The "Cabernet Street"

Playing vs the tournament winner- GM Sergei Zhigalko

     It's spring and my mood is perfectly described by this! :D
     I had a couple of very interesting weeks, first, while playing the "Chebanenko Memorial" in Chisinau and then playing the last match with my team in Bundesliga.
     Let's take it one by one.
     The "Chebanenko Memorial" has already become a strong traditional rapid tournament in Chisinau, Moldova. It saw the light thanks to GM Viorel Bologan- the strongest Moldavian GM ever and a person for whom I have a deep respect, both for his chess accomplishments and his personality. It is well known that Veaceslav Chebanenko was "the coach of all Moldavians", including the above mentioned Viorel. The Rossolimo, the Slav with 4...a6 are only some of his "inventions".

A little speech during the wine tasting

     It is great that there's a tournament which pays honor to his name and I am very happy that I participated in this event. I didn't show my best chess there, nevertheless I took the 1st women prize.
It was a great feeling for me to play in the club where I practically grew up.
     The non chess part of the event was very nice as well. Moldavian people are well known for their hospitality and I believe they showed it once again. There was a very nice excursion organized to the "Cricova Winery Cellars". We walked along the "Cabernet Street", the "Chardonnay Street"...
     They say that Moldova has the best wines and women... I guess I'm not an objective judge, but one should definitely put Moldova on his travel list in order to test it!

     As about the Bundesliga part- I think it deserves a separate post, so- to be continued...
     

myself.MD

Orheiul Vechi

     There's a small country called Moldova which happens to be my homeland.
     Being a chess player, I've traveled a lot, have seen many interesting places all around the World. It's not only about discovering new cultures, it's also about finding new "my selves ".
     It's not a thing to brag with, but I've never visited the cultural sites of the country I come from. That's why I decided, having a few free days, to fill this gap.
     The famous natural, archeological and turistic complex "Orheiul Vechi" was the first one on my list. The place has a very interesting history which dates from as early as the 10th century BC. You can find out more about this here: http://orheiulvechi.com/ Another interesting thing about this place are the cave monasteries- places of cult from the early stages of Christianity. You can spot them in the next photo:

Cave Monasteries

     Here are a few more photos with views from a traditional Moldavian village.

Martins nests

Traditional Moldavian house

     Next to follow was the beautiful "Curchi Monastery". This place induced me into such a peaceful state that I thought that it would be great to retreat there for a week or two with a suitcase full of books!
    

     Though living in Romania, it is a great pleasure for me to return from time to time to Moldova and to remember where my roots come from!


xoxo from Chisinau ;)

Double Skip

With my dear sister, Elena

     There are not many things going on lately, though I can't complain about a loose schedule either ;)
     2015 has started promising for me, I got the chance to spend a few days in Chisinau, with my
family (finally got to see my beloved sister). I am so lucky to have such an amazing sibling! She's my little ray of sunshine :) I miss her too much since she's moved to study in the UK...
     I got back to Iasi then, have to honor my being a student mission. The exams will start soon, so I have to study a bit :) It's only half a year left and I'll graduate! I am happy about it, though I can't stop wondering how could time fly so quickly...
     I feel like I'm on a crossroad, what's next now? You know, they say- graduate high school, get a degree and then... I don't like the get a job part, so I'll just skip it, the marrying, children part- double skip- too early, so I guess I have a "some" years gap to fill in with smth- preferably with some amazing chess memories ;)
     These being said, I'll try not to look too far away in the future and focus on my Uni Saga :))) I promise a huge article about the Romanian Studying System when I get my degree, there might be some curious professors getting friendly with google :P
     Wish you all a fine week and a great time following Wijk aan Zee!



xoxo from Iasi ;)

