Chesscampeona on the Move - Lessons From the U.S. Open

In my last article I described in detail how I qualified for the first ever 2013 National Girls Invitational in Wisconsin. I also shared what I learned, however this article focuses on what I did three hours after the National Girls Invitational Tournament had ended - my first participation in the U.S. Open, which was in the 114th edition.

 

I had never played in the U.S. Open. As a matter of fact the first national open that I played in was outside the United States in Mexico. I played in the 2012 Mexican Open in Hermosillo, Sonora. I scored 3.5 of 9 - not bad for a 14-year old teen.

Let us just simply say, I did not do well in the U.S. Open. I scored 4.5 of 8. The 9th and final round I withdrew due to physical exhaustion brought on by having played the three-day schedule of the NGIT (with only three hours rest). So let me share what I learned at the U.S. Open.

Physical and Mental Preparation

 

In the U.S. Open, my physical and mental state were both challenged. I am not sure what I could have done outside my exercise routine to prepare for 15 rounds! My mental state had gotten to the point that I had trouble sleeping. I could not fall asleep until about two o'clock in the morning. This was a surprise for my family as well as for me because like my family says, "I am a sleeping baby."

I love to sleep! Even after 12 hours of sleep I can still sleep some more.

In the 8th round, our game finished at 1:13 a.m. After getting ready for bed, drinking hot tea, and watching television, I could not fall asleep. I listened to music in order to relax enough to get to sleep.

Finally at 7 a.m. I "napped" for an hour but afterward I was wide awake. I was not physically and mentally ready for the final round.

My family and I had never experienced a tournament that was so long and with so much chess involved. I had played in the 2008, 2011, and 2012 Pan American Youth (Argentina, Columbia, Peru) with its nine rounds but nothing compared to the 15 rounds I was playing in back to back tournaments. I played in the 2010 World Youth Chess Championship in Greece with its 11 rounds, but again, nothing as intense as two back-to-back tournaments.

My father/coach withdrew me from the last round for my health's sake.

Now, my family and I are researching the best possible way to help me sleep in case something like this ever happens again. So my advice to you is to be prepared for the unexpected in a national tournament. Regardless if a person is in physical shape or not, when sleeping problems creep in, one has to deal with them especially if most of your rounds end close to 1:00 a.m.

Whoever says chess is not a sport has not played 15 rounds in two back-to-back tournaments. Take it from me - chess is a sport!