Day 2 - MER fought reality, and reality won (again)

Day 2 - MER fought reality, and reality won (again)

So, yesterday ended day 2 of the Chess. I have chosen to write this the following day, as after a heavy chess loss which one blames on various things, to date the list includes the low glucose levels, the alignments of the planets,  that idiot in Canada who convinced me that the world would end and LIED, the incorrect height of the white king,  etc etc. Oh wait... I just realised that this is not Bobby Fischers blog.

Its MER's, so we probably have to put in the correct reasons, to whit no chess theory, the tactical ability at times of a rabbit with a stubbed toe, and the incorrect presumption that I can play chess. That settled, I can basically say that I won the first game in the morning against a 12 year-old, who managed to scare me badly, and then lost to unrated someone in the evening. 1/3. Meatloaf reckoned 2/3 wasn't bad, but I can't see 1/3 being superlative. Round 4 will require some serious motivation, luck, and in all fairness I need to get 2 wins under the belt today. Time to up the game. Please recommend song choices, perhaps Guns and Roses?

Just some comments on the playing venue, its at Emperors Palace near the Johannesburg Airport, and is a truly fantastic location. Over 650  competitors hustling to to see who can get to the casino next door first without dropping too many rating points. There is an excellent development area where King Pie have sponsored tons of kids to play doubles and blitz and learn about the game. Its a cracking venue.

Perhaps the highlight of the tournament for me yesterday took place on a crusty table just outside the playing venue. I had whipped out my trusty vinyl board (as important to the amateur patzer as a 6gun was to John Wayne) and was analysing an endgame with Andy, one of my club mates. He had basically thrown his position down the proverbial toilet, and lost an endgame. Whilst looking at some of the intricacies of the bishop + pawn + king with sore leg vs. King in wheelchair and 5 energetic pawns, a voice pipes up: "Is there not a draw here?" Imagine our surprise when its Nigel Short, tournament top seed, and former World number 3 sits down and starts analysing with us. Its amazing, I mean Fritz (the computer) could clearly tell you in 10 seconds something arcane like 10.0, but here we have Nigel, (whom all of us would happily commit fairly serious crimes if it meant getting a chance to play him in the tournament) sitting down and just explaining the position. 20 minutes of bliss. When is the last time you saw Tiger Woods, or Lee Westwood walk up to you on the putting green and give you some tips on how to hold the club, or technique etc? It just does not happen. Yet there we were, listening to the wisdom of one of the top players of the last 20 years. All free. All in good spirit. Its worth the tournament fee alone. Unfortunately even Nigel couldn't save the position, and Andy was left with the knowledge that he hadn't stuffed the endgame up.

Special mention must go to Tinashe Tafiro, a friend of mine from East Gauteng, who managed to snick a half point against a GM last night. Will try get highlights later.
Also Mr David Smerdon has gone missing in action since yesterday, which could be a result of his endeavours to sample all, well aspects, of the South African experience. Will try and get something on later today.

Signing off,
MER