Fantastic W&W

     We've just entered a very entertaining month-October. There are many celebrations these days in Moldova.
     My favorite season is Autumn, I love the golden leaves, the dark rainy days, the melancholy of the running wind :)
     I have had a really amazing day, one which characterizes the way I see a perfect day of life. I have worked in the morning (and I am really pleased with the results), I have had a fantastic lunch and then I went for a walk, visiting on my way the "Tulburel Festival". This Festival is a part of the National Wine Day, which is very popular in Moldova.
     Many people who are asked about Moldova say "Yeah, fantastic wines and women!" ( there are a lot who think it's in Africa as well :)))) I can't agree more with the first part of this saying (as about about the 2nd one- it's not me to judge :P ). Moldavian wines are really great and if you think about an interesting way to spend your weekend, you could try to visit Chisinau during this Festival! Read more about it here: http://wineday.wineofmoldova.com/en/
     There have been some really nice days and it feels really good to work and then to spend quality time with my family!

 

    

     Wish you all a nice weekend!


xoxo from Chisinau ;)

Horror Chess

With Raluca Sgircea

     I haven't written in a while, as I was busy with all kind of stuff and I've been strangely at peace with myself.
     Maybe you've noticed that I write mostly when I am emotional: sad, happy, excited, worried about different things. Well, it's been a very uneventfull period until now.

     The Men's European is coming up and I am really excited to play chess again, as I haven't played for the unbelievable period of two and a half months. Even my brain got emotional: I have started to have nightmares about chess... For example today- I dreamed that I lost a game because I was late for it :))) It was such a thriller- I was hurrying to get in time but somehow, my moves were slow-motioned :D I really hope that it won't happen in real life :D
     Otherwise, life's pretty good again, no worries with studying or anything else- finished all the lemons- don't need chocolate cookies anymore :D
      I was in Bucharest last week- had some quality time there, then stayed a bit with my familly and now going to Poiana Brasov- a pretty nice mountain resort :) A great trip awaits for me tomorrow-8 hours by bus... Hope to survive :P


xoxo from Chisinau ;)
   
   
   

Apricot Cake

    Chess players are known for working on chess-solving positions, analysing endgames, improving their repertoire, finding all kind of novelties... Well, I make this category too, but that's not what's been special about today.
     An "Apricot cake" has added to my reptoire a few hours ago :D It's been very easy to be made and soooo tasty! Too bad that novelties don't come as easy as a cake recipe... Just imagine, while you mix the sugar with the eggs- a super novelty in the Poisoned Pawn Variation appears, while you add the flour and mix it in- a novelty in Sozin is discovered and until the cake is ready- a brand new opening approach is lying on a plate with an inviting smell ;)
     Well, as you picture it- I am at the "analyzing endgames" part, finding new ideas in the taste of the cake accompanied by some Earl Grey tea with milk... Here's the secret of getting better in chess ;)

xoxo from Chisinau :)
   

Christmas-again Christmas

     Greatness is not to be proved- it is to be shown.
     I think that it's such an old-fashioned point of view- that one should always prove to someone that he's the best. One never becomes the best in something if he does it in order to prove something to someone. Great people are the best for themselves and their greatness is an inspiration, not smth that must be proved again and again.

     Well, I guess it's enough with  greatness for today. Few of us make this category and the lucky ones are an inspiration, but they don't necessarily make good persons or friends- the great ones have to pay with smth in order to maintain the balance in Universe. One can't have everything.
     It is "the old calendar" Christmas today, the one that is celebrated by Christians from the East of Europe, or from the so called "ex Union". It is funny that we celebrate Christmas twice in Moldova- on 25th and on 7th (this might be the reason I've started to run plenty kilometres distances again ;).
     These being said- the stuffed cabbage that make my granny greater and greater every Christmas is crying out for a jog! :D


P.S. Merry Christmas!







xoxo from Chisinau! ;)

First Post

     Hello to everyone ( the first one in 2014 ;)!
     It's been one year since my last post! The last week has been very nice for me- I just relaxed and spent the last days of 2013 and the first ones from 2014 with the people who make me feel loved and happy :)
     I've decided that this year should be special, if I will succeed in this- time will show :P
     I hope that you didn't forget to make a brand new list of wishes for 2014- I really believe that sometimes it's enough to want something very badly in order for this to happen.
     All in all, I wish you a nice year, with lots of accomplishments and happy moments and may you have the inspiration to make the right choices!




