager to assess my progress by the end of this sabbatical period.”
ChessBase: An Indispensable Training Aid
Kurmann, a prominent figure in Swiss chess with multiple national team championship wins for Lucerne (2018, 2021, 2022) and a Bundesliga player for FC Bayern Munich, shared extensive details in his interview about his disciplined approach to competitive chess, his personal development, and adapting to the demands of an increasingly professionalized chess landscape.
He underlined the critical importance of continuous self-improvement and extracting lessons from personal play:
“It’s crucial to persevere and accurately analyze your own games to draw the correct conclusions.”
While acknowledging the profound influence of preparation and digital resources in contemporary chess, he maintains a balanced perspective:
“While tools like ChessBase are now essential for modern training, the ultimate outcome is always determined at the chessboard itself.”