Fast Thinker

     Days seem to pass quicker and more eventful in Cap d'Agde...

     Four rounds are already behind and I am satisfied with my 3,5p/4, though the quality of the games could have been better. The time control is a bit different from the one I'm used to- it's 90 minutes + 30s per move with no extra time after 40 moves, so many games are decided not only by the strength of the player but also by his ability to be a "fast thinker". Luckily, I have proved to be good at the later today :D
     There are many interesting encounters still being disputed and I am very curious whom I'm going to play against tomorrow. There is no live broadcast of the games unfortunately but you can check the results here: http://echecs.asso.fr/FicheTournoi.aspx?Ref=31712
                                           





     As about everything else, France keeps to be a welcoming host, spoiling us with a very nice weather and a really cool atmosphere for a chess tournament.
      I am really happy that I've decided to play here and I hope that my best chess is still ahead!





xoxo from Cap d'Agde ;)

French Savours

     Bonsoir a tous!
     No, I haven't suddenly started to speak French, though I wouldn't mind it at all :D I am back to Cap d'Agde, a really nice Mediterranean resort where a great Chess Festival takes place. More than 500 participants is kind of impressing!
      I've been here in 2012 and I really liked it (despite of me being rubbed on the way from Toulouse to Agde :)))  The "Centre de Vacances" where the Festival takes place doesn't have many stars, but it has its own atmosphere- a very friendly and a very "French" one. I don't know how it comes, but every time I return here I feel different-more free, more dreamy, more melancholic...
     The thing I enjoy the most here is the very tasty food :D One shouldn't be a gourmet in order to appreciate the great variety of French savours. Many national dishes, lots of fruits and desserts, different kinds of "fromage", wines for any taste- in one word- "magnifique"!
     Forgive my describing the food, it's explained by the fact that I'm really hungry after a surprisingly difficult game which I've somehow managed to win. The first round is over and I feel like a lot of fight is ahead. We'll have a double round tomorrow and I hope to show some good chess. Follow the news and the results on the official site of the event: http://capechecs.com/
     Here are some photos:

     Stay tuned for more impressions (I hope positive ones) the days after the double round!


xoxo from France ;)
  
    

Iasi 600 Simul

     It seems like summer is back in Iasi these days!
     Many, many interesting events are taking place during the "Days of Iasi Festival" here. One must take a walk down the Stefan cel Mare street in order to understand the great atmosphere of these "oh,so summerish" days of Autumn! You can check out the program of the events here: http://www.primaria-iasi.ro/uploads/Sarbatorile_Iasului_2014.pdf
     It felt great to be a part of the holidays! A big simul given on 600 boards by the best 20 sportsmen of Iasi was organized yesterday. It took place in front of the City Hall and it attracted lots of kids, chess lovers and just curious spectators. I think that it is a great way of making chess popular and I am grateful to the organizers- the "Iasi County Chess Association" for making this event possible! It is their tireless efforts that have put Iasi on the World Chess Map! Check the latest chess news from Iasi here: http://ajsiasi.ro/

     I played so many games yesterday, that I can't even count them. One kid was taking a sit after another, even arguing who's turn it is to play! It was a great joy being a part of it! Parents prompting moves to their children and when they didn't obey, just waiting for them to finish the game and then sitting themselves to play against me!
                                                              I don't know the final score, but I remember that I had to congratulate 2 of my opponents for beating me and another one for managing to make a draw. In my defense, they were far from being kids :D and I suspect them to be serious club players! Anyways- good for them- it is a pleasure to discover that there are a lot of people who love chess and are good at playing it!
     Once again, I would like to say a big thank you to the participants, organizers and to all the chess lovers! It is great to see kids being encouraged to play "the game of the wise"!

   

xoxo from Iasi ;)
    

Evolve and Adapt!

     I am in an a bit melancholic mood lately and with "lately" I mean the last 2 days, since the World Junior Chess Championship has started in Pune, India.
     This Championship was my most awaited tournament of the year in 2011,'12 and '13 and many hopes and dreams were linked to it. I guess that I can be called a "veteran" of this Championship, as I participated 4 times there, the first one being in 2005, when I was only 11 yo. I am a bit old for it now, but I am following it's games with great interest, as I know the competitiveness, the pressure and the great tension which rule there.
     Well, I guess it's enough about me, time never stays and one has to evolve and adapt in order to keep the pace with the running away time :D
      Romania is represented by Ioana Gelip in the Girls section and Bogdan Deac in the Open one. You can follow their results and games on the official site of the event: http://www.worldjuniorchess2014.com/ The games start every day at 2.30 pm local time (12 pm Romanian time).
     Thirteen rounds is a very, very long way to go and I wish our players best of luck, lots of inspiration and steel nerves!

Bogdan Deac

Ioana Gelip

     Keep your fingers crossed for them!

     P.S. A great encounter awaits for us on the first board of the Open section today, as Bogdan is facing the nr.1 favorite- Fedoseev Vladimir, rated 2661!


    xoxo from Chisinau ;)

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 ;)

Game Over

     I am home!!!
     Yes, after a long, long period of playing and traveling, I have finally got to a place where I can have a rest and I can think what is there to do next.
      With the University starting next week and some other projects I am onto I hope to keep myself busy. It is really strange to get used to the calm "day by day-no game" life after 3 months where my main thought was "what should I play tomorrow?" or what to choose between a 10 hours bus ride and some 14 hours by train.

      My next tournament will be not sooner than the end of October, so until then- more posts on my blog and less stuff to worry about :)







xoxo from Iasi ;)

Caruana Adjustment

     I think that each of us admired the great performance of Fabiano Caruana during the recent "Sinquefield Cup". We can guess, was that divine inspiration or just the result of a great amount of work (I think it was both of them)... Anyways, it has certainly inspired me!
     The "Maria Albulet Memorial" has ended today, with me scoring 8p/9 and taking clear first place with a 2561 Performance and +17 Elo points!

Rk.	SNo			Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.
1	3		IM	Bulmaga Irina	ROU	2365	8.0
2	6		WGM	Sandu Mihaela	ROU	2259	5.5
3	1		WIM	Olsarova Tereza	CZE	2296	5.5
4	8		WGM	Cosma Elena-Luminita	ROU	2333	5.0
5	2		WFM	Imnadze Nato	GEO	2082	5.0
6	10		WIM	Olsarova Karolina	CZE	2224	4.5
7	4			Gelip Ioana	ROU	2102	3.5
8	5		WIM	Ciobanu Camelia-Adriana	ROU	2153	3.5
9	7		WGM	Ionescu Irina	ROU	2227	2.5
10	9		WGM	Makropoulou Marina	GRE	2211	2.0

     Here you can find the detailed information about the tournament: http://chess-results.com/tnr143698.aspx?lan=1&art=1&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984
  
      It's been a fantastic tournament for me, one in which I am not ashamed to show any game! I am very thankful to those who have advised me to play here and to those who made this nice event possible!
     Here's a photo report:

WNM Gelip Ioana

WGM Ionescu Irina

WGM Cosma Luminita

Imnadze Nato

WIM Olsarova Karolina

WGM Sandu Mihaela

WIM Olsarova Tereza

WGM Makropoulou Marina

WIM Ciobanu Camelia

 

 

Happy Irina :)

 xoxo from Braila! :)