Apologies for the lack of report last week; you’re getting a double installment now. The bad news is that last week I didn’t make the target, managing 6 hours and 25 minutes. The good news is that this week I did, with 10 hours 10 minutes. Here’s the breakdown:
1st week
Monday: 3 hours playing a local league game
Tuesday: 30 minutes CT-Art
Wednesday: 15 minutes CT-Art
Thursday: 30 minutes Chess Tempo, 15 minutes CT-Art
Friday: 25 minutes playing a 15 0 game
Saturday: 90 minutes opening preparation (on the bus to Tough Guy, so I was limited to the one book I had with me)
Sunday: No chess, but lots of pain, which I’ll write about shortly
2nd week
Monday & Tuesday: Little chess (lots of chemistry and physics practicals)
Wednesday: 60 minutes opening preparation for the evening’s game (some of which hit the mark), 2 hours 40 minutes playing a club championship game + 30 minutes post-mortem analysis
Thursday: 50 minutes analysing Wednesday’s game, 45 minutes analysing last Monday’s game, 10 minutes Chess Tempo
Friday: 15 minutes analysing Wednesday’s game, 30 minutes CT-Art
Saturday: 10 minutes CT-Art, 2 hours playing decent opposition at Durham University Chess Society
Sunday: 10 minutes analysing Wednesday’s game, 20 minutes CT-Art, 50 minutes middlegame study (‘The Secret To Chess’)
From this week until the end of term the target will be 12 hours a week. Upcoming events I’ll be playing in include the next 4NCL weekend, the British Universities’ Chess Association Team Championships, and the Blackpool Chess Conference.
How did you do in the game on Monday week. 1 and the Club Championship game?
I won both. In the league game I was white in a Caro-Kann Fantasy Variation and got a decent advantage out of the opening. In the club champs game I was black in a Centre Game and eventually emerged from the tactics with a winning position. I hear Sedgemoor are through to the semis of the Somerset Cup. Good luck!
Only to face a very strong Glastonbury side!!!
They have sooo many good juniors that is untrue!!!! No wonder with a coach like GM Turner!!!
Will, are you playing Blackpool this year?? I might turn up there myself if time allows it.
Yes I am. Haven’t entered yet as I’m trying to find my ECF membership number, which I seem to have misplaced every time I want to enter a tournament! See you there, hopefully.
I’m confident Sedgemoor can overcome Glasto!
I just read your article in ‘Chess’ magazine.
I’m really impressed with your work rate; I gave up chess seriously to concentrate on my Degree, so I have some idea of the effort!
I wish you all the best!
I haven’t seen it yet! Thanks – I hope I can keep it up.