GOING PROFESSIONAL IN CHESS...

The speaker participated in the Menorca Open, a challenging nine-round chess tournament in Spain. As one of the lowest-rated players, they were excited to compete against strong grandmasters and improve their game. In round one, they faced International Master Gansorig Amartuvshin, rated over 2400. The game began with the speaker playing d4, leading to a Nimzo-Indian defense. The opponent's early d6 move was unexpected, but the speaker felt confident with the white pieces. After some strategic thinking, including a 12-minute deliberation on whether to capture a pawn, the speaker opted for Bishop e2. They noted a surprising encounter with world chess champion Gukesh during their flight to Menorca, highlighting the high caliber of players in the region. The opponent eventually played d5, which the speaker decided to capture, aiming to play against an isolated pawn. The speaker felt some psychological pressure due to their opponent's fast play and their own longer thinking times. They made a quick move, Rook c1, which they later regretted, feeling they missed an opportunity to castle earlier and avoid potential tactical complications. The speaker then played Queen d3 to address several threats and prevent the opponent from pushing d4. After their opponent played Knight e4, the speaker castled, having spent a reasonable amount of time up to this point. The opponent's Bishop g4 move prompted a 10-minute thought process, as the speaker grew concerned about pins and the persistent threat of d4. They found themselves in a difficult position, wary of tactical pitfalls. After more deliberation, the speaker played Rook d1, followed by Knight d4, a move they spent 12 minutes on, feeling the pressure of their opponent's speed. The opponent then played Queen d6, and the speaker quickly moved Bishop e1, happy to secure their bishop. The opponent's Rook e8 led the speaker to believe they could win a pawn, making the unnecessary move Knight b5. This allowed the opponent to play Queen g6, placing their queen in a superior attacking position and targeting the speaker's king. The speaker felt nervous and believed they were losing, particularly after the opponent's Bishop a5, which threatened a fork and a pawn on f2. With 18 minutes left compared to their opponent's hour and five, the speaker found themselves in a seemingly lost position. However, they decided to relax and make the game as difficult as possible, calculating a saving line. After eight minutes of intense thought, the speaker found King h2, which they believed was the only move to avoid immediate loss. This move set up a series of exchanges that, if played correctly, would lead to a drawn endgame or at least a survivable position. The opponent's body language shifted, indicating their surprise and renewed focus, spending 11 minutes on their next move, Queen h6. At this point, the speaker realized they were back in the game, with the engine evaluating the position as equal. Despite seeing complex tactical lines, with only 10 minutes remaining, the speaker opted for the safe move King g1, followed by Queen b3, which was also the best move. This threatened two pawns, prompting the opponent to spend seven minutes before taking the knight on d4. The speaker decided to take back with the rook, aiming to keep all pieces under attack. After the opponent's Bishop c6, the speaker moved their knight back, planning to go to d4. Feeling more confident and making moves quickly, the speaker believed they had a chance to equalize. However, the opponent's Rook d6 was a smart move, bringing the rook into the attack and exploiting the speaker's dwindling time. The speaker made what they considered a significant mistake, missing the simple King f1, which would have allowed them to play Knight d4. Instead, they opted for Knight h2, with the plan of taking on d5 if the opponent played f5. The opponent did play f5, and the speaker played Bishop b4, which was apparently a blunder. The opponent responded with Queen h4, threatening the f2 pawn. The speaker played f4 to defend against the attack, but after Queen takes h3 (threatening checkmate), and Bishop f3, the opponent played Rook takes g2, a move the speaker completely overlooked. This led to a forced checkmate, which the opponent saw in less than 30 seconds, impressing the speaker with their tactical skill. Despite losing the game, the speaker was proud of their performance up until move 32, particularly their ability to recover from a worse position. They expressed enjoyment in competing in classical chess again and aimed to reach a FIDE rating of 2100 in the tournament. The speaker mentioned their mother, Grandmaster Pia Cramling, would be commentating on all rounds and encouraged viewers to follow their journey. The next day would involve two games, one in the morning and one in the evening.