xoxo from Chisinau ;)

November Blitz

     Another month is ending and it's almost the end of the year...
     I have some 5 free days until the Romanian Rapid, Blitz and Solving Chess Championship which I will surely enjoy, as I've managed to pass my partial exams at University :) Then, London comes :D

     I think that it will be a vey nice tournament- I play in an WGM round-robin. I will be the 1st Elo ranked player, though it will be surely not that easy. I can't wait to wander on the London's streets making lots of photos!
     I've been in London earlier this year, but just for some 11 hours (I had a very bad flight connection while flying to Bangkok) in which I managed to see only the London Eye and the Big Ben...
     What else? My life isn't very full of activities while in Chisinau- it's more about solving not chess related problems and gaining forces for the next tournaments.
     I am going to watch "The Hunger Games-2" today- hope it will be at least not worse than the 1st one :))))

Have a nice week!

xoxo from Chisinau! ;)
   

Happy Dance

     These days since I've got home should have been "Heaven on Earth" and instead I've caught a cold and in the same time I have to study for exams day by day with my cold making a "happy dance" every time I don't understand something. Econometrics can be really tricky when you don't recall anything from the last year's course of Statistics... Well, I hope that I'll get through with it until tomorrow, when I have to submit the paper.
      I still haven't written anything on the Anand-Carlsen match. It is not as spectacular as I expected it to be. Carlsen has a clear edge and a +2 already, I don't see how anything can change- I guess that we'll have a new World Champion in some days.
     That's all for now... I'll return to my battle with my cold and with my one and true love "Econometrics" :))))
     Wish you all a healthy and nice end of week!

xoxo from Chisinau ;)

Connections

     Here I am in the rainy Warsaw!
     I arrived last night, not without adventures, as you might have seen on my FB page...

View of the centre of Warsaw

     My flight from Chisinau to Vienna was 2 hours late and , as I had only 50 minutes until the connection flight from Vienna to Warsaw- I lost it... Actually, it was not such a big surprise for me, as every time I fly from Chisinau I have unpleasant delays, so this time- I checked before my trip weather there's another flight from Vienna to Warsaw later same day and there was only one, which I was very lucky to catch 5 minutes before the boarding. You can't imagine how I ran from the plane to the transfer desk :))) I was aware that if I don't catch that flight I will either stay a night in Vienna, which means not playing the 1st round, or I will have another crazy connection...
     All in all, I am happy that I am here safe and sound :D
     It is my first time in Warsaw, well, it's actually the 2nd one, though the first time I've been only at the railway station and at the airport :D I visited Lodz and Legnica and I liked them both. As about my first impressions from Warsaw- it's much more than I expected- I really, really like it- can't wait to explore it!
    We play against Switzerland today. You can find the pairings here: http://chess-results.com/tnr113757.aspx?lan=11&art=2&rd=1&wi=821 and here is the official site of the event, where you can follow the live games and the daily photo reports: http://etcc2013.com/

Will keep you posted!

xoxo from Warsaw! ;)

Rain.Wind.Cold

     Autumn has come very unexpectedly this year- from the more or less sunny Turkey to the very rainy and windy Moldova.
     It is the kind of weather when one doesn't want to do anything but staying under a blanket with a cup of hot tea in one hand and with an interesting book in the other one. Actually- I like this weather and it goes very well with the way I feel now, so I can't complain too much :)
     I enjoyed a very nice cup of tea and some more cups of talking with my sister today :P
     It feels so good to have nothing to worry about.
     I will just enjoy these two weeks of being home
and I will try to recharge my batteries for the upcoming tournaments- European Club Cup (20-27.10.2013) and European Team Championship in November.




xoxo from Chisinau ;)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

     Here I am finally at home- in Chisinau. I feel so good here- even the walls have greeted me :D
     Greece was amazing- it has charged my batteries and it has made me see life in bright and different colours again.
     The tournament ended for me with a pleasant surprise- 1st woman prize and a +0,3 Elo points- which is a "great success" after the Europeans...
     Here is my new desktop image- a photo I've taken on our restaurant's roof garden :D

    The most important thing of the day- Happy Birthday, dear Dad! I wish you lots of health and happiness and I really hope to do my best in order to make you proud! You're my biggest fan and supporter and I'm the one who loves you no matter what!

xoxo from Chisinau!

