Such is the strength and depth at Kenilworth these days, that it is practically a FIDE law that no international event should go ahead, without a minimum of four Kenilworth players in the field. Fortunately for the organisers, myself, Bruce, Steph and Patrick were all available for today's Birmingham International Blitz.
The start of the day was a little random. I spent a while stood outside a locked gate with a gaggle of other players, as we weighed up what to do. Fortunately, someone vaguely practical amongst us suggested that we should try and go round the back. We did, and found ourselves in the venue! Things were still a bit unorthodox, as the organiser was probably the last person to arrive, but we soon got down to the fastest eleven round blitz (3 and 2) event I have ever participated in. Bar one 5 minute break, we literally played back to back. Having started at 10.30, we were done before 1.00.
As a collective, we did really well! Bruce came 2nd with 9/11. I was 4th with 7/11. Patrick 5th with 6.5 and Steph was 8th with 5.5. (Before any bright spark asks the question, there were 19 players in the field.) We also had a bit of blue on blue along the way. Bruce won a good game against me and also beat Patrick. Steph and Patrick drew. I think we definitely would have given the spectators their money's worth, had there been any.
The tournament was won by IM Mahadevan Siva with 11/11. He actually played all four of the Kenilworth contingent. Mahadevan told me afterwards that each of the games against Kenilworth players had pushed him to the outer-limits of his chess knowledge. OK he did not really say this, but we can but dream that this is what he was thinking!
So a fun (half) day out, and a good showing by the Kenilworth crew. If we carry on like this, FIDE will probably insist on even more of us being present at events like these!
