Magnus Carlsen GIVES UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

 Yeah, so this isn't really news anymore... Carlsen announced that he will no longer be defending his World Chess Championship title over a week ago.  I thought it was a bit of an insult to the chess community, but I realized that he shouldn't have to play if his heart isn't in it anymore.  Carlsen stated that it is simply an issue of motivation.  He doesn't care if he wins the Championship for a sixth time or not.  He did make it clear however that he is still going to chase his goal of reaching 2900 ELO.  If he does this, it will be the first time in chess history.  

I was never really a big fan of Carlsen, but this still disappointed me a bit.  This guy is five years younger than me, and if he is losing his chess passion what does that say for me now that I am coming up on 40.  I don't even have the National Master title.  I don't even think I should pursue it any more.  I'm probably just wasting my GD time.  I'm too old.  

This is life.  It's like they say, "all good things come to an end".  When I hear of the word "nostalgia",  I immediately think of the 1990's.  I was so happy.  

I played a game of chess today for the first time in a few days.  I haven't really been interested much because of my thoughts regarding the Carlsen thing.  

It was a wild game, and I made one final blunder in the endgame that sealed my fate.  

WHAT ON EARTH POSSESSED ME TO PUSH MY a-pawn UP ONE SQUARE                         (move 42 ...)!!!!!!!!!???????????????????????????

 [Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.08.04"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Aaapl"]
[Black "ShallowCal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "8/8/8/PK6/1p3k2/8/P7/8 b - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C26"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Falkbeer-Variation"]
[UTCDate "2022.08.04"]
[UTCTime "04:38:35"]
[WhiteElo "1738"]
[BlackElo "1531"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "Aaapl won by resignation"]
[StartTime "04:38:35"]
[EndDate "2022.08.04"]
[EndTime "05:35:56"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/53326798697"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. f4 Nc6 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Nf3 d6 8. Qe2
dxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Bf4 Qb4 11. O-O-O Qxf4+ 12. Kb1 Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Rxd5
Ne3 15. g3 Qe4 16. Rd3 Bc5 17. Bg2 Qa4 18. Rxe3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 O-O-O 20. Ng5 Nd4
21. b3 Nxc2 22. Bh3+ Kb8 23. bxa4 Nxe3 24. Nxf7 Rhf8 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. e6 Re8
27. Re1 Nd5 28. Kb2 c5 29. Rf1 Ne3 30. Rf7 g5 31. e7 Kc7 32. Be6 Kd6 33. Bb3 c4
34. Bc2 Nxc2 35. Kxc2 Rxe7 36. Rxe7 Kxe7 37. Kc3 Kd6 38. Kxc4 Ke5 39. Kd3 h5 40.
h3 h4 41. gxh4 gxh4 42. Ke3 a6 43. a5 Kf5 44. Kf3 Kg5 45. Ke4 Kg6 46. Kf4 Kf6
47. Kg4 Ke5 48. Kxh4 Kf4 49. Kh5 Kf5 50. h4 Kf6 51. Kg4 Kg6 52. Kf4 Kh5 53. Ke5
Kxh4 54. Kd6 Kg4 55. Kc7 b5 56. Kb6 Kf4 57. Kxa6 b4 58. Kb5 (58. Kb5 Ke4 59. a6
b3 60. axb3 Kd3 61. a7 Ke3 62. a8=Q) 1-0

NOTICE:
it turned out... my opponent only had 7 seconds left on his clock when I resigned.  Yes, I would have won if I just played on.  

always be aware of BOTH YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT'S time

Quick fyi:  

word on the street is that chess streamers are fading out/quitting.

Another fyi:

Bill Wall has possibly the most extensive chess website in the World.  His article on Bobby Fischer is DEEP

BILL WALL'S CHESS PAGE  (Google it, I don't want to provide the link because it is not currently secured,  For the consideration of my readers, I never link to websites that are not secured),  

There will be another day!

- Lizzi

 

Passion

How much easier life would be if I loved mastering what would earn me a lot of money... if I loved studying something that would get me somewhere.  I like chess, foreign languages wildlife - my three passions!  I've actually been making some recent progress with chess after all these years.  I used to have to force myself to study tactics, now I practice with Chesscom's tactics trainer for fun as well as to improve my game, and I am making fast progress.  My current Puzzle rating on Chesscom is 2300+ ...been climbing the ranks over the past few months.  In the past, I would try it for a few weeks, and if I didn't notice any improvement, I would quit.  Now, I've stuck with it and it has paid off... a lot.  But, you've have to be playing as well, and you have to be studying other books - study anything by Jeremy Silman.  You really need to go at it from all angles.  You'll improve if you do this, I promise.  I'm almost middle aged and am still getting stronger!  This applies to all else outside of chess, as well!  I studied French for Dummies over the Summer (2020).  I thought, I'll read this and then be a Francophone.  No, it doesn't work like that.  Again, you have to go at it from all angles!  I needed to be practicing the French I was studying and watching more movies en Francais.  And studying other French books whilst studying French for Dummies.  

"Chess demands total concentration and LOVE for the game" - Bobby Fischer

I think, perhaps, if we start studying something we love then all the studying we're are doing will help us become even more passionate.  I once had a friend from Italy who told me to find my passion for the game (chess).  He advised me to find my lost love again for chess.  I may have mentioned this in an earlier post... but yes, I think I have.  I just started playing more and thinking about chess more out of my own will and now the passion is back.  No, no quite what is was as when I was a teenager, but it's certainly there again.  

So, apply all of this to French?  Perhaps..  The seed is already there I just need to water it.  Work, come home, study chess, study French, watch a movie en Francais, go to bed, repeat.

I don't have time for women.  They will hold me back.  Nothing against women, I'm just not really a lover boy.  I've said this before (not here but to others in the past).

I need a job, first.. doiiiiiiiii !!!  Hmm...  I can't sit around this all day and do nothing but study.  I'll go insane!  I already feel like a p.o.s. for being a bum.  Not sure, what kind of work to do right now.  I would deliver pizzas first, but my car is not holding up very well.  **** fast food!  Maybe I'll bag groceries or something.  Making money online through web-publishing and what not is too hard!  I tried building an online brand over the years, but no one really gave two sh*ts about what i had to say.  I wanted to be a Youtube star jajajajaja  Every Youtuber does...   

There will be another day!

- Lizzi