2023 CHESS GOALS
My main chess goals for 2023 were/are to break 1600 FIDE and also qualify for the 2024 chess Olympiad team, which would mean getting in the top 5 in the national championship.
One step back, two steps forward
At the beginning of the year, I was 1524, but after a rough first tournament, I was down to 1499.
But there is good news, a few weeks later I had one of my best tournaments in a while and I think I was able to get 24 points back, the list will come out early next month (June).
So I think the first goal to break 1600 is going to be difficult but still possible (easy goals are no fun), I have about 7 to 9 tournaments to get about 80 points which is doable if you don’t count setbacks or great results for that matter.
An ambitious goal
The second goal is more ambitious but not crazy, historically the top 5 of the national championship are chosen to be in the Olympic team and I have come close on two occasions. I got 6th place in 2019 and 2020, so I think it’s a good goal to go for 5th or 4th place. But first I need to qualify for the final and I have already missed my first chance.
Usually, 10 players qualify for the final and those players are:
The national champion;
The women’s national champion;
The top 3 highest rated players in the country;
The winner of the national cup;
The top 3 in the qualifier for the national championship;
A wild card.
I’m not the national champion and also far from being in the top 3 highest rated players (maybe in a few years, again easy goals are no fun), my chances to qualify for the national championship are to win the national cup or to get top 3 in the national championship qualifier.
Remember the first tournament this year that got me from 1524 to 1499, yes that was the regional cup that would qualify me for the national cup, so that’s out of the question.
The only way to qualify now is through the national championship qualifier, which is an open tournament, but if you win the regional championship all expenses are paid if the qualifier is not in your city.
So I hope that I’ll be able to reach my goals by the end of the year, if not at least I know I tried my best.