Archive for the ‘My own endeavours’ Category

Those early considerations

Posted in Chess in Thailand, My own endeavours on March 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It’s seven and a half years since I last played competitive chess and my-oh-my do I miss it. So much so how wonderful was it to learn that slap-bang in the middle of next month’s break lies a chess tournament just up the road from where I will be based. Load on in I did – now 2650 Baht (£58) poorer as a result cheap at half the price!

Still with some seventeen days to go, what were those early considerations?

First, which pen to use? The two chosen are both orange inked -here they are.

The black one is better, it writes in orange and is smoother, the other is back up.

Second was headwear. I have worn many hats playing chess over the years and bandanas too, inspired by Mike Muir the singer of Suicidal Tendencies, a band I went to see on October 14th, 1990 and March 6th. 1993.

I have three bandanas; one white and one black (these I always wore to metal concerts), and one multi-coloured (this I wore in Kyoto Japan a lot), and so I thought I would give them a wash and get them ready.

I’m leaving them in there to soak overnight -bandanas in the wash!

Third was, refresh and tidy up my opening repertoire. I looked into the Breyer against the Caro-Kann and am on board with that. The other change is to revert back to the Sicilian Kan from the Taimanov. I don’t like this early Nb5 stuff in that, which FM Gayson played against me recently, and I also don’t like it when white captures on c6. So the Kan, again, it is.

Preferable since I think you bring your queen’s knight out too early in the Taimanov.

The remaining considerations are what food and drink to bring to the hotel, whether to arrive on the day or the day before, and what to do in the half-day we have (ATV Tour looks most likely).

I am reading Rowson’s T7DCS, and analyzing chess positions deeply, that’s enough for now.

The province it is being held in Nakhon Nayok, just north-east of Bangkok. It is shaded light green and if you look in the top right corner you will see a blue dot. That is a lake and next to it is a white dot, that’s where the tournament hotel is (see below).

https://www.ingtarnresort.com

Updates a day on…

One of the benefits chess gives us is it teaches us the importance of learning from our mistakes. Entering a tournament rusty is something I have done before quite a few times and do not wish to repeat. And so… .

Forth was putting a PGN viewer (Chess PGN Master) and Engine (Stockfish 15.1) on my Samsung Tablet, so that I have better access to analysis, where I may choose to store my games. Because the interface is customizable, after looking and playing around I settled on the aforementioned.

My LTFC look 🙂

Fifth was entering a Rapid tournament the weekend before.

It is a necessity to bring chess back into my life and reacquaint with that presently not within my reach. The following question is what comes next?

As it stands: March 29th Bangkok Chess Club visit

March 31st FIDE Rated Rapid Tournament

April 5th-9th CAD Nakhon Nayok International Open

Sixth consideration is how much cider is consumed throughout? A tough question indeed.

Mark. J. McCready

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Time it waits for no man…

Posted in My own endeavours on February 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

If, like thyself, you’ve put your back into reading up on all that past, across days, weeks’, bank holiday week ends and months woven together, pat yourself on the back, sit yourself back down, and have a cup of tea, just ad milk and 1-2 sugars.

As a first year undergraduate writing away in leafy Hertfodshire, the two modules I took for history 15/16th century English history and the Industrial Revolution -both well worthy of study for this unbiased Brit with nothing better to do anyway.

My lecturer used to makes jokes about our industrial revolution, one was him going back in time asking people who it’s like to through the industrial revolution, with one answer being ‘oh are we, I thought we just sold more stuff’!

Back in the hallowed antiquities in the 1990s, where governance in the UK went into slow decline, everyone watched The Spice Girls and Mr.Blobby: unspeakable acts of crime were committed at my chess club in a manner that was as perfunctory as it was unforgiveable.

The 90s was not a digital era as such, clubs that had records kept them on paper. It was all paper back then. All our league tables, match cards, team lists, and rating lists were sent to the lockers in the football club’s changing room, then some months later lobbed out. Makes your spine chill doesn’t it?

In our modern age everything is digital and exists in the form of data. It doesn’t get lost.

It’s very saddening to think back to those evenings where match results were thrown out. No historian would do that. Instead they would classify them as primary source material, most likely they would remain covered. It was a great shame that our president Ken Liddle saw them as taking up space and to be slung out.

