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.