The Most Annoying Tournament

Before we start, I must give you a fair warning. I'm using this post to vent about everything that sucked during my last tournament (and there was a lot).

This event group A was 2000+ and group B was under 2100. I wanted to play in the weaker group, to fight for the top prize, but I hit 2111 the day before the event begun (the FIDE list got updated), so I had to be transferred to Group A. I mean it's not like I don't want to play stronger players, I just wanted to focus on prizes more.

The event started on the 2nd of August (Sunday), but there was a different weekend tourney I wanted to participate in, so I got a half-bye in Round 1 (half a point for not playing). How did it go? The weekend event was cancelled after I changed my reservation to be a day shorter. Also I forgot to pay the starting fee for this event, so I had to may a little bit more.

Let's move on to the day of arrival. With the scheduling I did I was meant to be in my room in Wrocław a little after 1 PM. Of course that didn't happen. My train was over 30 minutes late, and the road where my bus stop is was under renovation (what are the chances). So I went to another bus stop, where I was waiting for the bus that's going in the wrong direction. Finally, I went to the 3rd stop and got on the right bus, but missed my stop. Since I don't taky bus very often I didn't realize I have to signal for the bus to stop at my stop (all other stops didn't require this btw), so I had to walk a little more in full sun. I arrived around 3 PM.

The room was what you'd expect from a cheap stay, but the kitchen was something else. I don't think anyone ever had ever took out trash from there, there were (and probably still are) so many fruit flies, and it didn't even have a butter knife. Yes, that means I was making sandwiches with a fork. The distance to the playing hall is 3 km (40 min walk) and the best public transport option is... on foot. My first game starts at 4:30 PM meaning I didn't really have time to unpack, rest, or prepare.

Game 1 — The grind

We are playing a 90+30 time control with 15 min bonus after the 40th move. I'm facing a 2000 and all I knew about him, is that he plays into the Open Sicilian against 2...d6, but I had no time to review any lines and it ended up not mattering anyway.

I messed up my move-order in the opening allowing strong 8.a4! preventing b5 and 11.e5 simply winning a pawn, which luckily didn't matter. The first key moment came on move 13, where I have to transform the structure, as it's hard to make more progress. The usual cxd4–b4 doesn't work, which is why I spend over half an hour figuring it out. The position we got after axb4 is slightly better for Black, as I have a lot of queenside space to overcompensate White's centre. The trade on b5 also benefits me, as d5 is always a strong break for me.

I managed to achieve some advantage with my queenside play, and I'm especially proud of my play on 36th move, where I made improving "quiet" moves and White position would collapse had I spotted 40...Bc1 41.b4 Qf1! The endgame we got into is obviously really good for me, as I'm winning a pawn, but the engine says it's holdable. I didn't bother analyzing it, because it's so incredibly complicated, if you are interested I encourage you to take a deeper look at it, even with the engine running, cuz it's really crazy

This was the last game to finish in our group (and 2nd last in the whole festival), which means I was walking back to my room fully at night and google maps took me to some narrow pathway, which was amazing considering I could barely see anything:)

It was so hot in my room that I had to keep windows open at all times, which (even with lights off) means mosquitos. I genuinely killed like 10 in the span of 2 days.

Game 2 — IM

Next game I get paired against an IM. I saw taht most games he responds to 1.e4 with e5, so I was reviewing my lines there, hoping to play something new, but he chose the Caro instead. I'm not complaining tho :)

The opening was a great success, my opponent wasn't familiar with the refutation, so I got a nice gambit on the board, but one mistake was enough to throw the entire advantage. When playing 10.Nd4 naturally I thought Qg4 gets his queen trapped, missing beautiful defensive resource Qxd4!!. I literally wanted to resign, as I couldn't find anything good for me.

It took me almost an hour to convince myself to play on and find any plan. Eventually I realized it's difficult for Black to finish development, most likely requiring f6 to be played. Therefore my plan was to get my bishop back to c1, where it could develop to b2 or a3 later on; leave the rooks on e1 and d1, so when I meet f6 with exf6 there will be pressure on e6; bring the knight back from d6, as it will be unstable after exf6 and in general make healthy improving moves, waiting for my opponent to do something, then find something more specific. And of course, do all of that quickly.

You can see how much time my opponent has spent looking for the best way to break-through going from 45 minutes to playing on increment and losing all of the advantage. Thanks to my h-pawn Black will struggle to make any progress

Sadly I spent 10 minutes calculating 41.Rc8 heavily underestimating Black's chances. I had a simple draw with Rg1–Rh1 instead, because if Black tries to win the pawn, I'm much more active in the pawn endgame.

Obviously after the game I was very annoyed at how unnecessary the loss was, on the other hand I was really happy with my defending. I mean I'm down 20 minutes and a pawn against an IM, these games generally follow the same scenario: Black solidifies, breaks through, takes more space and eventually converts, but not only did I not give up, I came up with a very good defensive setup, and got to a drawn rook endgame.

