This report is to describe my experience at the Chicago Open in 2003. At first I wasn't planning on going to the Chicago Open but I quickly changed my mind. As many of my friends know, I am a fast player and I like to play fast games. That is one reason I played in the 2-day schedule (I also had to do homework the day before). I was mystified by the tournament. My first round I won easily because my opponent was hanging pawns. He was 1785. My second game was neck to neck and then my opponent blundered and soon resigned. He was 1781. My third game my opponent got into time trouble and blundered. His rating was 1720. My fourth game I played a friend and fellow sparring partner Timothy Moroney who is rated 1770. This time I got the best of him and he was caught in a mating net and he lost. My fifth game was against a 1796 player who played the white side of a French-advance transposition from the Sicilian. He got caught in a trap and later gave up. My 6th game comes with a story. My opponent Mark Sicotte was over an hour late and I had the choice between a forfeit win and playing the game with an hour off his time. I decided to play him because I wanted the experience, the rating points and it was the right thing to do. I admit that I played for complications to make him think but in the end he was happy I gave him the chance. I also won that game. At 6-0, the lone top scorer in my section I had the choice between a win and a draw for at least first place. If I lost I was guaranteed at least $950. Even though I lost blunderfully I was glad to have the experience and the money under my "belt". I was interviewed by Jerry Hanken and my rating hopefully might go over 1800.

Thanks for Reading,
Kayin Barclay