Packed and ready

Just a part of the luggage we are bringing to the tournament.
We had a good travel, and did safely arrive.

We met E’s friend S who is a bit nervous for the coming days. Last year he won the highest amateur group, and therefore he is allowed playing in the Challengers group with the ‘big players’. He could earn a Grandmaster norm when he wins 5 or 6 games or so. When you have 3 of those norms and a rating high enough you become Grandmaster. There is one higher group this tournament. The World Champion is playing in that group. And when you win the Challengers group you are allowed to play in that highest group the next year to! This Masters group and Challengers group both are filled with invited players for the other places.

So S is being nervous for a reason. E is the second of S and therefore also allowed to go to the official opening with S. After the opening they know in which order they are playing against who, and then the hard work really starts. Figuring out which kind of game the opponent is playing and what to do against that. And until E’s own tournament starts that is part of E’s job to find out.