After the game I remember having a thought, that winning the event is still mathematically possible, as in most cases it takes 7.5/9 to take 1st.

Before coming back to my room I decided to go to the store, to buy water and some food. To make my walk more enjoyable it literally started pouring from the sky. Luckily the rain calmed down a bit, but still a 1.5km walk back to my room with 9 litres of water and food with sweat dripping from my forehead at night wasn't what I signed up for.

Game 3 — Bouncing back in style

I was paired against a 2001 junior from Czech Republic. He also plays the Caro-Kann, which obviously means he will be prepared against my Bg5 line. I decided to larp the Short Variation instead, just because I saw one of my favourite players GM Jakub Kosakowski play it.

Honestly not much to say. Finding one good move 9.c4 already ends the game.

Game 4 — Réti antidote!

Another strong player, this time I'm playing Black. I've seen him play d4-c4-Nf3 or 1.Nf3. I kind of gambled he will be scared to play into my Blumenfeld Gambit, so he'll chose 1.Nf3. However I didn't review my lines in the Maróczy, because I don't have any xd. You'll see how we go from 1.Nf3 to Maróczy.

Also I had a great idea to change my path to the playing hall to avoid so much sun, which definitely worked out as planned, and the new path had definitely much more shade (it didn't).

I believe that 1...c5 (if you are a Sicilian player) is the best answer to the Réti, because the only challenging line is the Maróczy, in which not everyone feels comfortable, and offers a lot of options for Black, while White can't really deviate from the main lines, as that doesn't give new ideas for them, just makes their position worse.

This game is a pretty good example of what I'm saying. White chose a suboptimal setup and we get an equal position with chances for both sides, instead of the typical squeeze.

And I get the win! Really happy with that, considering it's my first time playing against the Maróczy OTB and I was able to identify that 7...Nf6? would be bad, as it allows Nc3 and my idea of 12...f5 was pretty good.

After the game my opponent told me he saw my blogs and enjoyed reading them, it was really nice to hear that. And in case you're reading this one aswell, hello!!!

Game 5 — Blumenfeld against an FM

Finally the weather calmed down and it wasn't unbearably hot this and the next day. Thanks to my win in last round I get paired even higher up, this time on Board 3! I saw my opponent plays whatever he feels like, so I again didn't review anything.

After the game he told me I had basically no games in the database against d4–c4–Nf3, so he didn't know what to expect. He saw my only game in the Blumenfeld, but luckily didn't prepare it.

He spent a lot of time in the opening, but figured out how dangerous playing e3 can be (if I get to push e5–e4), so opted for something else. We got a chill position where White is up a pawn, but I have clear dynamic compensation, very my style. However I'm used to the bishop standing on e7 against White's g3, which makes some difference. Basically we were playing a new position.

I think it's very instructive how slow I'm playing — 12...Qe8 to make room for Rd8, 14...Be7 defending against e4 and 15...Qf7 defending against Nc7. I don't want to commit my fluid pawn centre before my pieces are ready! When the time was right I played d4 and I'm already winning.

Now it's only a matter of converting the advantage, how hard can it be?

Turns out very hard. Not only did I let White back into the game, I was dead lost for one move! Luckily it didn't matter at the end and I got the win! Which means the mathematical chances for a 7.5/9 look much more real than ever!

Game 6 — My turn for Maróczy

All I saw is my opponent plays the French Defence, which I wasn't really in the mood for. That's why I decided to play 1.g3 and see what happens.

I couldn't believe 6.d4 doesn't win on the spot, but somehow it barely works out for Black. Instead I chose more accurate O-O–e4 waiting for Black to commit to d6 before playing d4. That granted me a very healthy Maróczy position.

Objectively I played the game very accurately, but I felt like I had to play quick in view of eventual b5, therefore I chose the wrong plan of f4–f5. However the refutation isn't straightforward, computer wants to capture on f5 and sac a pawn on b5 just because it can, so I'm not mad about that.

This time converting the win after inaccurate 20...b5? and fatal 24...Qb6?? wasn't so hard, as I found a nice maneuver with Ba5–Bb4 with d7 winning a piece. For my 2nd time in the Maróczy with white, not bad. That's another win in a row, you know what that means? I'm 2nd in the entire event, a full point behind the leader, who I faced in the next game!

Game 7 — 1st board

Let me remind you, I intended to play in Group B, now I'm potentially fighting for the first place, but I'm facing the toughest challenge yet. My opponent is at 6.5/7, even beating IM Sabuk Piotr — only person to beat me. And I have the Black pieces. I really wanted a win, but choosing a good opening for this game was deadass impossible. He plays d4–c4–Nf3, more specifically:

• meets QGD with 4.Nc3–Bf4
• meets QID with 4.g3
• meets KID (goes for 3.Nc3 against g6) with some unconfrontional line, and he takes on e5
• meets Grunfeld with 4.Bf4–e3
• meets Benoni with Knight's Tour Variation
• meets Bogo-Indian with 4.Nd2–a3–e3

Basically any opening I could thing of he had a very solid response. After the game he told me he's meet Ragozin with 4.Bd2. I decided to stick with my Blumenfeld, not because I felt like it's a good choice, but I literally didn't know anything else I'd feel at least comfortable in. Looking back I kinda regret not playing the Modern, as against 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nf3 Nf6! transposes to the Grunfeld with Nf3 included, which he doesn't play. But mostly I regret not knowing any other line against d4–c4–Nf3, which was a big hole in my repertoire that I'm working on right now.

