At Ilkla Chess Festival Baht' at (part 1)

Last weekend marked my return to OTB competitive chess after about a 35 year absence. I've been playing here for a couple of years (mostly daily chess) and also IRL in the newly formed Settle Chess Club, but only fairly casual quick games there and nothing at standard time controls. Ilkley Chess Festival is a new venture and rather conveniently located for me. 

I didn't have much of a clue how good I was, as a schoolboy I was rated about 1450 at best, I'm 1900 here in daily (with opening databases) but 1600 in rapid/blitz. So I entered the Intermediate (U-1750) and hoped to be in the top half.

FIrst match I was white against a young(er) female opponent, standard QGD:

At which point I decided I'd had enough. Not the start I'd been hoping for.

Saturday I started black on the bottom board of my division, in the far corner of the venue in a cupboard behind the aspidistra. Well ok it wasn't that bad, just a bit draughty close to the door. 

Saturday afternoon I was black again, around the middle of the table with 1 point out of 2. I played the St George again, felt I had equalised and was pushing for a win....

Part 2 to follow...