Hot performance beats cold weather

To play or not to play the Parsvanath Delhi International Open 2017 was the big question, School Nationals at Nagpur gets over on Jan 7, back to Bangalore on 7'th late night. If we have to go to Delhi, then we have to leave on the 8'th. Had to weigh the pros and cons, cons being,

• School nationals itself is tiring with 3 matches per day over three days.

• Flights to Delhi were expensive, no point in going from Nagpur to Delhi directly, as cancellation charges are more than the flight tickets itself.

• Cold weather, this year especially Delhi is hit by a cold wave.

• Miss school for another two weeks.

• Hectic schedule, with 3 matches per day and two tournaments back to back.

Pros:

• It is a very prestigious tournament.

• Get to play two tournaments back to back.

• Lot of good players come from all over India and abroad.

• Happens only once in a year.

What the hell, booked the tickets and whatever happens happens. Next big task was hotel booking, criteria was should be close enough to the venue or to a metro station. Finally chose Hotel Hari Piorko, in Paharganj.

It was nice to meet couple of players from Bangalore in the Airport. Dint take the Airport express metro, instead took the taxi. Hotel was decent, but cramped rooms.

It was a daily routine, wake up, have a good breakfast, walk to New Delhi Metro, distance of over a km, take the Yellow Line to Kashmere Gate, walk another 600 m to the venue. Crowded Metros, that was a whole different experience from the metro in Bangalore. Delhi metro is 100 times bigger. Rajiv Chowk and New Delhi Metro stations are massive. Once we were caught for crossing the railway overbridge without platform tickets, metro tickets are not valid it seems, they let go knowing that the lil boy was a chess champ.

In terms of organization of the event, it was impeccable, catering to the 1000+ participants, their parents, everything was taken care of. There were even professional monkey chasers. One monkey did try to snatch a cover from my hand, but I dint let it go :)

First was Category B, for players rated below 2000. Arhan met almost all higher rated players, which is a dream scenario, cause in all the tournaments played so far, you meet 2-3 higher rated players. Arhan was mentioning that he had not played a foreign player, and as coincidence would have had it, first round opponent was from Turkmenistan. This tournament had 10 rounds instead of the regular 9 rounds, another added advantage.

People, especially from South India who are not used to the cold, could be seen in multiple layers of warm clothing.

It was a good tournament from Arhan with him increasing 62 ELO points and placing 3'rd in Under 9 category, thats not it, he got richer by Rs.8000. Best part, the money will be transferred online :)

Half a day break between the two tournaments, and was surprised to get a call from a primary school friend who I had not met or spoken over 3 decades. So took the metro ride to Gurugram to meet her and her kids. So it was an evening of running race, arcade games and pizza.

Category C, for players rated below 1600 started, and we could see it taking the toll on couple of kids who caught cold and fever.

Another tournament that went for Arhan, this time he increased by 80 ELO points, got 2'nd in Under 9 category, and cash prize of Rs.10,000.

We could not wait any longer, skipped the prize distribution ceremony and headed back to home sweet home.

Great start to the year, 3'rd in School Nationals, 3'rd and 2'nd in Delhi Open Category B and C, increased ELO by 142 points!!!