Journey of progress : Part 1

When it comes to OTB chess, I think I play just like a 2200 man, but when I play online, everything changes! I recently, or a few months ago, played standard chess at my highest and finest form, for which I'm proud but nonetheless culpable of the outcome. I'm referring to the state chess championship, which is a major accomplishment for me! (This may still be typical for other players, though!) But when you compete in the first district-level competition, get promoted, and then almost reach the national level due to a tiny distinction... Yes, a very heartbreaking victory was stolen by just 0.5 points. I'm sorry, but I don't have a record of the games. Nevertheless, I'd want to describe as accurately as I can the situations, atmosphere, and stress at that time as well as how it was handled. However, tiebreakers tore my route.

Phase 1: District Level

Well, once you reach 1850 blitz (about 1750 quick), you may argue that this level is simple, but STILL, as my buddies made clear to me, you shouldn't underestimate the players. And I could see how much they expected from me, which gave me a little inspiration because I didn't want to let them down. Oh yes, I simply forgot to mention a significant turn, which caused me to become even more tense than usual. At the time of the selection, I was a new student at the school, so naturally, no one knew my abilities. They encouraged me to register in the U-19 group after I told them about my prior accomplishments, but I just resisted! Yes, how does a U-14-year-old possess their level of experience... I made sure that since I had complete faith in myself, this wouldn't stop my limitations.

Now that everything was planned, I got ready and went to the school where it would be hosted.
Our pairings began and were displayed outside the hall after 30 minutes.
I recall, that the seating was organized in a linear fashion, so there were three rows that continued until the end of the room, with each row being to a different category.
Additionally, the tables were set up in such a manner that there were no clocks after 20 boards in each category or row. This meant that for players who didn't play well as the rounds kept going by.

Games:-

Since I won my first game on board number three, I made it my goal to exclusively play on the top five boards as the competition progressed. He had a higher standard than me in terms of age, which had to happen, and he had a tendency to laugh a little too much. He was also a little bit too concentrated.
He was a state-level player and would undoubtedly win this tournament, according to the jokes that some passersby made (which at the moment sounded true to me). I started to feel a little nervous and decided that this wouldn't be of any assistance to me.
My second game too was very easy and I think he was very nervous which made his game even poorer in position than it was....
Now, as the tourney was progressing, the level of competition started becoming tough as the winners would progress to State-level competition. I think this game was the one that made my perspective of this tournament even clearer.
In my third round, the opponent was tough, but not very, but as the game progressed, I realized I'm taking things very easy then..... Below I remember something like this position and I found myself really lost in the game......

Just then, he touched e4 bishop and it was just a game-changing moment for me! As you know, in OTB, when a piece is touched, you have to move that and then the game was lost for him... My heartbeat was so high and then I took on things in a different way.

How I overcame it:-
I drank some water and, hopefully, had my airdopes with me, so I simply chilled out and chatted with friends about things other than chess while listening to music. In my opinion, if you're under pressure and try to overcome it, you need to briefly forget where you are and refresh your thoughts.
And hopefully, that was a big help to me!

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The competition got stiffer after fleeing from a big-mouth shark. I realised it would be a grave error on my part to simply follow my own course of action without carefully considering and attempting to comprehend the OP's position.

At the same time as I was preparing to play in the fourth round, my teammates were struggling greatly because they lacked experience and positional understanding. I got the impression that they needed some inspiration to help stoke a little of their confidence. I simply advised them to play the moves rather than only looking at them. First, consider the move to determine whether it won't bother you or have an impact on your pressure during the game. Most importantly, just have faith in yourself to put yourself one step ahead of your rival.

I remember I became too concentrated in 4th round that I easily spotted some tactics and clearly bundled out my opponent!

