I remember my 1st Tourney well.  It was back in Elementary School, I was in the fifth grade.  There really was not much competition except for one guy, his name was Karnik.  Karmik was from Checoslovaquia he did not speak much english but he did well in math and boy could he play chess.  I have a big ego and a strong drive that is fueled by low self-esteem, there was no way that I could allow myself not to take first place.  Not much has changed since then, I get offended when some one sit across from me in an OTB Tourney.  That is my fuel.