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''My games were pretty simple and straightforward- the way I like them to be…'' I was looking forward to the tournament for the various reasons, as not only was I eager to show a good result (or at least just play chess!), but also due to my gastronomical preferences... 
''I was happy that my teammates made me feel pretty useless...'' For the next time, for me, it's maybe an idea to come a bit earlier to the tournament and perhaps not lose to all the scary names.
''…..why on earth I was included in there….'' Being the 45th edition, the organizers collected a remarkable line-up of players, leaving me to wonder happily, why on earth I was included in there, next to stars like Carlsen, Morozevich, Nakamura, Wang Hao, Bacrot and later also Bologan...
''I am very glad, and grateful to Garry Kimovich…'' On the whole, I am very glad, and grateful to Garry Kimovich for his kind willingness to arrange a slot in his hectic schedule for this tête-à-tête.
''…though this time there was no Anand to tell me that it was a lucky number…'' Running ahead, I can say I haven't entirely accomplished the mission as planned, but the valuable experience has definitely been added to my small but growing luggage.
''I do hope that the good old saying ''the way you meet the year is the way you spend it'' will turn out to be more than just a saying.'' ''...strictly speaking I thought the half a point that we were playing for didn't affect the standing as I was very confident about Morozevich winning his game against Vitiugov.''
''I am slowly becoming an experienced team player…'' After all my uncompromising Spanish adventures ended with a modest +1, the ELO win was the modest -1 point, so everything was balanced again...
''…the theory of QGD progresses, unlike that of derivatives and tangent lines…'' With some school exams and tests here and there (and there, and there…), the big plans for the preparation had to be reconsidered a little...
''…it was a pleasant experience and I hope there is more to come…'' Just few days ago I managed to take back my Dutch title, that I already won back then in 2009. This year, though, the event was certainly stronger, but then again, so was I (or at least that's what I was hoping for). But let's start from the start.
''The cozy closing ceremony was a warm end to the great tournament and the next day I was heading back to school…'' I had an opportunity to play there only once before, the last year, when I was facing five Scandinavian players. This time there were again six participants, but just three of them were Scandinavian...
''…the tournament was rather short for me, yet I was happy to play some interesting and nice games…'' This year again, me together with my experienced Dutch colleague Loek Van Wely were invited to play the French League for our team- Echiquier Châlonnais.
Candidates Matches 2011 ...I must say that after I saw the main- classical part of the match, it became clear to me that if Grischuk continues with the same tough defense and if fortune will keep on choosing him (and believe me, fortune is the main thing here), there isn't much Levon can possibly do...
Time to get back to the board... After devoting some little, but essential attention to my school, for the last two weeks, I will in few days get back to the board...
Goodbye Monaco and thanks for the lesson! This March, just few days ago, I was lucky enough to be a part of a remarkable chess event in Monaco. The tournament that contains the blindfold and rapid events, established itself as unarguably the best chess tournament in the world.
"The first round, however, quickly put me back to Earth..." My chess year has yet again begun with Wijk aan Zee. It is slowly becoming a tradition for me and I must say I start liking this tradition more and more... Before the tournament I obviously had a specific training for the actual event, but in fact, since I was playing quite a lot the whole year before the event and a lot of things were left unused, I arrived to the "Seaside Village" more than ready to meet "The Big Guys". Anxiousness is maybe a more suitable word even. 
Bundesliga (round 8 and 9, 2011)"...but chess is like karma and next day luck was not on my side at all..." Just a week after Wijk aan Zee, which has been a definite success for me (the details and games commented by me- later!), I had to play in the Bundesliga. I was keen to get back to the game once again, just before fully jumping into my school for a looong (maybe even few full weeks!!) period of time. 
"... women are actually clever enough to realize that there are much more important things in life rather than chess..."
At the end of last year, chess world saw yet another World Championship. This time those were women, that fighting for the World title. It was yet another knockout system tournament, like the previous one, which was won by Alexandra Kosteniuk who managed to beat Hou Yifan in the final. |
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