We value data and information much more now, which in turn means we are compelled to think of the 90s as depressing, from a historical perspective. Sadly the question of who a game scoresheet belong to in the modern game is a complex one, and to some degree, debatable.

Note to self: If you are interested in playing through the 496 competitive matches you wrote scoresheets for, erm, maybe not go up into loft and chuck the lot out -bloody hypocrite!

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Drive

Posted in My own endeavours on February 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

As the shy teenager I was, I so loved how after dusk fell I was driven to league matches along dark country roads. What a wonderful way to explore Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire in your youth. A supressed excitement in seeing small towns and cities such as Bedford, Leighton Buzzard, Cranfield, Milton Keynes, and Northampton kept me wide-eyed always. Those dark A-roads and narrow country lanes, that amber street lighting, the knowledgeable teammates who drove me to the venue, their respectful inquisitiveness and oh-so careful driving, the sensation of parking up. Entering the building and readying yourself for your game, the shake of the hand…game on… .

A brave new world where a long game of competitive chess was the light at the end of the tunnel. Then, a drive home where we could converse about our games and indulge in more general chess conversation. Once Ken Grogan picked myself and Marcus Dunne up for a match. On the way home I asked Ken ‘Is it difficult to concentrate on driving after your match?‘ Marcus interjected, ‘that’s a good question’, I was only 16. What should I know about driving, I wasn’t even old enough to get behind the wheel!

Through chess I learnt the importance of travel and how it broadened your horizons. It was -if you like- a perpetual night out. A ride away from the drudgery and monotony of daily life into the endless evening ahead. No one in my family took me anywhere ever, except to clinics, surgeries and hospitals. But where they stepped back, team mates stepped forwards.

It is the sense of occasion that chess offers which appeals the most. Chess is a game of calculation. We cannot follow our game thoughts so easily afterwards but mood we may remember still, especially mood both before and after the game. Those sentiments are not so easily lost and may stay with us five decades on, as mine have. The drive to the game. Those dark roads. The game play. The journey home. The companionship en route. The occasion and all it has to offer.

Mark John McCready, 0700, February 19th 2024, Al-Fursan, Dammam, KSA

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Everything dies

Posted in Life beyond the chess board, My own endeavours on February 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Well, after only 5 games, I am begrudgingly playing on for my county, then it stops… .

Yes, I probably will visit the Bangkok Chess Club in a fortnight but I won’t play much… .

No, I won’t enter the Bangkok Open in April… .

However, semi-retired is the future… .

Then we die… .

MJM

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ความเป็นสนิม (rustiness)

Posted in My own endeavours, My Own Games on February 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What sort of engine splutters? 1 full of rust! 8 months of no chess at all has been vanquished but even already I am taking my foot off the pedal. I played five games on-line with a 30 minute time control and won them all and have agreed to represent my county online in 2 games with a 3-day a move time limit. Alas I am regretting it already! And why’s that? Because its the sense of occasion that I cherish most of all, the social aspect of the game if you like, and of course, that is noticeably lacking with online chess. Is if that wasn’t enough, here’s a position from the 3rd win, just look at the obvious tactic I went and missed due to rustiness! (the title of the post is the Thai word for rustiness: ความ [kwam] state of mind/being, เป็น [pen] be สนิม [sanim] rust}.

Game 3 faux pax. Thinking I was winning, here I played 28. Kh1? What should I have played?

The best move is 28. Nxc5! winning material. Quite obvious really! That’s rustiness for you! Or is it me just being rubbish anyway?

Only a fortnight away…

Bangkok chess awaits once more, this time I intend to visit with Grace, my daughter, and will make videos that focus on the social aspects of chess rather than the play itself. I shall be there. You shall see. Videos to follow.

Mark. J. McCready, 03:50am, Wednesday February 7th

Al Fursan, Dammam, KSA

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The big bland seven

Posted in My own endeavours, Personal Interest & Experience on January 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Leighton Buzzard –  Nov 1988 Snow & Heavy Metal music (Iron Maiden)

Letchworth    -  Feb 1989 Set off in wrong direction & Nose bleeds

Islington     -  May 1989 Sunshine & Heavy Metal music (Acid Reign)

Hitchin      - 1989 – 1991 6 times & no great games

St. Albans     - April 1992 Unable to wake up & bad chess

Portsmouth    - Feb 1993 Solid chess & fond memories

Nottingham    – April 1995 No real interest in the tournament

Those are the places and dates I played tournaments in. Nothing to write home about.

