Personal tools

I will set the record straight!

Posted by Andrew Costello |

It's now a week to go until my match with Wolfram and I can't wait.

I will set the record straight!

My chess training has been foccused on openning theory. Mine is rusty and I want to look good. I have been playing competetive chess at a chess club. Wolfram's hour of study a day in his bedroom doesn't compare as preparation. 

I recently spent three weeks as a training partner for the famous British freefighter Michael Bisping who was preparing to fight a southpaw (like me) on the UFC. Wolfram can look forward to a real beating. 

 

 

A few sprints or whatever he has done dont compare to living in a pro fight camp. I got disqualified unjustly and I am confident that in my own country, with hundreds of British fans crowded around the ring, I can set the record straight. 

See you soon Wolfram!

PS: I googled von staufenburg out of curiosity and found that he had starred in a movie called 'Six Apartments'. It seems that the message of the film is that with every day that passes we slowly die. What the hell !!! Is this what Germans watch for fun ? (along with hard core pornography) I want Von Stauf to know that the first left cross i hit him with is punishment for putting such a depressing thought in my head... To be continued...


Document Actions

Update

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 25, 2008 04:46 PM
Today I re-read Wolframs interview. He is doing his chess training with Andreas, not in his bedroom. Andreas ! I hope you haven't been preparing for d4 as black and the Sicilian as white ? I have changed my repertoire completely.

Update

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 26, 2008 02:07 PM
No training today, just chess. I like to study when I first wake up and my mind is most receptive, then maybe twice more throughout the day. On tuesday I am playing in a local tournament. The starting position for each game will be different, but will be four moves into an obscure or unfashionable gambit. It will be great fun. I train people in martial arts during the day and have been using these sessions to practice boxing partner drills with my clients. They dont mind. Then, on my own, I shadow box and do maybe five 3 minute rounds on the heavy bag. Then fitness circuits, maybe followed by weight training. Four hours. I might train again in the evenning or teach again at a local club.

Konrad

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 27, 2008 09:28 PM
Konrad Rickardson will be competing on thursday. It will be great to see him again. He is a strong chess player and a courageous boxer who now has the chance to show his skill against Sascha. It's a good match. I have found chessboxers to be remarkable people. Willing to test their courage and fitness in the ring and their intellect at the board. They have sufficient faith in themselves to do so publicly and are open to new ideas. They challenge the perceptions of those who hold stereotypical views, hence the disdainful reaction the sport can provoke.

Two more days...

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 28, 2008 12:56 PM
It's just a shame that I can't box the referee as well. Who was that idiot ? He misses the clear left hook to the chin that floors Wolfram. Then, like Inspector Clouseu arriving at the scene of a crime, he begins his investigation. He goes straight to Wolframs corner and asks them what happened ! They are happy to confirm Wolframs 'story' and I am disqualified to the disbelief of anyone who actually was watching. Was this master of the ring not available to referee the Klichkov fight ?

Gambit tournament

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 29, 2008 12:24 AM
Tonight I played in the Rex Willis memorial gambit tournament. Rex was a member of the Exeter chess club. He died 8 years ago. I didn't know. My last memory of Rex is playing him in 1980. Tonight it was a swiss tournament. I lost my first two games. Then won the next three. 3 out of 5. And all my opponents had CURRENT ELO RATINGS !!!

I kicked ass

Posted by Andrew Costello at Oct 29, 2008 10:48 AM
I kicked ass at the board last night. My favourite game came from round 4. I played as black. The compulsory moves were 1.f4 e5. White played 2.fe Nc6 3.d4 d6 4.ed Bxd6 5.e4 ? Qa4ch 6.b3 ? Qxe4ch 7.ne2 Qxa1 my opponent resigned in disgust, said that he hadn't played that badly for ten years and that losing that way had made him feel physically sick. It was hilarious.