Mallorca, Alcudia - Days 7 and 8 (finale)

the past few days are a bit of a blur - Early starts, double game days and prepping non stop.

Day 7

Double game day. With only getting a few hours sleep I knew the morning game would be difficult - I did a little prep, but thought heck, ill just keep it simple and enjoy it. Half ten start, shake hands, and the guy knocks out a Muzio gambit. I've never played it over the board, and never would again! For non chess people,basically white sacrifices a knight (Thats kinda a bit deal in chess) to get a massive attack, and if you don't play really carefully you just get mauled. I managed to defend it and win, but there was errors by both sides. Had a good lunch and tea, and was back to play against an English FM Chris Duncan.

I chose an offbeat opening for the second game, and didn't really understand the position we got to. Thats the best thing about chess - You can spend weeks studying one opening, understanding its theme's and tactics, then go into a slightly different position and it all changes completely! He won convincingly and I was pretty cheesed off. 

The only funny moment was in the dinner queue, there was a family infront with two boys. The younger one was lightly kicking and punching the older one in a jokey about way, both of them laughing. The younger one must have taken it a step too far, because the older one turned round and absolutely walloped him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The parents didn't find it half as amusing as the rest of the queue.

  Day 8

The final day. A half nine start today. Didn't have time to prepare, but I managed to nip into the shop before the game and get my paprika Pringle's and chocolate chip cookies. My opening was a bit of a mess, but I liked how the game turned out. I got a good advantage and was pressing, but couldn't find the killing blow. Ended up chucking a piece in time trouble, but getting a few pawns for it and finally got a draw in a complete blunderfest. 

Me and peter stayed for the prize giving (Even though neither of us had won anything) But the whole thing was in Spanish, so it was basically smile and clap when everyone else clapped. Peter had to leave shortly after, so we said our goodbyes, agreed I was the stronger chess player, and went our seperate ways. I headed back to my balcony - The European Club Championship had just started and Scotland has two teams in it, so I watched that. 

This blog post is bit boring, I'm sure there were some funny things to report but my minds gone blank. Had a thirteen hour sleep last night and still feel tired. Overall totally fab tournament - Definitely coming back next year, I feel like my chess has improved 100% - I see the board in a whole new way! That's it really, going to go get lunch, sort out the transfer bus tomorrow then just chill on my balcony. The end of another adventure!

Mallorca, Alcudia - Day 6

Day 6

I've been spending hours trying to come up with ingenious puns and funny euphemisms - but to no avail.

Another average day. Had geniune chicken dippers for lunch - along with chips, sweetcorn and Spanish omelette (its like an omelette only bigger and creamier!). Thought id go for it and try a bit of sword fish, but papped it.

Walking to the game tonight I passed a family who had bought them light up flying thingy-ma-bobs from the looky looky brigade. I think it was their first time firing them because they both looked unsure - the dad and the son. The son's shot into the air, then the propeller bits span round and it gently floated down to the ground. The dads shot was more powerful, and for some reason the propellers of his one didn't work - meaning gravity worked its magic and it plummeted, cracking as it hit the ground. I was in stitches!

The game tonight was interesting - I prepped really well, only to forget how to continue at the sharpest bit. Ended up getting a small advantage, which turned into a winning endgame, but I messed it up so bad. A draw was the final result. Double game day tomorrow so I'm going to try and get some sleep. If anyone want's to help the Grovester's cause phone my mobile at 8 am UK time (I've already text you mum, you should know this.)

Mallorca, Alcudia - Day 5

Day 5

Was a good day! Me and peter hit the beach to lap up some rays, its a lovely place and was actually quite quiet. We took a board, but little prep was done. (The chessboard was mainly to attract the chicks.) Its a bit worrying that all the tourist shops in Spain sell massive, hand-carved phalluses on keyrings. Must make for a few awkward family conversations. ("Son, you can have anything in the shop APART from a lazer pen.") 

Had a massive tea when we got back, then hit up the playing hall. I won my game, had a slight advantage from the opening but he made a mistake in time trouble allowing me to win it. Peter C is totally dominating, I think he's going to win the tournament. 

I've made friends with a few looky looky men and Claudia the cleaner, though I still sit in when she's cleaning the room because deep down I don't fully trust her.

Slightly worrying, just had a knock at the door, and when I've gone to open it no-one was there - but they've slipped a Nuts magazine under the door. 

