The Wellsburg Open 2016 - Part 1

"What is your greatest fear?" is a question psychoanalyzing interrogators in espionage series have tried to answer in an effort to force secret agents to reveal their nation's secrets.  The past year has made me wonder if mine is an aversion for lateness.   For months I've had dreams (or shall we say, nightmares) about starting the first round of the Wellsburg Open 15 minutes late.  No one told me that would be a side-effect of tournament organizing.

Late 2015 I decided to host the Wellsburg Open again.  In January I booked the Wellsburg Reformed Church as the venue, posted announcements, and sent invitations to the masters in the surrounding states.

Tournament Prep

Online registration was implemented.  I raised the early entry fee $5 from last year, and added lunch and refreshments as complementary features.  (Last year we had a lower entry fee--but charged for concessions).

Based on players' hydration preferences last year, I didn't buy any soda pop; instead, I stocked up on bottled water.  We also cut down a little on the candy bars, and offered more oranges, apples, and bananas.  

Last year we served Casey's pizza--and had a *lot* of leftovers.  Deciding what to serve this year was tough.  Wednesday, my mom (Betty Carson) suggested soup and sandwiches, and since the forecast predicted cooler weather, I decided to go with her suggestion.   

So...I went shopping and spent part of Friday peeling potatoes and whipping up box cakes (Generally I would add a "muhahaha" at the mention of my cooking--as I am one of the few people talented enough to have burned soup before--but with some life-saving help from my dear mother, it worked out.)

My mom kindly agreed to make sandwiches and run the kitchen, serving lunch.  Charity agreed to serve as house player, to make sure no one had to sit out due to odd numbers.  Daniel said he'd help as assistant TD.  Ackley's former mayor, Jim Daggs, loaned me extra tables for the skittles room.  My papa, Tim Carson, loaded/unloaded them in his pickup.  And both of my sisters agreed to help out with photography.  We were set!

The First Round

We arrived at the church at 7:15 to set up.  Registration opened at 8:00, and at around 8:15, the first players arrived.  Most everyone had pre-registered, and the majority had prepaid.  This made everything super-easy: they basically just had to say hi to let me know they were there.  The next time I remember checking the time, it was 8:45.  

I posted the pairings at about 8:50, thanked everyone for coming...and said "You may start your clocks" at 9:00!  Ahhh...the ineffable relief and happiness of successfully starting on time!

Senior TD Hank Anzis (who blogs at Broken Pawn), wasn't available to help with the directing this year--and I had worn myself out directing and playing last year with his help--so I had decided not to play in the tournament.  

However, one pre-registered player did not show up for his game, which left his opponent--who had travelled four hours up from Missouri--with an hour to wait to claim the forfeit win.  Since I really do prefer playing myself, I asked the opponent (Jeff McMillen, 1426), if he'd be up to an extra rated game.  He obliged.

Since I was 281 points higher-rated, I figured I would easily win.  He opened with the French Defense, which I somewhat dislike (Why can't everyone play the Sicilian?).  My development was slow, but by move 13, I was satisfied that his development was even slower than mine.

That satisfaction didn't last for long.  I blundered with 15. a3 (better was Rc1), and lost a pawn due to a discovered attack on my queen.  Dazed by McMillen's insidious tactics, I didn't even consider the irrefragably beautiful tactic I missed by playing  20. b4.  If I had gone with 20. Rxc4, I could have won an entire piece with 20...dxc4 21. d5 Qd8 22. Bg5 0-0 23. Bxf6!

The game should have been drawable, but the situation went from bad to worse when McMillen's queen made inroads on my kingside; I faltered under his unrelenting attack.  Lesson learned: watch out for upset-minded Missourians!  

Stay tuned for Part 2!