Friday Night

     Simply staying home and waiting to go to bed on a Friday night means you're getting old- that's what Facebook has just enlighten me with.
     I could disagree- having the choice of going out or going to bed and choosing the 2nd one just means you're getting wiser. What would be the consequences of a party Friday? Hangovers, unwanted phone numbers, weird marks on your clothes, a killed Saturday, all kind of questions with no answers, lost things, stories you don't remember about yourself... Haha! I would rather listen to the new album of Zemfira for now enjoying a cup of tea. It's not like I'm always like this, but the next morning after an outgoing Friday night I know I would have wished I had listened to Zemfira. Here it is:



     I went on a nice walk the other day. I enjoy having long walks by myself and thinking. I got some interesting ideas for the blog- you'll see them really soon!
     Until then, here's my favourite park in Chisinau:

     Wish you all a  nice weekend!

     

The great terror

    It's almost a week since I've returned from Astana and I already miss playing.
    I will go on a hiking trip with some friends in a week and I'll play  the U20 Nationals afterwards. It's going to be nice- my sister will come too- I will terrorize her with chess :))) hihihi Can't wait!
    Then Thailand follows! I have just read on Wikipedia that April is the hottest month in central Thailand- 35-38 C degrees. Maybe I should have read it before deciding weather to go there or not :))) Well, but what is a little heat for a 20 yo chess player- one extra excuse for blunders :P (God forbid them!)
     I will visit London on my way to Bangkok- will have some 12 spare hours- so that will make one more new country this year :D
     Making plans is very nice when no worries at all. That's what I like about being home, actually that's what I like about being 19 :D

Roller skating- one of my childhood's favourite activities-you can't imagine how my knees looked like back then

xoxo from Chisinau

   

Nowhere like home

     It's been a very nice day. I am not sure if there is anything to like about Moldova, but like my sister told me today "It's not like I like Moldova, but I love it".
     It was a lovely, sunny day and I decided to go out- I went for a coffee and a salad in the town. I've spent some hours enjoying them and thinking about stuff. I get a "comfort" feeling every time I come home lately. It's not like I don't enjoy myself in Iasi, but I can feel a hole inside myself sometimes- one which makes me very unconfident and depressive when there. It's like there's nothing and no one for me there.
     You know, I would do everything for the ones I love- I could give away anything for them. I used to think that I don't need anyone in order to be happy. I thought that success would be more than enough, but it's nothing to be successful if you don't have with whom to share it. It's so fulfilling to have someone whom to make proud and whom to dissappoint. I understand how awesome is to have someone who cares enough in order to criticize you now.
     I feel a light in my soul- a warming one and I, I just want to keep it there for as long as possible and to share it with the ones who help me maintaining it.

One way or another

     It's good to be back :D
     I am happy and calm and relaxed and full of hope and ready to work again! It feels so good to have a nice tournament from time to time :))) You know, +20 Elo points can't be found on the street like 20 lei :)))
     This tournament has proved to me once again that I can achieve whatever I want. It is so weird that right before the Women's World Team Ch. I played the Romanian Individual Ch. and the result was quite opposite- I finished only the 5th and with -1 Elo points. One may ask "Why?" That's a good question. I think that my playing depends on too many "non-chess" factors and that's the mistake. It's not like I want all of these factors to influence me- I just still haven't learned how not to. I think that it's a matter of time and constantly working on myself and on my "thoughts autodiscipline".
     All in all, I am happy to be in Chisinau again and to share my happiness with the closest to me people.

