Well, it’s time once again for my semi-annual pilgrimage to the Central West End of Saint Louis.
I more or less come here each year for both the US Championships and for the Sinquefield Cup. I say more or less since I have missed one of each since 2013.
I sit here typing this having just gotten back from enjoying a nice sushi dinner at the Drunken Fish after watching Round Eight of the Cup, which is the first of the two I am here for.
For the US Championships I tend to come for the final three rounds, but for Sinquefield there’s a dance that needs to be done. If you come for the final rounds you see the best action but if you come for the beginning you get to go to the autograph session where you can get stuff signed by all of the players.
I have boards signed by all participants from both the inaugural 2013 edition and the 2015 tournament as well. Also, the picture I use for masthead of this site is from Sinquefield 2013.
Well this time the choice was easy and I decided to come for the final two rounds of the Cup, since two days later a rapid and blitz event starts and Garry Kasparov is coming out of retirement to play in that event. It will be his first rated event in 12 years.
There will be an autograph session this Sunday featuring Kasparov so of course I decided to attend the final few rounds of the Cup so I can fit that autograph session in to my schedule!
So the plan as it sits now is:
Friday: Going to Webster in the morning. Haven’t made it out the last couple of times I’ve been here to see Paul and Susan, so I’m making a point to go this time.
In the afternoon I’ll head back to catch the final round of the Cup.
Saturday: This is the true off day. I’ll probably spend the first few hours of the day recovering from the Friday night after party. After that it will be time to go for a long walk in Forest Park, and then try to finish an article I’m working on for Chess Life.
Sunday: Afternoon will be the autograph session. I am really looking forward to getting a board signed by Garry Kasparov. It’s hard to describe how excited I am about this. Kasparov was my boyhood hero and I never would have ever thought that I would get a chance to watch him play since the Soviet Union was such a foreboding place.
Evening is the cocktail reception and press conference. I originally tried to RSVP as media by virtue of my position as Associate Editor with American Chess Magazine and was denied as I was told it was invite only. I was then invited by one of the players who I am friends with, only to then have the club contact me back and tell me that they will put me on the list as they are inviting all media who are requesting to go.
So either way I’m going, lol.
Monday will be day one of the rapid portion of the Rapid and Blitz. I’ll be here for those rounds and then heading home afterwards.
So all in all a fun few days! If YOU haven’t come to check out an event at the St. Louis Chess Club you have no one to blame but yourself!
Til Next Time,
Chris Wainscott