MJM

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Accolades to be proud of…erm nope.

Posted in My own endeavours on January 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In the early to mid-90’s I achieved the following at my club:

  1. The only junior to represent East Anglia U-18. 1990.
  2. B – Team Captain for 6 years 1991.
  3. Best improver of the year award 1992.
  4. I became the club tournament organizer for years 1993.
  5. First player to write match reports for his team 1993.
  6. Club championship finalist 1994.
  7. I was moved up to the County A team 1994.
  8. Only player to represent England at draughts 1995.
  9. Only player to save the A team from relegation 1995.
  10. I took on and beat a former county champion with ease 1995.

So what is it I am not saying?

  1. I suffered with depression for most of that decade…
  2. I was poor tactically…
  3. I always fell into time trouble…
  4. I only talked about chess at the club…
  5. I was always scared of those with a higher rating than me…
  6. I took it all too seriously…
  7. I got bored of it all and stopped playing…
  8. I deliberately let fireworks off outside during a match once…
  9. I used to wear outrageous T-shirts + bandanna + DM boots with very long hair…
  10. I never paid for my own drinks at the bar…well very rarely did…

Oops!

Mark. J. McCready

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5 became 6 but 6 will not become 7

Posted in My daughter, My own endeavours on December 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

“Education is teaching our children to desire the right things.” Plato

One platitude I ascribe to is ‘Home is where the heart is’, and although I am so very proud of where I am from, unintentionally or otherwise, it stopped being home a long time ago; partly because year twenty-four of not living there is rapidly approaching, and partly because priorities change as we age whether we like it or not.

Chesswise I am most certain more years as an active member of Bangkok Chess Club (10-20 on & off) than Luton Chess Club (around 10) have now amassed. With many more friends based in Bangkok than its predecessor, I do see its chess club as my home club, and have done so for quite some time…you could say ‘somehow it just went that way’. Being housed in a pub is always an improvement as you can’t beat a cold pint of cider or six whilst you play OTB.

It’s been 6 months since I last played chess -no I don’t miss it. Online chess has been outlawed then got slapped with a lifetime ban. Yes I have even thought about stopping completely and giving the game up again, just like I did back in the 90s. But it is my every intention to take my daughter to Bangkok Chess Club on the fifth day of the next month. I want to see friends and socialize with them, and the more exposure my daughter has to chess the better. Most probably I will play her to see how much she remembers, as she has lost interest and become inactive. It might be the case that I just hang out, drink some cider, chat with friends and play no more than the odd game or two. However, I may elect to play in a blitz tournament though, and most probably will.

So I shall not go 7 months of no chess but its the overall experience of being amongst old friends that is important, and as mentioned, reacquainting my daughter with the game too: it has got nothing to do with wanting to play chess, which is not in play this time around. The arbiter, and old friend, who runs the club and organizes the Bangkok Open is the same person who employed my ex-wife -that’s how we met. He was instrumental in us hooking up, our child was soon to follow – and visit her in hospital when she was born he did. Had he not given me her mother’s details when I asked who she was at the chess club, there would be no Grace McCready. And that very place we played in then, is the same place we play in now. My heart is with my daughter and home is where the heart is -so I shall break my 6-month duck @Bangkok Chess Club, and my daughter gets to go to the very place where her father asked about her mother for the first time, and was given her contact details as a result -the rest is just history. Pics, videos and report to follow.

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The big smoke and the shy Lutonian

Posted in My own endeavours on October 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Deep in the darkest winter, when Covid came and ravaged the country, I was stuck indoors, unable to go out, unwilling to because it was so cold.

Under candlelight I played chess online for the team MK Phoenix, who participated in the London League, the 4NCL as it’s known.

But I grew up in little Bedfordshire, and there I played most of my chess. I knew of the London league back then because some of our league players played in it also, but only our very best. And so, I grew up weary of them, the prestige that league had, and never thought myself good enough to gain an invite for a team there.

But everything changed during lockdown and play in it online I did. I only played 5 games or so and scored 50%. Here is the final position from one of my games, the best of them I think.

