This was a very interesting congress for me. My son had improved quite alot and I could relax a bit more. Held in the De Veres Hotel Denham it was not to bad a trek from Southampton.

It was good to see some GM*s and IM*s in action. It was a really good turn out with over 50 players in the Open.

On round one I took a draw as white against a 1867, my opponent only had 3mins left on clock I had 28 but we were playing 1.5hr games with 30 second increments which means its very hard to grind people down on clock.

Round 2 against a 1840 as black was looking drawish but did not make sure of my defence in end game and lost to my opponents nice rook sacrifice. The game lasted 4hrs and I was mentally drained.

Round 3 starting only 45mins after my last 4hr game against a 2087. I felt like a zombie I could barely look at the board and felt I had a shocking position as white and promptly binned it after about 23 moves, which anaylsis showed was a bit over the top and I should have just carried on.

Round 4 against a 1860 was a good game, was drawish but blew it in end game flapping.

Round 5 against a 2144 as white was a very difficult game I lasted about 35 moves but y opponent was s quick on clock and his postion was much better and he ground me down beatifully.

So 0.5 from 5 is not goign to do my FIDE rating much good.. :(

Frome Congress was my first congress of the year and really my first proper congess. I enjoyed it alot and played very cautiously.

In the Minor I came joint third with 2 wins and 2 draws.

Yeovil Congress was a complete nightmare from start to finish. My son was in intensive care in Southampton and although he was stable at the time it was a big worry going so far away. I turned up 15 minutes late and could not find my name in the Open section and after wasting more time checking and double checking I asked the arbiter why I could not find my table and he realised after looking at my 94 ECF grade he had made an assumption that I meant to enter the minor!!

I explained the situation and had to play the first game out in the Minor then would I would enter the Open in the second round. I started round 1 in the Minor ok as black but after my mobile went off (which I had to leave on incase of emergency call) about 16 moves in I conseqently gave a piece away for nothing and promptly resigned as I could not face playing on.

In round two in the afternoon I got a decent game as white with a 2097. I had a reasonable position after about 25 moves but in true patzer style pushed it and ended up being crushed.

Round 4 on Sunday moring I felt much better and less stressed and had a good win in a rather stodgey game as black against a 1920, and in the afternoon I had a reasonalbe effort against a 2197 as white lasting about 33 moves where I swaped off queens to try and simplfy but was a big mistake.

I still enjoyed the event and learnt lots.