Slovakia - Stara Lubovna Day 7

Day 7

Last night I got dragged into the VIP boozed madness again. They'd managed to get a uni-cycle from somewhere, so we all had a bit of fun falling off it. We then moved to the billiard table ("This not pool, pool very different") and played a few games of doubles and had a giggle. I might be making this stuff up, dont really remember any of last night.

Today played against a Slovak 1800. It was an interesting game, I got a good position then followed wrong ideas, but managed to get the win in the end. Tomorrow's the final game of the tournament, then fly back at night. I cant wait to have twenty four hours of soberness. I never thought Mikey G from the Ferrie would ever utter such blasphemy.

Just as I'm about to post this, Tomas and his friends walk over and enquire, "Beer? Pivo? Of course yes!".

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!

Slovakia - Stara Lubovna Day 1, 2 and 3

Day 1 - How much is too much?

Arrived in Stara Lubovna after spending a few days in Krakow, Poland with Richy. Krakow is amazing fun, but since it wasn't technically a chess trip I cant write about it here. (I could, but the filth and debauchery would break my mum's heart and half the subscriber count.) So I got to the hotel in the evening, checked in and went and met Eric Peterson, a friend I made in the Czech Republic and who informed me of this tournaments happening. He sorted me out with access to the VIP area (Yea you heard right.) and we headed for the small room containing the tournament director, the arbiters, a few player's and some of the hotel staff. We played some friendly speed chess and drank the free beer. And the free triple distilled vodka. and the free plum vodka, and the pear vodka, and the radish vodka. A good time was had by all, and by the early hours I was speaking fluent Slovak. (I wasn't really the language is ridiculously hard, I just kept saying "Pivo" over and over again, which means beer.) Around three o'clock people are considering bed, so we walk outside still chatting and being merry. until one of the players of the tournament just falls over. We giggle a bit, gave him a wee shake, but he's properly unconscious. Someone filled a glass with water and tried to rouse him with it, but he was so drunk he threw it all over the guy next to him! In the end someone had to call an ambulance and the guy was taken away in a stretcher! Cracking night!

Day 2 - Chess Rock

I woke for my game the next day feeling a bit off. I managed to win it quite quickly which was nice, allowed me to go back to sleep for a few hours. Then Eric and I headed out to a Bowling restaurant, and we bowled and had some food with Mikhail and Lisa (Her name isn't Lisa, but I cant remember the Slovak Lisa word). Was actually quite good fun, managed to get two strikes! Me and Eric headed back to the hotel, hoping to get a quiet night, only to be told its one of the organisers birthdays, so everyone trooped back to the VIP room and got ridiculously drunk and ate chocolate cake. One of the stronger players of the tournament (Tomas, 2300 Elo) magicked a guitar, and began playing and singing various english classics and some Slovak specialities. He was incredible - It turns out he finished in 7th Place on Slovak's got talent, out of 16,000 people that entered! Another cracking night was had singing songs, drinking everything, and playing terrible blitz chess. 

Day 3 - Burnout

Was playing against Eric today. He's an FM, and he plays good, logical chess, and he's sitting next to me and understands English. The game was interesting - I pursed a silly idea, but managed to hold it together until a few silly moves at the end. I'm going to try and dodge the VIP room tonight. Nah who am I kidding? Pivo!