Individual Games
Well.. my first tournament was the individual.
The first game was against Italy: a player as strong as me. A chinese opening and I got in some troubles because I tried to reduce excessively the chinese potential moyo. He did a mistake that give me the chance to tactically turn the game the other way around. I failed to kill or reduce enough his invasion in my territory but I did a great job in endgame.... but I lost by 9 points. The guy was very friendly and we spent more time playing great games in the common room.. but I will always hate he played with Gu Li the next round (..... this time you didn't face me Gu Li, but you won't be that lucky twice!)
Bulgary: he was the only guy weaker than me in the ranking of the group. So I went to look for the victory since the very beginning. I played a moyo like game and I was ahead with no big problems. He got himself in troubles and I took the chance. 1 point for me!!
my victory :D
Russia: this country has very strong playes and I saw how this guy erased from the board one Argentina player in the first round... but the game I played... he said he was amazed because the game was so close! he already decided to figth the victory in the endgame when I did a terrible error. He is 5 dan and I a kyu player.. but I played like a dan!! except by the error. I am happy about the level of reading I reached. The argentina's player defeated by the russian saw the game and he said "I can't believe it! You even force him to defend and you hold the initiative most of the game! you could win" ...
Croatia: this guy is a influence oriented player, but also "just" 2 dan. But this time I didn't play a good fuseki as I did against russia and he was ahead, then in the middle game I opened a huge hole in his moyo. The game was equal but I have the sente a lot of threads.. until I tried to go for the big kill and I was the one who got killed... again a great game.. I was closer to victory but now my will for attack was my error.
This third day I was sick, so I lost the morning game because I was in bed in pain since 2:00 am. I just arrived to play the afternoon round.
Slovakia: another great game from me. I did a wonderful joseki and keep fighting in the middle game until I made another fool mistake that disconnected one group.
Finland: a 4dan... I found a mistake in his fuseki and I was about to seal him.. but I went to kill another group and he run to the center splitting my stones... then he showed his superior level and my effort was useless. I should have seal him in the top ... then it was a close game.
I was sad because of so many defeats.. but also.. against lot of fairly stronger players I was able to play with them.. to fight with them and almost beat them. I like to dream about what is the real level inside me. May be inside me there's a player able to put stones in the board without his hands, but with a magic hand.
One special moment:
Whenever I see this.. my name... Costa Rica's flag.. I can't stop realizing how important is every stone I put and how I should give all I have!
The first game was against Italy: a player as strong as me. A chinese opening and I got in some troubles because I tried to reduce excessively the chinese potential moyo. He did a mistake that give me the chance to tactically turn the game the other way around. I failed to kill or reduce enough his invasion in my territory but I did a great job in endgame.... but I lost by 9 points. The guy was very friendly and we spent more time playing great games in the common room.. but I will always hate he played with Gu Li the next round (..... this time you didn't face me Gu Li, but you won't be that lucky twice!)
Bulgary: he was the only guy weaker than me in the ranking of the group. So I went to look for the victory since the very beginning. I played a moyo like game and I was ahead with no big problems. He got himself in troubles and I took the chance. 1 point for me!!
my victory :D
Russia: this country has very strong playes and I saw how this guy erased from the board one Argentina player in the first round... but the game I played... he said he was amazed because the game was so close! he already decided to figth the victory in the endgame when I did a terrible error. He is 5 dan and I a kyu player.. but I played like a dan!! except by the error. I am happy about the level of reading I reached. The argentina's player defeated by the russian saw the game and he said "I can't believe it! You even force him to defend and you hold the initiative most of the game! you could win" ...
Croatia: this guy is a influence oriented player, but also "just" 2 dan. But this time I didn't play a good fuseki as I did against russia and he was ahead, then in the middle game I opened a huge hole in his moyo. The game was equal but I have the sente a lot of threads.. until I tried to go for the big kill and I was the one who got killed... again a great game.. I was closer to victory but now my will for attack was my error.
This third day I was sick, so I lost the morning game because I was in bed in pain since 2:00 am. I just arrived to play the afternoon round.
Slovakia: another great game from me. I did a wonderful joseki and keep fighting in the middle game until I made another fool mistake that disconnected one group.
Finland: a 4dan... I found a mistake in his fuseki and I was about to seal him.. but I went to kill another group and he run to the center splitting my stones... then he showed his superior level and my effort was useless. I should have seal him in the top ... then it was a close game.
I was sad because of so many defeats.. but also.. against lot of fairly stronger players I was able to play with them.. to fight with them and almost beat them. I like to dream about what is the real level inside me. May be inside me there's a player able to put stones in the board without his hands, but with a magic hand.
One special moment:
Whenever I see this.. my name... Costa Rica's flag.. I can't stop realizing how important is every stone I put and how I should give all I have!