GFPC

So this year I decided to play the annual Canadian Chess Open which is held in Toronto this year. This a 9 round match where games start everyday at 6PM, except the last two games which start at 2pm and 10am on the final day: Dates: July 9 - 17th. If your interested in checking out the pdf format of the rounds and happenings of the event please READ THIS as it provides some good infos.

My first match starts tomorrow (Saturday July 9th, 6pm) and I must say I have not prepared one bit. They way I see it, if I spent a couple of hundred hours preparing I would be disappointed if I did not win. I stopped playing in competitive chess in 2004 when my brother passed away and decided I could no longer play for personal reasons. However after 7 long years of not playing in one single event I have decided to return to the game and just have as much fun as possible and remember certain moments I had of my brother who was very well known in Canadian Chess and was an International Master.

Anyhow on Sunday (round 2) the game starts at 6pm as usual - however I have also entered the Canadian Open Blitz Tournament which starts at 12 noon. These games are very rapid. Both players have 5 minutes each on their clocks and the game must end within that period of time. The game can be lost if you run out of time so these are very fast games and I have a feeling I could well in this event since I love speed games.

The amount of energy needed for these events is astronomical - you would be surprised how important it is to get enough sleep and eat extremely well and exercise is for such an event. It is extremely stressful playing over the board and I often have to take a few breaks and walk around as the mind can only take so much calculating - but at the same time its very rewarding!

For those of you who understand chess and the move structure - I will post my games in this blog daily for everyone to play out if they wish, and I will try and give some insight into what i was thinking at the time of the moves in key positions.

If anyone lives close by T.O. would like to meet up for some lunch or wants to visit the tournament your welcome to post in here or pm me and we can set something up. Or if you have any other questions do not hesitate to let me know!

I may or may not have pictures as well of the event and stories - I will try and throw in some entertainment as every chess tournament has its entertaining moments ( Lots of chess players drink allot).

Ok so until tomorrows round 1 game - wish me luck!!