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Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:41 pm
by Blackferne
I play chess.

I've been going to the local chess club for a while and this past weekend in the big annual tournament they help I tied for 3rd in the novice section getting a check for $67. I went 4w 1L and the guy I lost to won the whole section. (Novice section had like 70 players)

It was a good weekend!

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:24 pm
by Staris
very cool

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 pm
by Blackferne
Oh and I got a norm!

Chess has various titles. You've likely heard of some Grandmaster, International Master, and National Master are some of the more famous types. In order to get those titles you not only need to have a certain chess rating which shows your playing strength, but you also need a certain number of norms which are achieved by playing in rated tournaments of a certain number of rounds, and doing what would be considered an impressive result. So to become an international master you would need to compete in a tournament and play against some international masters and grandmasters, and have a good enough tournament score to be considered "impressive". The US Chess federation has lesser titles related to players at 1800, 1600, 1400, 1200 rating. I played in the novice section and the average rating of that section was about 1000. Based on the strength of the players I played and my tournament score I got a norm for the Category 4 title (related to 1200). 4 more and I'll be a Category 4 player. It is the lowest title in the US Chess world, but I am looking at it like achievement hunting.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 10:09 pm
by Staris
Very cool. keep us in the loop as you work on that achievement.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:22 pm
by Bulwark
Does that mean we should address you as Blackferne the Norm? Norm Blackferne?

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:59 pm
by Furiel
I'm just picturing Joun coming home now and everyone greets him Cheers style... Norm!!!

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:01 pm
by Blackferne
Bulwark wrote:
Wed Jan 09, 2019 11:22 pm
Does that mean we should address you as Blackferne the Norm? Norm Blackferne?
I do not have the title yet. The title is Category 4 Title. It is a horrible title and I wish they would rename it to be more title like and less like a description used for hurricanes. A norm is just something I need to get enough of to get the title. However...
Furiel wrote:
Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:59 pm
I'm just picturing Joun coming home now and everyone greets him Cheers style... Norm!!!
This is appropriate.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:33 pm
by Bulwark
Gotcha, "Category 4 Blackferne" it is.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:32 am
by Whiteness
congrats Catfourne!

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:14 pm
by Furiel
Whiteness wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:32 am
congrats Catfourne!
I see what you did there.

I approve.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:24 pm
by Blackferne
Whiteness wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:32 am
congrats Catfourne!
Not yet. But soon. :shifty:

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:16 am
by Blackferne
Chess bragging update.

Garry Kasparov did a simultaneous chess exhibition at SXSW today. I saw a tweet earlier in the week and emailed the organizers thinking there was no way I'd actually be selected to play. I was. Today I played the 13th world chess champion. Out of the 10 opponents he faced I lasted the longest at 41 moves. They gave us the boards we played on and he autographed it.

Blackferne, the last to lose!

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:03 pm
by Furiel
Blackferne wrote:
Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:16 am
Chess bragging update.

Garry Kasparov did a simultaneous chess exhibition at SXSW today. I saw a tweet earlier in the week and emailed the organizers thinking there was no way I'd actually be selected to play. I was. Today I played the 13th world chess champion. Out of the 10 opponents he faced I lasted the longest at 41 moves. They gave us the boards we played on and he autographed it.

Blackferne, the last to lose!
Second is just the first loser.

Seriously though, congratz on a really cool experience. Glad you enjoyed it. Now maybe you can get a rematch next year and make it to 42 moves. Or 69, giggity.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 5:47 pm
by Blackferne
Furiel wrote:
Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:03 pm
Second is just the first loser.
Better to be first loser than last loser though.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:54 pm
by Blackferne
Here is the game for anyone curious.

https://lichess.org/9AXUjHA3

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:09 am
by Bulwark
Blackferne wrote:
Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:16 am
Chess bragging update.

Garry Kasparov did a simultaneous chess exhibition at SXSW today. I saw a tweet earlier in the week and emailed the organizers thinking there was no way I'd actually be selected to play. I was. Today I played the 13th world chess champion. Out of the 10 opponents he faced I lasted the longest at 41 moves. They gave us the boards we played on and he autographed it.

Blackferne, the last to lose!
That's Awesome!

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:40 am
by Takanudo
Do you a nemesis yet? Pop culture tells me chess is best enjoyed when played against a respected foe while the fate of millions are on the line.

-Takanudo (is wondering if you are the evil one)

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 5:29 pm
by Furiel
Just like with the weird one, if you aren't sure if you're the evil one, the answer is always yes.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 2:50 pm
by Blackferne
Takanudo wrote:
Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:40 am
Do you a nemesis yet? Pop culture tells me chess is best enjoyed when played against a respected foe while the fate of millions are on the line.

-Takanudo (is wondering if you are the evil one)
Well let me start off by saying, Magneto was right....


As for a chess nemesis, not really. I'd love to have one. I am probably one of the most regular players in the past two years of the austin Chess Club, but I'm in the lowest section usually which has a lot more coming and going of players than the higher sections. I just need to improve to the point where I get up to the middle section and I can probably get one of them to my nemesis.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:50 pm
by Blackferne
Norm update.

This past month I scored my second norm.

CatFourne or Category 4 Blackferne is one step closer to being a thing. I think I need 3 more.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 2:30 pm
by Furiel
Blackferne wrote:
Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:50 pm
This past month I scored my second norm.
Cheers?

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 5:55 pm
by Staris
Nice :rave:

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2019 6:34 pm
by Blackferne
I was trying to explain the rank of chess titles to people yesterday and said "If chess master is king, category 4 title is like Baron, the lowest title in the british noble system."

If I get this I will expect you guys to call me Baron von Blackferne.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:31 pm
by Furiel
Request denied.

Re: Unsolicited Bragging

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 2:52 pm
by Bulwark
wouldn't 'Norm' be more appropriate?