P.S. If you were wondering what was on my "lucky playlist" in Astana, here are the 5 songs I listened to day by day:

've taken my shot at this tournament!

xoxo from Chisinau ;)

Snow in Astana!

     Here I am, freezy Astana!

Ready for the 16 floors jog! :D

     I had a nice trip from Chisinau to Astana through Wien. It's been a 1h 40 min flight from Chisinau to Wien    and another 5 hours flight from Wien to Astana. The time difference with Moldova and Romania is +4 hours, so it's 11 am here. The city is brand new from what I've noticed from the bus; it looks for me as a  much bigger Khanty-Mansiysk. Well, it's just a quick impression, so don't judge me too harsh- I guess I'll be able to tell much more about it in some days.

My room

     I've met almost all the team in Wien, they were flying from Bucharest (Carmen from Dusseldorf). I've met Alina only at breakfast (she arrived from Amsterdam through Kiev). I am very happy to be surrounded by chess players (most of them being friends) again. The atmosphere seems to be very nice in here. Though it's only -7 degrees outside, our rooms have got a special "sauna effect", I guess that the people in Kazakhstan don't like the cold weather :))) The hotel is pretty cool, everyone's got single rooms and they are huuuge! The only minus is that the wellness center doesn't have a free entrance. All we (the chess players) can get is a 50% disscount, which leaves a pretty high price anyways... What a pity! I guess I will just jog  from the 1st floor to the 16th :))) The internet seems to be a high-speed one, so I will be very active on the blog! (I Hope that I will be in a good mood to post too :)))
     Today is the arrival day- the 1st round is going to be tomorrow, at 3 pm local time. I plan to relax all the day long, don't think that I'll go for any walks, maybe only for dinner.

     What other news can I tell you? Well, I've found out that I'm going to play on the 2nd board, though initially it had to be the 3rd one- not that it matters too much- all the teams are strong and dangerous- no matter of the board order. I've had a "non-eventful" half year from the "chess point of view", so I have no idea how the tournament might go for me, but I hope I'll do well. It's important to feel comfortable and to enjoy the atmosphere and I've got it, so I think it should all go well.

Astana- view from the window

xoxo from Astana ;)

Where's my soul?

     It's been an amazing month, a month I've spent at home and I've really enjoyed it. It's been some years since I didn't want to leave from Chisinau. I used to come for a week and then to run away as fast as I could. Once you taste the freedom- you don't want to give it away. It's the first time when the demand "Be home until 11" hasn't bothered me. I've got used to the sleepless nights I get every time I come here (I tend to find too many things of which to think about when here), I like the ritual "The one who wakes up first makes the breakfast" - I take advantage of it as many times I can :))))) I soooo like when the coffee waits for me in the french press :D I can trade my soul for it. My soul? I feel like I've already traded it without being fully aware of what I've done...
      I'll miss the "kitchen meetings", when I'd go to have a tea at 2 am and I'd find my dad already there :) Why can't I be in more places at once? There should be invented a way to make it happen.
      I don't know where I want myself to be in long term: here, there or somewhere else... I want to be there now, I belong to somewhere else and I'm here-funny...

     Well, as for now, until next time, Chisinau :)
   

10 Ways to improve your mood

     What do you do when your mood is on an underground level? How do you improve it? Here's my Top 10 list :)

1. Treat myself with an ice-cream or some chocolate
2. Have an exhausting workout while listening to some rap & rock&roll music
3. Siiiiiiiiiiiiiing my heart out
4. Phone a good friend
5. Watch a horror movie
6. Play some blitz games on playchess (that's a bit risky- the mood can get even worse :)))
7. Buy some presents for the people I love ( it's amazing how making good things can make one feel better!)
8. Watch some very bad games of some strong chess player
9. Get a massage
10. Make someone tell me how amazing I am :))), but he should make it believable :P

Do you have other methods that usually work for you?

xoxo from Chisinau