Plans & Resolutions

     Dear readers,

     The New Year is already here and I have new tournaments coming up, new plans.

(photo by David Llada)  

     I must say that time flies so quickly for me in the last few years... It seems to me that it was only yesterday when I was still competing under 20 yo and here I am, at 25 already. I am not very sure how this 5 years have passed so quickly. I guess that travelling from a chess tournament to another, from one country to another, one just gets sucked in by a kind of routine- make plans, prepare, travel, play, repeat... I am curios, will the next 5 years pass in the same manner?

     I have decided that I will play less this year and try to make time for things other than chess as well. In the end, playing 14 classical tournaments a year has proven to be quite ineffective. That doesn't mean I am becoming less of a professional chess player. It is actually the other way around- I will participate in less tournaments, but in stronger ones.

     My first classical tournament of the year will be in Gibraltar. This will be my first time there and I am quite excited about it- it has bean on my to do list for many years already. I hope to play against many strong opponents and also have a good time.

     Afterwards, I am thinking of participating in the HD Bank Open in Vietnam, in March. The tournament meets my requirements, having a very strong field and attractive prizes. I am not yet 100% sure that I will go there, as it clashes with the Romanian Women's Championship, but given the bad conditions and prizes from the previous years, I have reasonable doubts to believe anything might change this year. The hope never dies, so I am waiting for the regulations to be published and that will be the moment of my final decision.

     The European Individual Women Championship is going be the highlight of the season for me, as usually. It will take place in Antalya, Turkey in April. I don't have many plans afterwards, I just hope to be pleased by my playing by that moment.

     These being said, a little throwback is in place. I was very happy to finish the year on a high note, winning the "Sharjah Cup for Women". It was a strong women's event where inspired decisions and lucky moments met so I could become 1st. Here are a few photos from the event:

With Sopiko Khukhashvili

Karina Szczepkowska, me and Sopiko Khukhashvili- the first 3 places

Despite some double rounds, there was time for relaxing as well

Happy Winner!

 
    I wish you all a New Year full of accomplishments and don't forget to make time for the things and people whom you love!

A Chess Saga

     2017 is already here and it has brought loads and loads of snow in Bucharest... (yep, Bucharest is my new home now!).

     While most of the "normal" people had to return to their normal schedule and go to work, I'm taking advantage of the privileges of being a chess player, staying comfy at home, drinking tea and planing the calendar for this year... 

     2016 was definitely an interesting year! There were many ups and downs, but somehow, more ups come to my mind, which is a good thing...

     I hope that 2017 will be at least as good as 2016!

     November & December were some veeeery full months for me! I think that I've never played so much chess! There were more or less successful tournaments, but I've understood that it can't be healthy to play so much if you want to think of yourself as of a professional.

     I hope to play less in 2017 and if possible- better! :)) Why not, right?

     I've achieved the "so much wanted" 2400+ Elo again, though I try not to overthink it. After all, chess is not about ratings and this 2400 doesn't either feed me or warm me any better than 2395... 

     I hope that I'll be able to make the necessary adjustments this year so I would start playing better chess, that's the main goal (besides buying a sofa and a TV for the new "hommie" :)). 

     These being said, here's a little timeline of the last "chess months":

Calimanesti, Romanian League, beginning of November, smiley face

late November, Kings' Tournament- vs GM Mihail Marin (my face as expressive as ever!)

Again a very friendly Irina, this time vs GM Vlad Jianu

Romgaz Open- very late November- again a "happy" face

     

My mood at the beginning of December!

Wining 3 National titles (Rapid, Blitz and Solving) right after the beginning of December deserved a smile!

Finally a happy face and a week break from chess!

Vandoeuvre, France, first half of December- happy face goes on!

End of December, Austria, right before the last 3 "very successful" rounds (0,5p/3)

     I will finish on this positive note, the face I had after those 3 rounds got no official record!

xoxo from Bucharest :) 

Between Words

      A New Year is here, but there's pretty much time to speak about 2015.
     2014 was a very full year, one filled with many hopes, firsts, achievements and some disappointments as well. Chess has kept being the satellite of my planet Earth and there are no changes in the horizon. The more I play chess, the more I enjoy the chess lifestyle, with all the traveling, discovering new places and people. I keep ferreting different life aspects and I love seeing myself constantly changing. I don't know if it's what they call progress, but there are less and less wars I lead against myself. I've enjoyed being 20+, becoming independent and there are fewer and fewer "no's" I say to myself.

   2015 is the year of my graduation and I really hope that I'll never have to use my diploma. I don't want to live in a World where playing chess is just a hobby. Some friends told me that this year will be about freedom for me.
     Can't do anything about it but embrace it with my heart and mind opened!
 
     Have a Happy New Year and don't be afraid to say "Yes"!






xoxo from Chisinau ;)
    

Things have changed

     It's unbelievable how quickly this year has passed... It's been a very unusual year for me, so many things have changed (yeah,Bob Dylan would agree). It's a bit upsetting not to be in control- not to be in control of time.


     I've been thinking and I don't really understand the idea of celebrating another year passing by. Is it about the hope that the next one will be better? People celebrate it in different ways: clubbing, exotic trips, skiing, family reunions, home parties... I just want to wake up in 2013 and to know exactly how I would want this year to be like, what I would like to change in my life. It just seems that I've been running from myself lately, all these 15 countries a year travelling, I've even counted- 36 flights in 2012 :))) This year has passed under the motto: "Yeeessss, I'm finally 18!" and I just want the next one to be more like "I'm soon to be 20".
     I wish you all to have a little bit more health, more success, more determination, more love, more of whatever you'd like in 2013!