Yes I am white and obviously I am winning. In the chat, my opponent said ‘well played’ at the end of the game. I never let him off the hook and held the initiative throughout.

Here is a link to the game itself. Division 7, round 4, you will need to scroll through the drop down menu.

https://www.4ncl.co.uk/replay/onlines3/round4.htm

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l’indimenticabile, il ritrovato, & l’artista

Posted in My own endeavours on July 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” — F. Nietzsche

Who said triangulating passions was ever easy? You trundle into town on the train to see one, behind it lies another, and going live a third oh how to play it… .

“Knowledge subverts love: in proportion as we penetrate our secrets, we come to loathe our kind, precisely because they resemble us.”
― Emil Cioran

Early Morning

I awoke this Sunday morning unsure of what I would do with the day. For only yesterday I had spent the whole day in ‘the big smoke’ escorting students around. And in case you are not aware, London is always heaving with tourists in the summer. Did I want another day of being swamped by them? As I lay in bed, it did not take more than an hour to decide I wanted to enter the city to watch the annual ChessFest unfold. I wasn’t sore from yesterday’s walk and it beat lazing around all day in bed. So some hours later I readied thyself for the eleven am train, two tickets, and a loss of £22.50… .

Late Morning

“Human behaviour flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge. “ — Plato

Roll out of bed I did. Roll into town too. Ze Beacon to be precise. Marks & Spencer’s even more so for two cheese and onion sandwiches priced £2.30 each. Then I did, fortuitously, bump into colleagues having breakfast shortly before boarding the train. The train, the journey. I closed my eyes for much of it. The train was empty, the journey quiet, noticeably uneventful… .

When I arrived at Victoria Station I enquired whether trains departed from there to Canterbury and if so how often. Then I walked to Trafalgar Square, it wasn’t far. I only had to cut across SW1, backstreets -the most famous of which being Buckingham Place- then onto the parks by the palace until the square came into site… .

Early Afternoon

“The problems are solved, not by giving new information, but by arranging what we have known long since.” – Wittgenstein.

The Chessfest at Trafalgar Square was in full swing when I arrived. But something seemed so wrong from the get go. How could it be so busy so early in the day? Were who I saw playing chess really chess players or just tourists in the vicinity at the current time? But much more importantly, how was I to be? Why exactly was I there? Yes I had concerns that the event would not live up to its billing but it wasn’t only about the chess. I also had Ze National Gallery within reach, and there was Ze Men’s Wimbledon Final to watch on my tablet too. Thought was required on how to triangulate those and squeeze them all in side-by-side so that they didn’t overlap… .

Before I had a look round I challenged some Chinese guy to a quick game. But he was rubbish and got himself mated early in the middle game. After a quick walk round with some pics taken, it became obvious that discovering a schedule for events was not possible and I also wasn’t sure exactly when the tennis started. I knew the programme for it started at two but thought the tennis itself started at three. I was wrong and tuned in early in the first set. Chess quickly took a backseat as I watched that first set play out on the steps to Ze National Gallery, in and amongst all those playing chess. With the first set over, I walked around some more, chatted occasionally and took more pics. Watching the tennis began on the steps in the square where I could keep an eye on the chess too but this proved to be far from ideal. Too much glare from the sun made viewing difficult so I crept into Ze National Gallery, planted myself down in from of some Turner masterpieces and watched the third set there. But that wasn’t enough. I had a walk round and saw Carvaggio as well as several others such as Monet, Friedrich and Pissaro. Tennis took over and only when sets were won would I leave the gallery and go and watch some chess… .

After the third set in the tennis, live chess was played in the square. I took an interest as seeing it was a first but I didn’t really like how it was done, so my interest didn’t last long. In the first game the play was paused as a quiz question was asked; namely, what is the name of the opening being played. It was I who answered correctly and enabled play to continue (The Sicilian Defence)… .

The tone of the afternoon was set: tennis, gallery, chess. Time passed fast, so fast. Soon it was close to a fifth set and the chess had barely an hour left. I decided to walk back to Victoria station so that I could watch the end of the match on the train, which I did -well done Alcaraz!

End of day.

Mark. J. McCready, 6.58pm, July 18th 2023,

Room 6, 114 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne.

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