Best result I've had all week!

Mallorca, Alcudia - Day 4

Day 4

The temperature was soaring and I got my usual wake up call ("Kids, You wanna play Water polo meet here 10 minutes!") around ten. Went to get breakfast / lunch, was quite quiet. Turns out the chicken dippers are actually breaded squid. Shuffled some onto my plate but my conscience kicked in before I could finish them.

Played Blitz games on the Internet chess club all day, didn't bother preparing anything solid because I didn't feel that great. I'm not sure if its the copious amounts of tap water I'm drinking or the squid, or a mixture of both. 

The game tonight was interesting to say the least - My position was unpleasant, so I went for some whacky complications and came out better. I made a mistake in time trouble, and thankfully, he made one back. It ended a draw. One point out of four - Its the experiance that counts right? Walked back to the apartment complex in relative peace, gave a drunk Spaniard a cigarette, and played a few more blitz games.

Mallorca, Alcudia - Day 3

Day 3

Its actually day 4, because I fell asleep last night. Anyway...

I just spend 45 minutes trying to come up with a really good joke - then remembered I should probably be preparing something chess wise. I was to play against a Russian 2160. Not the highest rating in the world, but hes Russian, which we joke adds 100 points to your grading and makes you heartless at the board. I tried to play a benoni, which quickly turned into a benono, and in time trouble i messed it up and lost. The endgame was really quite instructive - Its deceptively tricky. (Sorry non chess people)

As black, I thought I could sit my pawns on c5 and d5 and he couldn't make progress. Then I wrestled with playing c4 and d5 - Ke5 - d4 then running the king back, but turns out its just total bollocks and completely lost.

 So, half point out of 3. This tournaments approach is quickly turning from a Swiss gambit into a piss gambit!

Mallorca, Alcudia - Days 1 and 2

What do you call a spanish cow thats on fire? A Flamen'co!

Not just a pretty face. 

Day 0 (Travel day)

And so we begin at Prestwick airport. Flight was a bit rubbish - It seemed half of Scotland wanted to visit Spain, making for a very full plane and a lot of baby screaming noise. Landed and got on the transfer bus. The advertisement said it would take about  an hour - google maps claims its only a 36 minute journey, ended up taking two hours. Got to the hotel and spent another hour in reception. Bored of writing this bit, future blog posts wont include a Travel day. (I spent longer devising this than I did my cracking joke.)

Day 1 (The first day)

Got rudely awoken around 10am by some holiday rep Spaniard screaming something about children slaying a dragon over a very loud sound system. Horrendous holiday music (Fuck off Abba) is then played until 5pm, its kinda cool! Went for lunch, was a little cautious as the place is busy as hell and it was a buffet with terrible reviews, but the foods hot enough and almost cooked. Plus the selection - Burgers, chips, Burgers and Chips, Burgchips, suits my diet perfectly. 

Met up with Peter Constantiou, Hes staying next complex door, his apartments seem quieter and  less youthful. Went over some chess, he taught me some opening theory, I gave him a giggle suggesting moves, then we marched to the playing hall and played our first game. Played against  a 2254 IM, he tricked me in the opening, so I sacked a pawn and got some play - it was a drawn position but i messed it up in time trouble. Headed to bed to try and sleep, seems like I was the only person in the Bellevue complex who had such intentions. People were partying late, with one Liverpudlian (sp?) moron jumping fully clothed into the pool every fifteen minutes. The swimming pool is only about 20 feet away, so I considered throwing and crushing him with the T.V, then remembered I wasn't Brendan Gleeson. 

Day 2 (The day after the first)

Another boring day really. Sat on the balcony in the 27 degrees heat playing 5 minute blitz online and preparing my game against a WGM. Had a cracking lunch (Either Tuesdays are special days or someone important was in town, because they added chicken dippers to the menu.) then went to the wee shop and bought some chocolate biscuits. My game tonight ended in a draw, I messed it up so bad but she blundered in time trouble. Naturally, she was pretty cheesed off. I considered asking her out for a drink after the game, heck I even wore my cleanest second hand T-shirt, but I don't think it would have gone down too well. Walked back to the apartment with a little spring in my step (She's 350 points higher rated than me), declined an invitation to jump into the tall grass with a group of drunk, crazy foreigneese people (They were all men, I think) and am now back on my beloved balcony. Its quarter past 2 here, a fine time to sleep.