And I played, too!

Meet Wout, my opponent in my final game of my own tournament in Wijk Ann Zee (pronounced VIKE-un-zae). I played poorly in my first game and I intentionally threw my second game so I could go be a reporter. But this day the GM's had an off day. I could completely focus on playing my game. This was to be my one good effort.

How the three day tournament for amateurs works is they break the whole 400+ players up into quads. So I had seen Wout play twice already and he seemed to play quiet, positional games. I was very happy to have the opportunity to play a Morra Gambit against him. I kept the tension high throughout the game and he burned up a LOT of time early on. I dominated the center and he never got his rooks into the game. I was relishing the whole game!

Ferguson,Phil (1813) - Van Wynen,Wout (1827) [B21] 2009 Corus, Round 3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.a3 Qc7 10.Bf4 Bd7 11.Rac1 Qb8 12.Rfd1 Nf6 13.Rd2 Ne5 14.Ba2 Nxf3+!? Here I chose to open more lines to keep his king in the center. 15.gxf3 g5 So he will attack after all! BUT he is down to just 18 minutes. 16.Be3 Rg8 17.Bb6 Qc8 18.Qd1 Bc6 19.b4 g4 20.f4 Qb8 21.Qe2 Nd7 22.Be3 Bf6 23.f5 Fritz prefers 23. b5 but I wanted to create more pressure in the center. He is down to 7 minutes for his next 18 moves. 23...exf5 24.Bd5 Ne5 25.Bxc6+ [25.exf5 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Be5= (26...Nxd2? 27.Bxc6+ with threats of Ba7+ or Nd5) ] 25...bxc6 26.Kh1 Qb7? Just when it dawned on me that I have lost my initiative he blunders. [26...fxe4 27.Bf4 Rg6 28.Nxe4 Be7-/+] 27.Rxd6 Be7 28.Rdd1 a5 29.Bf4 [better was 29.exf5 ] 29...Ng6 30.Bd6 axb4 31.axb4 Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Ne7 33.exf5 Kf8 34.Qe4 Nd5 35.Nxd5 cxd5 36.Rxd5 Qe7 37.Re5 Qd8 38.Re1 Rc8 39.Qf4 with a subtle threat that he misses completely 39...Qd3?? 40.Qh6+ Rg7 41.f6 1-0

As I played my last move, two guys watching the game start fussing over the board and talking in Dutch. They move my pawn back and start pointing to the clock, which looked to me like my opponent just made the time control. But there is much consternation and I assume his clock fell but nobody will speak English! Arr! So I keep saying "it doesn't matter, I'm playing this and it's over." Eventually they agreed and peace was restored.

What I loved next was that Wout said aloud in English "that was a real fighting game!" Then we went into the bar that was in the same building, enjoyed some tasty Dutch beers, went over the game and just talked. A very warm ending to my 3 day adventure.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Corus setting is how social it is. Aside from when the games are going on, the place is buzzing with people talking it up! You hear Dutch, German and who knows what other languages. And it is a very relaxed atmosphere. In the playing hall, you can order split pea soup, beer, coffee, uniquely Dutch cookies, etc and enjoy them at your board. The adjacent bar serves pretty lame sandwiches (to be honest) and lots of great beer. But those Dutch people love to hang out together and talk and it was that buzz of people talking and enjoying each others company that I will remember fondly.

I heard that there were other pubs in town that were fun, and you might even see GM's there. Unfortunately, I never made those rounds as I was too tired my first night and too sick my second night. I hope somebody else goes next year and reports back to us about what that's like.