4/24/2005 The 2005 NC Invitational was held this weekend at the UNCC campus, which looks great, and featured six good players from North Carolina. In the end, Craig Jones won with a score of 3.5-1.5 followed by Frankie and myself with 3-2. I was the only one to go undefeated in the tournament with one win and four draws! Contrary to what my results show I fought in every game and was on the losing end a few times. Sadly I was outprepared in every game! WHAT?! Excuses, excuses...

Overall the tournament site was very peaceful, with an empty bathroom next door and a water fountain a few feet away. There are plenty of restaurants near UNCC so it was convenient for the tournament. Only a few minor cons, the time control felt like blitz chess, which was 35/90 G/45, (surprising since I thought the Carolina Masters would help me with that), three rounds in one day tired me out (it is disallowed to play so many hours/games in a fide rated event), and the short breaks between rounds meant that I was late for a couple games. I am starting to sound like a prima donna, but after my first round game I was ready to go to bed. The quality of play begins to slip after so many hours.

All in all, it was a great event that I wish would last three and not two days, and 40/2 G/60 would be good too. NM Daniel Tapia