Wednesday 10/11/99 8:30 am Wateroo Station

Just waiting for Mark and Ron. We are taking the 10.30 train to Leuven, belgium. Simple as that, Eurostar, £59 and you're straight there. We've decided that it's almost as cheap, if not cheaper to play abroad these days so ...

It's Mark's idea, an open tourament of Gm's Im's and the rest. A new one, untried by any King's Head members. We are the King's Tasters, doomed to die if the food is poisoned. Mind you in Belgium that's mabe tempting fate.

Sitting with a coffee in burger king wondering how my game will stand up. By 10 tonight we play the 1st round which makes for a long day.

I'm playing centre counter, the Englund gambit, and assorted White homemade stuff. Will it be good enough? It shouldn't be but time will tell.

We will be joined there by the 4th Kings Head member Steve Berry. He has a massive 231 grade but doesn't have time to study like the full time professionals. I wonder how he will get on.

The team is

Mark Huba 104
Ron Crooks 121
Graham Brown 147
Steve Berry 231

I shall keep this brief diary as we go along of how we all do.

I hope I read my 2 chess books that i have brought Shirov's"fire on board" and ."Winning with e4 by Schiller. A very lazy choice of study material typical of my nationality.

The tournament lasts till Sunday

10/11/99 9:43
Toilet at Waterloo say's warning acid in bowl. I wonder why, surely noone is going to touch it anyway. George Michael is nowhere in sight.

Now going for train

10/11/99 15:53
Arrived in Leuven.
Hotel is opposite the station we've booked in round 1 is at 9pm off to cafe now to meet Steve.

Rooms are great I have a view of the square and a desk. Lets hope I use it for some preparation!

Thursday 11/11/99 1:52 am

Round 1

Steve won his first round outpowering a centre counter. I won scrappily against a weak player. Mark & Ron lost but there was plenty of chess to come. In fact we looked at the game and decided that Mark missed 10 wins at least! Ron fought back brilliantly from 3 pawns down to equal only to blow it. (Later note ...: He would only be given White once more in the tournament!? but ... keep reading!)

Thursday 11/11/99 13:08
I got up late then looked at a Michael Adams white game and some exchange ideas for playing against the french defence and the Caro Kan. I am probably white today.

Thursday 11/11/99 16:17
Everyone has lost except steve who appears to think he's completely losing. (Later note ...he drew)

Round 2

12/11/99 11:25
Steve won nicely in round 3 a piece sac that is in Gary Lane's book. Gary himself is on 3/3. He was surprised to hear English voices having been coming here for years as the sole English representative.

Round 3

Ron won having won the exchange, giving the exchange back to queen a pawn. Mark had his first win in a comic finish. After winning the strategic, tactical and psyehological battle mark blundered and presented his opponent with a mate in 2. His opponent chose qg1 check instead ... If rook takes queen it's a brilliant smothered mate. Unfortunately mark could take the queen with his king! so it was nice for them to get their first scores. I messed up a perfectly nice position by pawn pushing.

Round 4 coming up. Steve will be black most probably with white to follow against a 2500 perhaps if he wins.

Round 4

We fed well Thursday. Steak for me, mixed grill for Ron and an expensive Rabbit dish for the wealthy Mark. Steve was grinding out his 2nd round draw.

Round 4 to come in 2 hours. 4 games to try and play some decent chess.

I'm now watching MTV instead of studying.
12/11/99 19:18
And we're still waiting for our food
the round starts at 7.30

12/11/99 19:22
Got our food finally!
12/11/99 19:39
Steve leaves before us since he will have a tough battle!

13/11/99 9:02
Well 3 losers but ... Steve beat a grandmaster! Amazing game too!

Round 5

Now sat morning and round 6
scores
steve 4.5/5
ron, graham 2/5
mark 1/5
lets see what this round has in store ...

Round 6

Ron drew morning and afternoon and won 1000 Francs grading u1500.
Steve lost to barzou then drew to a strong IM.

Round 7

Final Scores

Steve 5/7
Graham 4/7
Ron 3/7
Mark 2/7

Mark won then lost and I won both my games with lucky gambits.

14/11/99 12:27

Quotes "what is this bollocks" Steve on having to confront another Huba position.

San sebastian next? suggestion from Mark. Anyone interested?

14/11/99 20:55
On the eurostar train
Been to lebanese restaurant
Brussles is amazing
all are tired!

Home very quickly, a few 10 minute games with Mark on the train. and then back to Waterloo.

Wiser and not much poorer thanks to the exchange rate.

Next tournament San Sebastian!?