Very interesting with this Vincent Keymer indeed.Must be one hell of a talent and I dont recall having seen such a performance in such an early age.This is a player to follow!

Meanwhile Grenke is on and the hard tested gambleer is for the moment enjoying a (well deserved break ;) before the final 6 rounds.

Have had a fine easter with a nice old body and visit from good friends as well as seeing friends in town, to where I am going now-the weekly rendezvous with good old KJ.

Warm here and no rain so far, which is good. Haven't started repairs for that problem I was telling you about. A one month period with more sustained professional work is about to begin for me.

I feel fine, mostly. Played a few chess games and managed to save two of them, gonna send them to you later. Solved a few puzzles too on playchess server, but still remained with same rank - right in the middle.

Just before dinner.
Have had some relatively fine days and enjoys the spring,which seems here to stay:) Was with JWH thirsday and again it was a wonderfull time.Yes,I know i repeat myself but good friendship can not be worshipped enough...

And Grenke is over with one more confirmation of Caruanas qualities as a very interesting challenger.And he occurs to me as a person who likes a challenge---but so does Magnus and we may have a hell of a match ahead.At least that is what we can dream about before it starts :) Such a likeable person too,he seems to be.With a very interesting aproach to the opeening phase in contrast to Karjakin.

Yes, time it flies.All whom I have met from say 50 and more says the same. Every week we say,Hannah and yours truly:How the h...,it is weekend again. But when I woke every morning I feel it is a rather long journey ahead,so it is not speed all of it.

Glad to hear you mostly feel fine:Keep it that way s.v.p. :)

So once again:All the best wishes for the remaining part of the dear weekend and see you up the road!

<<>Gashimov Memorial 2018<>>

3½ days to go!

Countdown to Gashimov 2018:

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdo...

♘SHAMKIR♘Gashimov Memorial 2018♗SHAMKIR♗

http://shamkirchess.com/

This tournament will run from Apr. 19th thru Apr. 28th 2018. (9 Rounds)

Participants include: Carlsen, Mamedyarov, Karjakin, Ding Liren, Giri, Topalov, Radjabov, Wojtaszek, Navara & Mamedov

Average rating: 2767 (as of 4/10/18) - Category XXI

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<<>Gashimov Memorial 2018<>>

Schedule - http://shamkirchess.com/content/207

Round 1 is Thursday April 19th & it starts @ 15:00hrs(3pm) Shamkir, Azerbaijan time(7am chessgames time). All rounds begin @ 15:00 hrs. except for the 9th round which begins one hour earlier @ 14:00 hrs(2pm).

< 3 Prediction Contests: (Win virtual medals - Gold, Silver & Bronze) >

User: lostemperor (FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTIONS) - Predict the order the players will finish. Run & hosted by <lostemperor>. (3 categories to medal in)

User: Golden Executive - (The Game Prediction Contest) - Predict the result 1-0, 1/2, or 0-1. Run & hosted by <Golden Executive>. (3 categories to medal in) This year will be the 11th Anniversary for this contest! (from 2007 to 2018 - 11 years running)

User: OhioChessFan (Moves Prediction Contest) - Predict the result 1-0, 1/2, or 0-1 & the number of moves. (4 categories to medal in). This contest is run by <chessmoron> & hosted by <OhioChessFan>.

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Also, don't forget about <chessgames> ChessBookie game for this event. He can't wait to take some or all of your chessbucks. ;)

ChessBookie Game

Don't miss out on the fun for this Super Event!!!

Or am I wrong? Maybe not. Who can know for sure? But do we really need certainty on this subject? Or it's not even a subject? Oops, I'm getting closer to a Ljubojevich-type of questioning...Juust joking.

So what's new (other than Shamkir)? Any friendly meeting over a couple of pints? Wait, that shouldn't be new anyway ;) A brunch on the seaside given the (hopefuly) good weather at your place? Speaking of which, we're about to end the 3rd week of great weather in Iasi, with no trace of rain. Just great! But you see, there's no seaside close to my place, no mountains either, so...but hey, let's not be too demanding, one can not have everything! :)

Just briefly-going to the seaside with wife ! :) And thanks for asking.

KJ the other day and it is a delight to experienc how fine his relation with a new woman works out.

Here the spring is on and it is almost summer.Too much to my taste as you know,but I am happy on behalf of my fellow citizens.

Yes,strange but not totally unexpected reaction from Magnus...As the questions from Ljubojevic were very relevant IMO.But not so bad today,were he came across as more cooperative.But still close to a teenager than a grown up.

