November sun

   Today were played another two rounds. I made 1,5 points out of 2. The sun was shinning so nicely,that I decided to go to the round by foot, through the beautiful park- "Valea Morilor". Here are some photos:
 

   There are 5 players with 3,5 points out of 4 - Itkis Boris, Soltanici Ruslan,Iulian Baltag,Prociuc Eugen and me. We have a free day in the main event tomorrow, but there'll be a blitz,in which I will gladly play :) Here are some photos from the playing hall,as I promised:

Ianocichin Victor-Soltanici Ruslan

Talmazan Oleg

Petrenko Svetlana

Baltag Iulian

Nevednichy Boris

   I am very glad that I decided to participate in this tournament, it's just a pity that there are no big sponsors supporting chess in Moldova, so the events would go on an international level...

Chess in Chisinau

  I've started to play  in an open in Chisinau today. It's called "Memorialul Gheorghe Ghimpu". The time control is very unusual-1h+10s/move-but I think it's good for me, as I don't need too much time. I am the 4th  in the starting ranking and I won today my both games. I've played against not so strong opponents,but if to remember my performance from France-I'm very satisfied with my today's results :) It's very funny the way I've decided to participate in this tournament - just one day before- I saw it on internet accidentally and I thought "Ok,why not, as I'm already in Chisinau..." Here is the link of the tournament:  http://chess-results.com/tnr84678.aspx?lan=11
   It was also funny to notice a real surprise on everyone's face when they were asking "Are you goiong to play?" and I was answering "Yes!" :))) Actually, it was a surprise for me too-playing in this tournament,but I don't regret it at all, I feel very good now :) I will have 2 more rounds tomorrow and then we'll have a free day-there will be a rapid where I plan to play too :)
   I was very happy to see my ex-coach- Itkis Boris playing too (he had been my coach for 5 years). Actually, he's the favorite nr.1 in the Open- it would be funny to have to play against him :)))
   These being said, I hope I'll make a nice present to myself for my birthday- some 20 Elo points :)

xoxo from Chisinau

P.S. I promise a photo-review of the tournament soon!

Alina in "Division de Honor"

   This days is taking place the Spanish "Division de Honor",in Leon. My friend-Alina l'Ami is playing there. She had a good start,making a draw against the higher rated H.Hamdouchi (2623). Here's her game :) I think she's goiong to have a very interesting tournament there,as all her opponents will be from the 2550+ club :) So,I wish her good luck!

Home,sweet home :)

   It always feels good to be home. I've arrived to Chisinau yesterday night and I'm going to stay here for a while :) I will play in an open here, it starts on 9th November and ends on 13th. I haven't played in Moldova for some years I think,since I've moved to Romania. It should be interesting :)
   Autumn is very beautiful in Chisinau, that's why I went for a walk with my sister. Here are some photos:

My sister-Elena

   Can't wait the tournament to start!

xoxo from Chisinau

Why don't the birds sleep?

   If you wonder where this title comes from-it's definetely not a scientific fact. It's a question that I asked my friend yesterday night,after the closing ceremony,when we were waiting the morning to come.I saw a bird flying here and there at 3 am-weird,huh? (or it's normal and the lack of any kind of sleep is talking for me now).
   Yesterday was a very nice day! I was at the closing ceremony,where I saw a very unhappy Ivanchuk (who seemed to be there only with his body) and a modest Karpov in an elegant pink shirt.Everything was done pretty quickly and we went on for dinner ( at about 10 pm). It had lasted until 00.30 am,when we finished eating a fancy chocolate dessert :)

   I've spent quite much time with Nastia Savina yesterday. She played very well in the Open and took the 1st women prize. We talked about everything in the World- like two girls almost in there twenties who try to understand how to live :)

Here is Nastia ;)

   I also went for a second walk yesterday-a "nightish" one- it was actually cooler than the 1st one! Here are some photos:

   I'm writting from Toulouse now-have to wait few more hours until my flight to Bucharest. I'm staying in a very cosy cafe called "Crystal". I had a late french breakfast with a veeeery tasty croissant and I'm looking through the window now admiring the rain :) Here's today's Toulouse seen by my camera:

   

   The next post will be from Romania, until then- enjoy the last hours of the week-end!

xoxo from Toulouse

   

Au revoir, France!

   I've finished the tournament in Cap d'Agde today. I've won so easily today against an opponent with 2200 that it made me think what I was doing for the previous rounds with 2180 players... I think that the point was that I was so dissapointed yesterday,after I lost-that I stopped carrying about everything and I simply went to play,with absolutely no striving to win and I actually crushed my opponent-finished the game with 1:33 time on the clock ;)
   I guess my main problem was that I wanted to win too much...
   I had and I still have a very lovely day today. I've been for a walk on the beach with a friend,we spoke, took some pictures-it was very nice!
   Here are some photos:

   Going to go to watch the final match between Karpov and Ivanchuk now. I hope it will be an interesting one! 

   I will enjoy my last hours in France and then- "Au revoir!"

xoxo from Cap d'Agde

Cap d'Agde

   The tournament is close to the end. There's just one more round to be played,tomorrow-at 9 am.
   It's been a very tough week for me. I made 5 draws,won 2 and lost todays's game. The only problem's that all my opponents had lower elo than me. The two games that I won were very difficult-I was playing for like 5 hours... The draws I made were also very long played- I had just one game which finished in less than four and a half hours. It's difficult to find a reason for such a bad result. I had decisive advantage in every game but one and I was blundering at the end... Houdini gave -3.40 yesterday, +1.24 today and instead of 2 points I scored 0,5... I guess that's it- I have to work more, because this result is defienetely not what I wanted.
   I've also played in a rapid tournament here. I scored 6 out of 8 and took the 8th place.
   This place- Cap d'Agde is beautiful, if not to consider the 2 stormy days-the weather was nice.
   Here are some photos from the place where I stayed.

   Some long travelling is waiting for me again... Some conclusions should be made- I will have pretty much time to think which one on my way back. The main problem is that in the last half year I only lost rating... 

   On this sad note I will finish the post. 

   It's too bad that such a nice place was not lucky for me at all.