I have a beautiful daughter that was born a few weeks ago.  Around the time that she was conceived, there began a chess tournament around these parts that some of you may remember.  It was called the 3rd Chess.com Thematic Tournament Reversed Sicilian 1600-1800, or some such.  Some of you may be old enough to remember.

There is a game from round one of this tournament that is still plodding along with infinite seriousness, not unlike Jarndyce v. Jarndyce in Dickens's Bleak House.  You can look it up here.  The rest of us forgot long ago that we might have won our brackets, and have moved on to other tournaments, other careers, other lives.  But grow not weary my friends, and faint not; our once thriving tournament will bloom again in springtime, like the lemon tree.  

Dear banjoman,

So enjoyed your erudite comments. I had the misfortune of enlisting in Mr. Wallyjack's tournament that began on July 25. At this breathtaking moment, I am waiting for Mr. Newgame's King to capture Mr. Latvian Gambit's Queen and Rook so that I may, hopefully, move on to round two. As I am of advanced age, I have instructed my heirs that if I decease before said round is commenced that they are entitled to all they can get from Mr. Wallyjack, the wonderful TD(thanks so much for answering my emails?!).

Congratulations! Daughters are precious.

Cheers,

Stephen Chapman

. 

great point elegantly made.

I have something similar in a torney where someone has gone on vacation after playing just 1 or 2 games. In for a long slog me thinks.

TD