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Heading towards spikes:-

There were to be 6 rounds in total, and as the rounds went on, there were fewer players in the top positions who had identical scores. In entering the 5th round, the games of "chess" began to be on a high level! I wish there was a video shooter, you guys would be just amazed as I believe it was the best game I ever played in my career at that time! The game was so tense that in the hall, all the other players had completed their games and had left and our board was the only one that lasted for 30 more minutes after everyone had left. If I believe, this game lasted above 1 hour!
If I clearly remember, we both had very fewer pawns on the board, with him having rook and queen on my side as the area was open, which was the same as the OP's too, and as he was white, he was building pressure again and again with his moves. Luckily, I think, my brain was working so well at that time that I, not easily I would say, was able to escape them. The game was almost drawn, but I think, he was so eager to win that he made a blunder and I had the last laugh...!

I could hear many individuals in the waiting area saying my name when I received a 5/5 score. It was a very proud moment for me to see how quickly a local celebrity who no one knew before rose to fame! Since I didn't have a coach from the beginning of my chess career because my school only had coaches for outdoor games (with the exception of table tennis), my sir, a professional badminton coach who came with me, told me, "You're doing a terrific job and have almost qualified for State Level!" Since no one had a score of 5, and I had already qualified for the State level, my final game wasn't crucial, but then to, as I had a streak, I wanted to continue it till the last too!

My last game was with a person ( a 12th-standard student ) which didn't matter to me as I knew my abilities which I had shown them before in the previous games. I was accompanying the board no. 1, and my neighbors who knew me well, but I didn't them, were having very crucial matches as only the Top 5 would qualify and their scores were also very identical, i.e. 5 followed by 4, 31⁄2, 3, 3 and 3. As he had reached this level, my opponent appeared to have a solid understanding of the game and was a very pleasant and sincere person. We played a very intense game, but honestly, I don't think I played it as well as I did the last one because I feel like I didn't give this game my whole attention. The majority of the time, the game was still tied, but I made a mistake in the next position due to my lack of focus.

Instead of advancing pawns and strengthening my position, I played Rcd1, which after pressing the clock, I realized was a drowning move for me. I didn't make any reaction at that time but it was too late. He observed it and quickly attacked with his bishop and I lost both the rooks. Still, I didn't allow him to escape and capture my pawns easily because they were structured in such a way that he wasn't able to find a way for 15 moves... Still, I wasn't able to continue the defense for a long time and I resigned... The most awkward moment, for "me" wasn't the game, but the reaction that the coach and the teammates of my OP gave as soon I shook the hands, they just screamed out in joy and were jumping! I could feel what this meant for them!

The reaction of my friends/family...

I really didn't want to end on this note and my supporters were also unable to swallow that I lost, especially a guy, who was immediately next to my board, was just shocked when he got to know this. Ending with a loss after having so many wins is in my opinion bad rather than losing one and winning all the others in the last... I was really frustrated about my loss but couldn't blame others for it too... My mates praised and applauded me for my performance and I thanked them... I knew I had qualified but still, the loss was roaming in my mind...! Had I not moved that rook so I was saved! My parents came to pick me up on the spot after the tournament ended as it was almost mid-afternoon and returning to school would have made me more tired.

Conclusion of a rememberable day!

This tournament made me understand a lot of things!

• Don't just think that you can't defeat people bigger than you. Age is just a number! It has to do nothing with the sport or the field!
• Just have faith in yourself as your heart sometimes says things that later on get proven to be true...
• Do talk with new people, because you make new friends and it gives a new experience which gets registered in your memory forever!
• Most importantly, don't give up or get too overconfident as sometimes, it can be an enemy of yours too...
• Always keep motivating your friends as even one word of praise could light up their expectations to overcome their situations!

Well, this was the District Level which was a very rememberable page in my journey of chess! The result was declared a few days after, and as it was clear, I was qualified for STATE LEVEL CHAMPIONSHIP. The journey at the State level was an even more rememberable and good one as they were one of the best days in my life!
This journey changed my perspective of chess a lot as it helped me to see things in really a different way and was also a task for me because it was the first time I was on a journey without my parents.....
There, I got to know my district-level mates more clearly! These days were the days of fun, tense, joy, excitement, tiredness, bondings, and at the same time, emotional too!
So guys, will meet you in the next blog where I'll tell you my experience of one of the best days and at the same time, competition of chess at its high level!

Thanks for reading this blog! Comments would be appreciated a lot!