He was prepared up to the 12th move, knowing what to do against Na6 even further. I chose d6 instead, as I didn't find how to meet Nd4–a4. In the resulting position I thought I had no problems, but it's closer to +1 than 0.0. The reason is quite simple, if White gets the bishop to c2, he has ideas of a4 rendering my queenside useless and defends e4, meaning he's playing a pawn up in the centre.

Funnily enough, after the game we both thought Rb6–Ra6 can't possibly work and White should be winning. As it turns out, not only was that the best plan, after 26.Rbc2? Na4! engine claims advantage for Black! due to queenside pawns mobility. Instead I wanted to improve on my plan choosing 27...Nb3+??. The final position is lost, as I can't do anything to defend the d6 pawn, and Rxd3–Bb5+ doesn't help much.

Similarly to the game against the IM, this is the point where I wanted to resign (except I'm actually lost here), but I spent 20 of my 25 minutes and found a very good practical try.

32...Kf8 to trade White king's only defender, so perpetual check ideas can arise actually would've worked out had I looked deeper at 40...Kf4! White literally can't do anything there.

But I can't be too mad. I'm facing a junior rated over 2300 live, playing a dubious line with Black when he has time to prepare and I still manage to make the game highly competitive. And again my defensive skills (idk when they developed) shine, giving me another chance to save a draw in a hopeless position.

Before the game I was convinced I need a win to fight for an NM norm, that's also partially why I chose to stick with the Blumenfeld, and played Rb6–Ra6, which I thought is dubious. Turns out I miscalculated, and if in the last round I get paired against a GM and beat him I'll still get it. And there were 2 GMs playing, so it was a possibility.

Game 8 — Legend

So the weather is back to hot, which is amazing considering I have to walk 3km to the playing hall with a full backpack and my suitcase. To say I was sweating is to say nothing, but that will come up later, let's focus on the chess.

I got the best pairing I could've asked for! A 2265-rated GM and I'm White. I checked his games and his play wasn't convincing, so I was really confident about my chances. He's been playing the Classical Sicilian which is also amazing, considering I really need a fight, I care only about a win.

Out of curiosity I checked his achievements and he was pretty solid. Peak rating of 2570 (during the game I thought it was almost 2650), 9 times Lithuanian Champion (last in 2018), played at the Olympiad 6 times and now it's time for his toughest challenge — me >:)

Yeah... the game is over on the 15th move. It took less than 70 minutes, possibly the fastest game of the entire event. And it's not like he fell for my insane preparation, I was the one surprised in the opening!

With this win I finished the tournament on the podium! 3rd place, losing on tie-breaks to another GM. With 2365 performance I gained +53 FIDE, which is crazy considering this month I hit my rating peak! Gaining +53 after peaking is insane. I got my NM norm, which is the second time I beat a Grandmaster in the last round to get it. Here are the results.

Sadly that's not the end of the story. I told you, the hot weather will come up again. To get to the train station I decided to wait for a tram this time, as I didn't have much luck with buses... The tram stop was very close to the playing hall, meaning there was very little walking, but to compensate for so much convenience it was in plain sunlight. And the tram never came, I (and 15 other people) waiter for over 30 minutes for nothing. Based on the schedule 3 trams should've showed up.

Finally I gave up on the tram and went to the closest bus stop, which luckily was very nearby. The bus came on time, took me to the train station and I went back home happy! Of course not! The 30-minute wait in the sunlight combined with having no more water and hot temperature in the bus made me lose consciousness! Thankfully the people in the bus were so kind, gave me water to drink and let me sit down.

After getting out on my stop the first thing I did was go to the closest store to buy water for myself. There were like 8 people in the queue and the shop was so small, but I didn't care anymore. I'll just wait a bit, get my water and chill at the station. Could anything go wrong in the store? I have my wallet on me. Of course it can! I don't have any small change, cuz I spent it all (and card) and so doesn't the cashier (I'm not paying 100 PLN for a bottle of Cisowianka), so I walk out genuinely angry at the city of Wrocław, go to the station and THANK GOD there was an open store aswell.

In Poland we have a very cool law, where shops on Sundays are almost always closed with very few exceptions, so finding a open Biedronka on a Sunday is a miracle, exactly what I needed.

That finally concludes my Wrocław adventure, I wait for my train (I was waiting on the wrong track, thankfully I double-checked just before my train arrived), got in my seat and got back home with no more problems. This time for real.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed my analysis and I hope the venting wasn't too much to handle. My next tournament is in Olomouc, where another good performance could grant me the CM title, would be pretty fun:)