Happy New Year to all my readers.  I only managed about 3 and a half hours in the week after Christmas, consisting of analysis of a recent league game, as well as playing and analysing some online 15-minute games.  In the following week I managed 7 and a half hours, including more analysis of the league game and an online study session (serious games and analysis).

I’ve got a large piece of university work due in soon, which isn’t allowing me to do as much chess as I’d like at the moment, and unfortunately I don’t see the pressure easing much until after my finals at the end of May.  The only tournament I’m currently planning to play in before then is the Blackpool Chess Conference in March, but I may also find time to play in the Durham Congress the following weekend and will continue to have local league games.