Chess Update:
I took 1st place in another big chess tournament with 2 wins and 2 draws. As the top player in my section, I actually lost a bit of rating points, but I did get some prize money and I had a lot of fun.
Here is my best game from the tournament where I squeezed my opponent into a strategically horrible position and then topped it off with a nice tactic. After that, it just took a bit of mopping up and he finally resigned.
Whoa. I just met a random person who turned out to be a fan of my gamebooks. That’s the first time that’s ever happened to me.
Chess Update:
I just had a fantastic tournament tonight, scoring 2 wins and 1 loss in the Christmas Open. My games took a total of 5 hours, so I was exhausted by the end, but it was worth it. Not only did I have a lot of fun, but my classical rating reached a new peak, and my rapid rating increased as well.
My third game, against a 1700, was probably one of my favorite games yet. Although my opponent was rated 211 points higher than me, I obliterated him. He ended up losing on time, and I was up 4 points of material with a vastly superior position. Plus, I still had 48/60(!!!) Minutes left on my clock. I basically outplayed him on the white side of a Reti and then won material with several nice tactics.
You can view the game here, where I’ve added some commentary: https://www.chess.com/blog/Mastersamuelhyoung/i-got-2-3-points-in-the-christmas-open-reached-new-classical-rating-peak . I hope you enjoy!
So for 2017, I have two big new year’s resolutions that I want to complete before 2018:
1.) I want to finish and submit my third interactive novel to Choice of Games.
2.) I want to get my United States Chess Federation classical rating to 1800+, which would put me in the 92nd percentile or so, and in the “advanced” category.
Hey, for that Chess master novel, I think you should check out a manga called Sangatsu no Lion. Since it’s Japanese, it’s about Shogi instead of chess, but it’s really good. I think you may be able to gain inspiration from some of the more character-based parts.
Thanks! I’ll certainly check it out.
Yesterday, I took 1st place (along with 4 others) in the Under 1600 section of the New Year Bash chess tournament with 3 wins and 1 draw. As well as earning some prize money, I also had a lot of fun and reached a new peak classical rating of 1527 (+15), and my rapid rating increased as well, to 1522 (+3). You can view my highest quality game here, where I’ve added some commentary: https://www.chess.com/blog/Mastersamuelhyoung/i-took-1st-place-in-the-under-1600-section-of-the-new-year-bash
What is in the cylinders? It looks like an excitingly blue alcoholic beverage on the rocks, but that can’t be right.
I thought that looks like those weird beverages Kirk always drink with sexy aliens.
Those might have been vases with marbles in them or something.
it looks like ice in a blue liquid to me, but than again, it could be spare chess pieces or whre you put the captured pieces so they don’t get lost.
No, they’re just glasses that were already there at the hotel.
It’s good that we’re getting at the most important aspect of your triumph! Congratulations, by the way!
Me being congratulated by the tournament director for sharing 1st place with four others in the under 1600 Section of the New Year Bash chess tournament back in January. I had 3 wins and 1 draw. I reached a new peak classical rating of 1527 (+15), earned a cash prize, and had a lot of fun!
Over the weekend, I played the best tournament of my life, getting 4/5 points in the Under 1700 section of the Mid America Open, with wins against a 1695, 1602, and 1409, and draws against a 1622 and 1612. I earned a small cash prize and reached a new peak rating of 1647 (+97).
Not only that, but I had a lot of fun, I learned a lot from each game, and I played one of my best games ever in round 5. You can view my games and read more about the tournament on my blog:
After not writing for 7 months straight, I just wrote again for 9 hours in a row and it felt gooood. Expect a bigly update for Foundation of Nightmare’s demo sometime today!
I just want to send you my best wishes, no matter what you decide to do.
Wow! What provided you with the impetus to write after a long hiatus?
I think it’s mainly that I just love this story and want to get it out of my brain. 
