My First OTB (Over-the-Board) Tournament Experience

I still remember the scent of wood polish and the echo of clocks ticking. My first over-the-board (OTB) tournament was an emotional rollercoaster. After playing online for so long, sitting across from a real person added a whole new layer of pressure—and excitement.

I forgot how to castle in my first game (yes, really), but by round 3, I was starting to feel the rhythm. The tension, the atmosphere, and the sportsmanship were all real. I walked away with a few losses, a couple of wins, and one very important takeaway: OTB chess pushes you to grow in ways online games can’t.