My first Amateur Tata Steel Chess 2020

I'm usually not good at storytelling, so I'll be very brief. Last year I moved to the Netherlands and found out there is also an amateur section at Tata Steel Chess tournament. Since any point in the Netherlands is basically accessible by train within a few hours, I decided to make a weekend trip to the Atlantic coast and combine it with the most famous chess tournament. 

There is a quote on the wall in the playing hall, saying "Normal people have to see Naples before they die... but a Chess Grandmaster has to win Wijk aan Zee first." - Bent Larsen. I think, for us chess amateurs, just participating is enough - but still a must before you die.

I participated in a Weekend-three-round event (Weekendvierkamp). Players are grouped into four by approximately similar ratings, and then you have a mini-tournament within the big one. Three days (Fri-Sat-Sun), 3 games. Very simple. A few (or 10, 20) meters away, 28 strong GMs are also playing their own games. Quite fascinating to see everything in live!

Alright, I'll just give the link to the group where I played, then we're off to the games:

https://www.tatasteelchess.com/players/amateurs/tournaments/2020/weekend/7/11/788

Really unfortunate start, especially after missing the draw in the endgame. Now I was worried I'll finish the tournament with 0/3, so I set a goal of at least 50%.

Finally! One more round, hopefully a strong finish.

Finished the tournament with +1-1=1 and 50%, so I can't be too unhappy. Repeating next year, perhaps soon the 9-round event as well!