The World Open

If anyone here has played in the World Open, what would you say the experience felt like? What did you feel during the competition? How big was the actual playing site? How many boards were set up? How many people were playing at one time? Forgive me for hounding you with questions. In precisely 3 years, I will be competing in the World Open.

You'll be playing in 3 years? Getting all psyched, geared up, & ready now huh?

I am going to love the event and yep. I am training hard and getting geared and psyched up.

Just be careful you don't peak too soon.

Or eat any babies.

Thanks for the advice :). I'll remember that when the time comes. Until 3 years is up though, I have a lot of chess studying and practice to do. I know my problems in my game. 1. I am over aggressive. 2. I just capture pieces and check the king. I don't work on successful tactic or strategies. I don't know any openings and I am having trouble finding the "Right" move. I am facing people outside this website who are not very good and in a result, I am in a dead lock right now facing a wall. I have a lot of work to do but in the next 3 years, I will be making a jumpstart. Any advice would be much appreciated :D.

Babies? Why would I eat babies? That is just nasty and sick

If you want the Thunder got to eat the babies:)

Which mythological god ate his own children? - Yahoo Answers 

The babies of most mammalian species have a less developed flavour and softer flesh, making them particularly tasty.

That would be Krono's. Ate his children forgetting that they too were immortal and they escaped, cut him up into little bits and sent him into the deepest darkest parts of Tartarus in the Underworld ruled by one of his children Hades.

Well, sent his remains there anyway. Not him entirely.

It was cheaper when I went...  But I figure it's the sort of tournament you plan on going to beforehand. 

The playing hall was rather large and a lot of players participated. The GM section was tucked far away in the back while the NMs and IMs could be seen on the way there. I went with some friends and it was a pretty fun experience. 

I was used to playing in G/30 tournaments and the G/2hrs format seemed to change the game completely. You could really sit there and think.

DANG! 2 hours for one game! That is EPIC!!!! I am going to enjoy the experience. Even if I have to study and practice 5 hours a day for the next 3 years I will compete. I don't know if I will do well or not but I will do my best to train. I actually played Alex Lenderman once :D. It was a great game. Tell me, what was the atmosphere like in the GM section of the tournament? What did it make you feel like?

It was funny because despite the 2 hours I still played some sketchy stuff. I ended up losing a piece in a won position in one of those games. You get 2hrs plus another when you get to move 40 but only one of my games lasted that long anyway lol. Try to actually use your time wisely.

I never make a big deal out of celebrities or famous people so I don't really have the "OMG" reaction you might be expecting... But it was cool watching the GMs play anyway. I had no idea what was going on but it was cool. 

ANOTHER ADDITIONAL HOUR!!! O-o. I know what you mean about using your time effectively and wisely. I bet it was cool :). There are a lot of side events aren't there? Blitz tournament?

You have planned well.  Three years, if you are diligent you should have reached a playing  strength of between USCF 1900 and 2100. 

What section do you plan on playing in?

Ah yes. There lies my problem. Thank you though :). My problem is that I am playing against people outside this website who aren't good at this game. They are too aggressive and I can pretty much tell you move for move their entire game. They are too weak in the game and therefore as a result, I am not getting stronger. I don't know anyone else who is strong in the game of chess. My goal is to go to other smaller tournaments for the next 3 years, gain experience that way, play against stronger players, learn some new openings, practice new strategies and tactics, and then finally depending on what my rating and playing strength is after all that is done, I might either go into the the USCF 1900 and 2100, or I might go into the OPEN section of the tournament. I have a lot of work to do first though. Right now, I am going nowhere with my chess studies. I am in a rut and there is a huge brick wall in front of me. I cannot go through it, I cannot climb it or go around or under it. Here is a list of my problems in my game. (Warning: it is a clear sign of a beginner player) 1. I aim to capture pieces and too check the king a lot more than I want to get him or her into checkmate. 2. I check way too much and in a result, I let my opponent move his king too safe locations. 3. I am too aggressive, I attack WAY TO MUCH!!! 4. I am having trouble learning new openings for white and black (Memorizing them is my greatest difficulty) and using them successfully against my opponents. 5. I am having trouble figuring out WHAT the BEST move is and when to use the BEST move. 6. Writing chess notation during my games messes my head up. (That last one might seem silly but it affects me negatively. I cannot concentrate when I am writing down notation) As you can see, I need a lot of work done on my chess game. My ultimate goal though is to become a GM. I am not dissuaded.

I am going to reach my goal even if it takes me 10 years to accomplish it. I know many players say this and when they feel the pressure and the difficulty they quit but I am not so easily broken or pushed aside or out of the way. If I have a goal in my mind, I DO NOT QUIT OR TURN BACK!!! I PUSH THROUGH TILL THE END!!! I am a beginner in chess though just the same. If you guys have any tips that could help me, I would be really gratefull.

Do you live in an area where you can play regular tournaments? Is there a chess club close by?

Yeah I do and yes there is. A good club.