State chess tournament!

So for a fun new twist of things, ill be putting the handshake photo before every round so you can get an idea of the scenery.

Anyways, we are back! Tourney #2 of the year, I went in with a 1506 rating in the u2000 section... as the 36/37 highest rated player so well, no expectations besides going in and playing my best chess.

The game went on for another 10 moves before I checkmated him. We are now 1/1 on day 1/3. Tomorrow (or yesterday as of writing this) I would have 3 more rounds to go, so its nice to end on a good note.

Well that was brutal, I learned a lot from the game and I was happy to have the opportunity to fight hard enough to make him have to struggle to not draw the game! 1/2 thus far into round 2.

Well ladies and gentlemen, another 1800. This was bound to be another brutal battle, right?

I managed to snag a 98% accuracy, a brilliant move, and my best win ever! I was in shock at this game, but I was very proud.

                                 Up against someone my rating now! This would seem like an easy win... however in the previous round he had also upset defeated an 1800, so this may not be as easy as it seemed.

Annoying, but 2.5/4 with a big win at state is great! I have a few lessons to take away from this game which I will impart after.

After the game my opponent indirectly accused me of cheating, he remarked that all of my moves felt too perfect and that he was playing an engine, and that there was nothing he could do. The engine itself disagrees... No offense to him but he simply played nonsense in the nadjorf, and I played what I was taught, which was to attack him. But this took some joy out of my round 5 win nontheless. 3.5/5 score going into round 6.

Before this I must say my opponent was a super awesome dude to meet and chat with, and if he is reading this, thanks for the game! (he is also the best person I have ever faced otb)

In simple terms, I got my ass kicked, but in all fairness to both of us I surprised him and he completely messed it up, which I proceeded to mess up myself. Haha oh well.

To summarize the tournament, I had an average of 84% or so accuracy, which I'm proud of. I performed like a 1730, and I likely am around 1570 or so after! Wack tournament from high highs to being accused of cheating. But im just glad to compete. 

Ill put down my top 3 lessons I learned from this tournament and how I can apply them moving onwards:

1. Sometimes the obvious move is the best one, if an obvious move seems bad at first, go a few moves deeper before you put it aside.

2. Study your lines! Especially super sharp ones that you proceed to play against an expert player.

3. Be objective in endgames and in any position, sometimes it requires you to lose a pawn or something, but dont under or oversell your chances. Just objectively and seriously calculate your options until you are certain.

Until next time! Adios,

Owen.