Who has seen or played GMs in real life ?? chess events photos

posting a few photos of GMs I could watch ( and sometimes play online)

please post the photos of events youattended or played !

one time a GM went to my chess club and there was a raffle for the people who got to play him in the simul. But I didn't get to play because I didn't win the raffle. He won all 4 the games in a half hour. he destroyed the club. and he was not at all pompous in real life. i thought a grandmaster would be very proud and showing off his abilities, and more sophisticated and intelligent than normal people. but he seemed like a very normal guy.

I don't have it

once, a long time ago, there was a famous GM who would give a simul for 30 players.

the organizer reached out to me to know if I was available. this was in a different country so I had to figure out travels and I said yes.

the GM looked at us in the playing hall for 5 minutes, like a boxer in the ring staring at his opponent. Not a word.

Then he started moving from board to board. We were all trying to cope with the intensity.

It was a very strong event, there was an IM on my left and 2 boards down a FM. a bunch of 2200, 2000, 1700, 1500 rated players as well as middle school players who may or may not have been rated. After about 20 moves , both the IM and FM had miserable positions and lost.

For whatever reason, I held on and managed a draw.

I thought a GM would be very intense and intimidating like that lol. The one I met was friendly and almost awkward in a way almost like he was more nervous than us. It made it easy to approach him.. and easy to forget he was, like, a chess genius

No pics but I played a few blitz games vs GM Bryan Smith. Lost them (of course) but I think he found them interesting games.

I agree !!👍

I've played GM Tamas Banusz when he was streaming (lost of course - he's 3000) but gave him a good fight. I've also played GM Reefat Bin Sattar once and I won that game. And I've played GM Gennadi Zaichik 4 times, winning 2 and losing 2. So all up I'm 3 - 3 against GMs!

Impressive !