And thanks a lot for your last post.
I do find it as a very important point,that to some extent we are as aged as we feel.Otherwise there would not be much of a point in trying to maintain/improve our physical/psychological.And we can do a lot.E.g. trying to feel gratitude.As a fine flower we can water everyday.

Do you sometimes miss the mountains and or seaside,as they are not situated were you live ?

I would feel amputated if there wasnt any water inside close range:)

Time for coffee and the finish in Shamkir later.

Good point !

Too warm here for all month of April with almost no rain, and it continues, kind of strange. I'm fine or sort of, but can't complain.

Yes, mountains are far away from here, seaside even farther. Fortunately in 2 weeks we're going to Ligurian coast and so we'll be able to breathe the sea breeze for 10 days, can't wait :)

Nice to see you in da house again!

Here it is also warm temperatures,but not as high as in Iasi.Friends and foes are enjoying the spring after the long winter.Me too,till a certain extent,but looking forward to autum and winter,which,strange at it may seem,suits my condition,dizziness and an irregular colon, better... Hopefully the heat in your place will be more pleasant!?

4 chess tournamensts in a row are now over.And it gonna be fine with a break,nést pas!?...But Carlsen and Caruana definately showing their strenght and November looks more and more promising :)

That sounds great with your trip to the Ligurian Coast,about one week from now................The sea is waiting for you!

Things are ok here and have had some fine moments with friends and not to forget my lovely wife.Woman who have 2 A´s in their family name have to be nursed and appreciated:) So the daily life is the star of the show and that is not bad after all.

Say hello to Maria s.v.p and may you both have an enjoyable weekend.

Au revoir !

Hope you are enjoying your self,as well!

Just heard the the piece,and I think,like you,there could be a certain Bergmann ring to it.With all its grave seriousnes,but beside from that it is not swedish to me.Swedish is more kind of singing the words.And perhaps it could be described as more fluent compared with the Greek having more staccato.

Hope you will have a nice weekend,and feel free to drop by anytime!

Mostly cloudy with some showers but still warm. That's all right with me, provided rain will stay clear as much as possible of the Ligurian coast in the next two weeks.

Little chess online, some won some lost, just like in life :), almost no puzzle solving.

Health should be okay, still some recurring strange feeling lately around the belly button coupled with a lack of taste. Could be the age.

About to make a visit to the dentist with Maria, and then we should continue watching "La dolce vita" we've started last night.

Well,its been a while...not so much happening in he meantime,but still life is great exploring;)Was with JWH the other day and it strikes me how much it means to me.Feel almost young again and being rejuvenated when I sit in the bus,going back to home.

Otherwise we are influenced by the situation of Hannahs best friend who is in the terminal phase.The cancer has spread to her liver and brain... We try to help her as much as possible,but it is difficult and there gonna be a big empty chair in Hannahs life when she is no longer with us.

Besides from that, we try to enjoy the summer spring and do some gardening.E.g. painting a cabin and cutting some bushes.....We also have a minor heathwawe as many other countries in Europe.And you? Is it this weekend you were going to see the Ligurian Coast ? Hopefully you will get a pleasant trip !

Now time for soupper.Chicken with baked potatoes and a huge salat.At least it sounds healthy ;)

I'm very sorry to hear about the situation of Hannah friend...it's indeed tragic.

Good to get a postcard from you,and it sounds like a fine trip.Looking forward to recieve a longer repport!

So I hope you both will enjoy the remaining days.

Here not much is happening,but all is well except from the old stomach(colon) which is limiting my social life for the moment.

Summer has really entered our country and we now have temperatures around 25¤ ):...but most of my countrymen like it ,so I dont complain that much,officially ;)

In 3 weeks the World Cup starts and on saturday the Champion Leaques final.

Not to forget Wimbledon and TDF...so the remotecontrol will be hot this summer :)

You are right,there certainly is a lot of play left and anything can happen.And sometimes I find it easier to trail than to be # 1.Perhaps it is some danish trait !?…...But anyhow it is a nice position for now.And it is not too late for you,though you have fallen behind...Last year I came close to winning it all in the final,though trailing with around minus 6K(!!).And next tournament will be held on your home turf ;)Any way : good luck,or rather skill.

I´ll rate Denmarks chances rather high for passing to the last 16.Around 60%.But Peru(our first opponent) has been scary in their last two games

After all we have a wonderfull norwegian coach who is much beloved and respected here.As in chess we see the same combination,nést pas ;)

Kidding aside,it was a fruitful journey and thanks for playing along.

I´ll give it a thought, but wont promise anything.

But it will be interesting to see the analysis of <kwid>.

All the best