Reggio Emilia Part I

December 29, 2011 • Blog

I know that it has been a long time since I added a proper blog, and with the new website up, now is as a good a time as any to start again.

In September while competing in the Kings vs. Queens event in St. Louis, I was approached by one of the players on the queens team, Martha Fierro who invited me to play in the 54th Reggio Emilia tournament. At the time, I did not immediately accept the invitation as I already was looking at a very busy schedule with the Tal Memorial, London Chess Classic and Wijk aan Zee coming up. However, I ultimately chose to play as you never know when there will or will not be tournaments to play in. A good example is Vladimir Kramnik who does not have another event to compete in until June or July.

Prior to playing here, the only previous experience I have had with chess in Italy was when, at the age of young age of 17 (so, so long ago), I competed in the 37th Chess Olympiad held in Turin. Playing on board three for the US team behind Kamsky and Onischuk, we would go on to finish in 3rd place and take home the bronze medal. With such positive and nostalgic memories of Italy, it is almost hard to not enjoy being back once again. I have not had the opportunity to explore the city, but it seems like a fairly small and quiet town with very good food.

Lest I forget, there has actually been some chess being played! So far, I have gotten off to a good start with a first round victory against Vitiugov followed by draws against Caruana and Morozevich. Currently, I am a 1/2 point behind Morozevich, but there are still seven rounds to go and everyone has a chance still.

 

 

11 Comments

  1. I don’t know why but you are my favorite in all tournaments… don’t matter whoever play… and you were so close to top in London…

  2. Barone (Italy)

    Since you’re here in Italy, I just have to wish you an happy new year!
    And since you’re in Emilia Romagna, I strongly advice you try some TORTELLINI (“tortellini panna e prosciutto”, in particular, are an evergreen classic, while “tortellini alle erbette” is a peculiar dish of Reggio Emilia) before you leave. The only thing, as their wonderful taste tends to mask how heavy they relly are, it’s better you give yourself some time to digest them, or you might be a little sleepy when you seat at the board…
    If you look for an energy boosting snack, very rich in protein btw, there’s the renowed Parmigiano Reggiano (16 liters of milk for every Kg of cheese, and the older the better): it’s recommended by Doctor Livesey from Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” novel, too!

  3. Im just going to come clean and admit i love your chess. Your pritty much the only chess player i enjoy watching – your passion shines and your lust to win creates an amazing atmosphere. Keep being nakamura!

  4. more chess and less poker, i guarantee you will be the next world champion after Magnus that is. All the best!!

  5. Nakamura you’re my favorite player in chess. Continues improving a little more your opening repertoire and maintain the spirit of struggle. In Reggio Emilia your game has been wonderful. In some years, I’m pretty sure, you will be world chess champion!!!

  6. Keep kicking butt! I hope you are having as good a time as it looks like from NY. Play your game to the last round and leave with no second guessing. And … Thanks!

  7. Mi piace molto il nuovo sito—specialmente perche’ i colori sono quali della mia alma-mater, l’Universita’ di Princeton. Buona fortuna nelle ultime tre partite, gioca chiaramente come Bobby… Auguri per il nuovo anno, e saluti anche al tuo padre—vedo che lui abita ancora in Westchester lavorando per gli schacchi con NCSF!

  8. Oops—sorry for today. Maybe the above shows (besides my mis-spelling “scacchi”) that “play clearly like Bobby” isn’t (yet) speaking your language. Which also indicates there’s a lot of reserve energy to jet over 2800. So let me change that to: Cowabunga dude, go for it! Bring the excitement! Or as the Italians say, forza!

  9. Barone (Italy)

    The lost game with White against Giri proved decisive, especially since the 17er scored 5/6 in his second half of the tournament.
    Commenters, after the first few tourns, had the impression that despite their world class status none of the participants of this New Year’s competition in Reggio Emilia was really in a sparkling state of Chess-fitness.
    Summing up, I think GM Nakamura shouldn’t be too upset for the final result of this highly competitive and hardly fought tournament.
    Still the feeling remains, of having missed a good opportunity to win the first prize, after manging to reach, and to occupy for some time, a solid top position: I guess a professional Chess player learns tournament-strategy and energy management from experiences like this one!

    Good luck for your 2012!

  10. Master Nakamura, move on. What happened in Reggio is the result of fatigue of four tournaments in a row. You are an excellent chess player!!. The future will take care of putting everything in place. Do not look back, a great future awaits you!

  11. mick demi

    I’m a big fan of you Hikaru! TY for representing the USA in the global mind game sport. How can we get the media to give you more attention? I hope you go #1! GL

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