WCA Veteran's Open & WCA Junior Open

I know that I posted earlier in the month about this dual tournament, but I really want to see a great turnout for both sections. This doesn't only mean that it will give us leverage for future events, but it means that if you win your section or the entire event, it will mean that much more. I don't know about you, but I hate playing in events where I'm towards to very top of the rating list. When this happens it means that I have to win all of my games just to show that I should be rated where I'm rated. Competition, my friends, is what most of us crave and makes us work a little harder to make sure that "you're" the person who had that awesome upset in the 4th round. There's no excuses about playing younger competitors in the Vets event because you have to be 21 to enter. I personally don't mind playing against younger opponents, but I do know that quite a few of our "Veteran" players do, or would rather play against someone further along in their years. But, if there's a tournament to play in with "Only Adults" stamped on it, this is the one. The room rates are extremely inexpensive, and the atmosphere is excellent as well. You can find the event HERE .

The Junior Open was always one of my favorite tournaments growing up, and it still brings back great memories. I played in my first Junior Open at the very start of my Freshman year at Antigo High School. I knew how all the pieces moved but was absolutely new to competitive play. That year, if I remember correctly, they were still holding 6 rounds in the Junior section. The first five three rounds I received beatings like you'd read about. Then I was paired up against a 5 year old girl. I was able to win this game, but it was a lose lose situation. I proceeded to lose my last games to come out of the event 1 - 5. I felt horrible. But, I certainly didn't feel like giving up. In fact, it made me want to study harder than anyone else in my club. I wanted to study harder than anyone that we would later play against in our district. I waited impatiently for my next issue of "Chess Life" to come to find out what my rating would be. I was initially rated at 676. I will never forget that number as it was a driving force for me to improve. Most of my friends didn't understand why I spent most of my time in chess books, but it didn't matter because I wanted to make sure that I didn't get paired against such a low rated player in the mid rounds because I lost so bad. The point of this story is, is that many kids that go to this tournament will start to experience some sort of drive or will to improve. They will no longer have to be urged to study, they will do it on their own. I will say again, this tournament is one of my favorites, and I really hope that the children and young adults that play in it will bring something more than a trophy back with them. The tournament info can be found HERE .