Chess Train 2014 — day one: Prague-Vienna: The chess dog
In the presidential salon of the Prague main railway station everything looks almost the same as a year ago. I recognize many familiar faces from the previous edition of the Train. Train arrangement is the same, too, so one can safely concentrate on breakfast. During breakfast I notice a beautiful big dog resting at his owners’ feet.
The Chess Train waiting for the locomotive
After breakfast traditional speeches are given by Pavel Matocha and representatives of main sponsors:
Right to left: Pavel Matocha (chairman of the Prague Chess Society [Pražská šachová společnost]), Pavel Krtek (deputy CEO of the Czech Railways [České dráhy]), Dr. Antonín Blažek (General Director of the Railway Research Institute [Výzkumný Ústav Železniční]), the translator
Then we proceed to the platform, only to see the new Chess Train locomotive in blue-white livery approaching the train and being christened by no less than three bottles of champagne — a royal treatment indeed. The Train sets off to Vienna.
The locomotive enters the platform and is subsequently christened
In the first round I play black against Dr. Holger Ohst from Cologne. My opponent fairly quickly captures my knight, I don’t lose my spirits right away, though, since it seems to me that with more time on the clock and relatively solid position I can hope for some miraculous draw, but Dr. Ohst soon shatters my hopes.
Dr. Holger Ohst, to whom I lost in the first round
The second round is even more ruthless. Dr. Günter Hälsig, whom I managed to draw a year ago, swiftly collects a point after my careless play.
On its way to Vienna the Train stops for some twenty minutes in Břeclav, the border station. Seeing the dog on the platform, I approach the owners and take some pictures of Jake (I am not sure of Czech spelling of the dog’s name).
Jake the chess dog at his loveliest
A short stop in Břeclav. The smiling gentleman in front of the engine is Mr. Gerhard Braun, the oldest male participant of the tournament
Board 36 awaiting the third round...
...in which I played black against the charming Ms. Taťána Šeráková. Luckily, I was able to save half a point
After lunch I learn that my opponent in the third round will be Ms. Taťána Šeráková, to whom I unluckily lost a year ago. This time I concentrate harder on my play. My opponent suffers from poor time management; in time pressure she makes a mistake that I exploit to secure a draw:
When we reach Vienna, it is becoming dusk. My hotel is quite far from the railway station, so when I finally check in, I am too tired to think about any active sightseeing. Instead I decide to take a walk around the district to find some decent restaurant. “Die Metzgerei” on Linzer Strasse turns out to be a great success. Accompanied by Mr. Braun, I consume a delicious beef schnitzel. The wine (Merlot) is also excellent.
Later, in the hotel room, I watch Carol Reed’s “The Third Man”.
To be continued.
