Plzen, Czech Republic - Day 3 and 4

Plzen - Day 3

Yesterday was a tough day - Andy tried to wake me before 12 o'clock. I told him I'd meet him downstairs, then went back to sleep. Counts as a win in itself! I was playing against the Greek legend, Epaminondas Korousis. It was an interesting game that went to the end of the time control - The position was about equal, but he made some complications and I messed it up a bit. He won, but it should have been drawn. I'm sure there was more I wanted to add yesterday - But I was so tired I fell asleep as soon I got back to the accommodation (I was that tired I even forgot to clean my teeth!).

Plzen - Day 4 

The past few days haven't really been that exciting, so I'm trying to make something up just now to make this text a bit more fanciful. My game today was against one of the Russian team, Mr. Simkin. It was a really interesting game, we both made mistakes, but I managed to win it overall. So at the end of four rounds I'm on three points, sitting joint second, and Andy is on three and half, making him joint first. Its only a seven round tournament, so three big matches over the next few days! Tune in tomorrow for more exciting blogging...

End of Brno - Start of Plzen

End of Brno

The last few days have been pretty hetic, hence no blog updates. I'll try to pick up where I left off, but to be honest it feels like weeks ago!

Our final days at Brno were fruitful. On the last day, as we were getting on the bus to go to the venue, I noticed two Czech people dressed as elves. They both wore long green cloaks, and had crafted replica swords out of household items. They must have been traveling to some role playing event via public transport. I was giggling behind them the whole way, envious of their courage to ride the local bus dressed like a homosexual Legolas. I won my last game after a tough fight. We had a while to wait for the train, so we hung around for the prize giving ceremony. Turns out I won a grading prize of 500 Kc, which converts to about 18 pounds. And to think my teachers at school said I wouldn't amount to anything...

We travelled to Plzen with Mondus and the Russians. Mondus (Epiminmondus Kourosis) is a Greek FM, and a really cool guy. The Russians consisted of Grandmaster Ivanov, and an older guy who seemed fragile to begin with, but out ran all of us to the train by atleast a good three seconds. Peter C left the team at this point to head back to Luton, so it was onwards and upwards to Plzen.

Start of Plzen

We arrived here about half past ten a night or two ago - Then headed for our accommodation. We got a lift with Anze and Maja (Lovely people that we usually spend evening meals with.) to our accommodation - We drove about fifteen minutes out of the city and into what can only be described as the "Plzen Bronx". I recon not even J Lo would stand a chance it was that shite. We pulled up to our hostel alongside an ambulance and a police car with their sirens flashing. The reception area wasn't that bad to be fair, but once we actually got into the room we both just wanted to die. The place was miserable - It was like the Haunted Shack from Harry Potter mixed with thirteen dying kittens. We somehow managed to stay one night there, woke up early the next day and managed to sort different premises for the following night (Tonight). The first round was tonight and me and Andy both won. We met some of the other players of the tournament after the game, and some are staying at the horrible hostel. I'm not religious, but ill say a wee prayer for them as I lay down in my cozy, clean bed tonight.

Brno, Czech - Day 5

Day 5 - Double games with un-rhymable names.

Today was the double round day so I'm absolutely knackered. Last night was rather exciting - We got back to the drugs den around ten o'clock, and started preparing for today. Five minutes in the electricity went off, causing widespread panic and fear.

We woke this morning and headed for the playing hall still watt-less. I won this mornings game, playing some dodgy line that made for an interesting game. After my game an old Czech man tapped me on the shoulder, so I followed him over to a board where he proceeded to show me a line in the opening I had played. I didn't really understand the point of the whole exercise, but after the final move he smiled at me, laughed a little, then patted me on the back. Peter C lost this morning and Andrew drew.

This afternoon was interesting - I messed my game up big style but managed to hold a draw somehow. Peter C won and Andrew drew. I'm pretty tired and cant really be boogered typing any more. And to top it all off I've got Andrew and Peter C lecturing me that I cant make up and use words after asking them how to spell boogered. Maybe they should booger off.

Brno, Czech - Day 3 and 4

Day 3 - Tummy aches and openings mistakes.

The day started out well - We were all cheery, all three of us battering moves into our laptops trying to find holes in our opponents preparation. My opponent was a Fide Master and has played 134 games this year, so I went into serious mode and found some moves that looked a lot of fun and would lead to an advantage if he didn't play the position correctly. We headed to the playing hall and the battling begun. My game was really interesting, it got really complicated really early, and at one point I remember sitting back chillin' like a villian, thinking my position was totally awesome. Turns out it wasn't, and after a bit of a fight he eventually won. Peter C won and Andrew lost. 

We got back and tried to get some sleep - I was feeling a little bit off, but got to sleep fine. I woke up about half four feeling sick and pooey. I was too tired to go to the toilet and be sick, so I curled up into the fetal position, remembered how good the fetal position feels, then finally got back to sleep a few hours later.

Day 4 - Feeling alot better, but still made a few trips to the Gentsch.

Woke up still feeling a bit off. Tried to work out what the problem was, couldn't, so just tried to wait it out. My opponent was Peter Gentsch, who has zero games in the database, so no preparation was possible, so I just drank plenty water and slept a bit more. Peter C kept offering me Tea with honey in. I rejected the offers, because only bears like honey, and I'm not a bear. The game was interesting, I fought it out for a bit, though it was eventually dead drawn. Peter C drew and Andrew won. Its a double round tomorrow, so we're going to head to bed early after a bit of preparation. I feel 100% healthy again, but I've made a pact with myself to actually wash my hands after going to the toilet, instead of just wiping them on a random's jacket.

Brno, Czech - Day 1 and 2

Day 1 - Moving into the safe house.

Just realised I've not updated this blog in ages, so thought it's about time to post more hedonistic ramblings and flood peoples' timelines.

I'm staying with Andrew Burnett and Peter Constantinou in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, in what we assume is some kind of drugs storage / gang safe house (The main lock of the door locks three times, and there's seven other bolt locks on the door!).

We arrived yesterday and sorted dibs on beds, then me and Andy headed to the local Albert supermarket. We bought some bread and cheese, tried to buy some cigarettes, got told we couldn't buy cigarettes from the counter we were at, got some packets of cigarettes thrown at us, then headed back to prepare for the first game.

We got wildly lost trying to find the venue, resulting in a breakdown of group camaraderie. After much tutting and Peters elvish scouting, we eventually phoned a taxi. All three of us won our games, so we returned to the accommodation tired but chuffed.

Day 2 - Braveheart Re-enactment.

We awoke to find the draw for the day posted online - Me and Peter were to clash wood (Steady now) on board three. The shared bedroom was split down the middle, with a serious penalty applied for spying on the other persons preparation. The atmosphere was tense - every so often Peter or Myself would shout over a ridiculous move or series of moves, then pretend to laugh at how improbable it would be to appear on the board, yet secretly gauge the other persons subliminal reaction. 

We grabbed a light lunch then headed to the venue. Andrew was playing against a Welsh guy on board five, with an Irish person doing battle on board four. We jested about a British invasion, the Czech's didn't find it quite so amusing. 

The arbiter declared the games to begin, and the mind war started. Me and Peter have spent a lot of time analysing different opening idea's and strategies, so for the first few moves we both spent extra time trying to trick the other person into something they didn't know. The battle was intense - Knights we're neighing, bishops were bashing, and rooks were... rooking. We were the last game to finish, with a draw being the result. We met up with Andy and the Irish guy at the pub next door, entertained the bar staff with our terrible Czech, then headed back to the safe house.