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.

France, Lille - Day 7 and Epilogue

The only good thing about no more chess is no more beggars.

My final round today - Its been such a long day it feels like I played it two weeks ago, anyway, was against a 1880 Belgium player named Phillipe Ladent. He played passively and I got an advantage from the opening, but I was careless with it and the game equalised. We got into a drawn endgame with maybe some slight chances for me, but he played quite accurately and finally found an aggressive push that secured the draw. 

So I finished on five points out of a potential nine. To put it into context the winner of the tournament got seven and a half, so not a bad shout. Its a pity it started so well, I need to work on my mental stamina. I made a new friend as well, Edward Farrington, He's originally British but he moved to French to live with his girlfriend. We stayed for the prize giving, clapping when everyone else clapped, then parted ways.

Went back to the hotel and collected my stuff, printed boarding pass, put on my blue suede shoes and, boarded a plane. The plane was a Boeing 714, instilling a small amount of fear that I was flying on a model 33 times previous to the ones Easyjet and Ryanair use. The flight was good enough - All the announcements were in French, so I amused myself with the thought that even if they were telling us we're about to crash, or a wings just gone AWOL, everyone would be freaking out but I'd be sitting chilling like a villain, reading my chess book calmly. As we were descending to land all the babies on the plane burst into tears. Their parents gave them water to try and help my ears pop, and as I was really tired and quite thirsty, I had the strange urge to burst into tears myself to try and get some attention / h20.

So now I'm in Corsica, sad that the chess is finished but looking forward to the two days rest and no more beggars. Oh, and the 23 Degree heat's a little enticing too!

France, Lille - Day 4

Missing an Ulvi-ous win

Today I was playing against a 2289 rated player called Ulvi Sadikhov. I prepared a really dodgy line that looked like loads of fun - Unfortunately he played a slightly different move order so we went back to makey uppy territory. Got out the opening ok, had a really interesting middle game - A lot of really sharp tactics, one of which he eventually fell for and allowed me to start pressuring. I obtained an awesome position, pissed about for ten moves making no progress, then allowed him a perpetual to draw. Immediately after he pointed out one rook move just wins. Blah.

Nothing too interesting to add from today. All the shops were shut again because its May 1st, no wonder there's so many bloody beggars - if they stopped having holidays and religious rest-days people might actually make some money! I got a bog standard sandwich on the way home from the playing venue, told some beggars to bolt, and now plan to cry myself to sleep. Its another double round day tomorrow. The morning game is against a 2335.

Slovakia - Stara Lubovna Day 6

Day 6 

Was a really interesting game today. (Notice how I've perked up because I got a decent result?) I prepared more seriously the night before and it definitely paid off - It was a draw, but I was squeezing him the whole game. The final position I only had five minutes left and I couldn't find the crushing move. I've managed to convert half of Slovakia into the Wa Wa Wee Wa faith, I walked past a few kids playing earlier on and one of them made a big tactical move and shouted "Weeetchie Owwwa!". The Slovak people are really lovely - Everyone I've met I've gotten along with. (And been force fed alcohol.) One of the guys was telling me their unemployment rate is twenty five percent, because of "Fucking government". Its a shame that such a nice bunch of people are getting screwed over so bad. 

Slovakia - Stara Lubovna Day 4 and 5

Day 4

Was a pretty uneventful day. Drew with a 1700 player, not too sure what's going on with my chess but it aint good! Tried to have a quiet night but ended up being forced into a few shots with some Slovak's. The night before I was playing blitz chess for a euro a game against a GM. A few drinks were had and it got quite heated (Both the chess and the verbal exchanges). Think it finished 7 - 1 in favour of him, which considering my current form, is a smashing result.

Day 5

A morning round. Didn't get much sleep the night before, played a Marshall gambit as black but couldn't really get into it. Draw with an 1800. Had a few hours sleep then went and got tea. Looked over the game with Eric, then with the computer, don't know why I'm chucking so much.

I know this blog post is about as entertaining as a dead squirrel, but I feel like how William Wallace felt when Robert the Bruce betrayed him - I spend so much time trying to learn this game, to improve and have fun with it, but its pissed off my allegiance and sided with luck (That's even worse than teaming up with the English). 

Got a 2100 player tomorrow as white, need to find some heart, get back on my high horse and put these steel chessticles to use!

Budapest Day 5

Almost half way, thank heck.

Drew todays game. Was really interesting, she offered a draw in a totally drawn position and played on running my king across the board with Queens and rooks still in play. Made for some serious calculation! I would have lapsed and surely succumbed had Laszlo not given me a bit of raspberry cake whilst in time trouble.

Before the game we got our photograph taken. I tried to time my smoking break so that I would miss it, but I'm sure Laszlo told the guy to wait until I was back. Basically my hairs stupidly long, and was all curly. How female do I sound.

After the game I met another English speaking person. Irish Simon, though he lives in Budapest and doesn't sound Irish at all, so I'm keeping him at arms distance. He seems really nice though, he wants to meet up for pre match banter or after game food and drinks, definitely going to take him up on that offer. He laughed and suggested we should have pre-match drinks when we play each other (Round 10), so maybe he really is Irish.

Another kebab for tea with Nickolas. The kebabs here are mega tasty and only five hundred forint, which is about a pound thirty. We looked over each other's games and had a giggle, then called it a night. Four draws. Not good.

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 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 - 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.

Competition Day 7

It's better to be Loki than good.

My 7th day here? Not sure, it's been so different and enjoyable all the days seem to have merged into one. Older Spanish man and French Finn left this morning, leaving me all on my own for the day. Cleaning Claire and her apprentice popped in to change the sheets, and told me no-one was to join me today. Prepared for a few hours, had some weeto's, then headed to the chess hall.

The game was intense. The middle game brought chances for both sides, but i started going astray around move 30 in time trouble. By move 40 I'd completely messed up the position, dropping 2 pawns and going into a lost rook and pawn endgame. I was cheesed off and decided to make him play it out - He returned the messy favour allowing me to draw it! If in doubt, play it out.

The tournament administrators have been posting a blog as well, and I noticed my name in a post the other day. "stórmeistarabanann Michael Grove" is the quote, so with a quick google translate that word in front of my name turns out to mean "Grandmaster's Banana". For some odd reason, I quite enjoy being a top chess players parthenocarpic snack.

I bought six "light" beers on the way up the road, then returned to an empty Room 32. This'll be the first night of the trip I spend alone. Properly alone. Fingers crossed for the Swedish twins.