It Is Never Too Late to Become a Grandmaster

Not everything went well, because some events of my chess life were not included in this work, the time has not yet come... Maybe one day I'll tell you about them...

For 10 years I have been competing with a special mark in the classification: “veteran”. At first I was confused, but I soon realized that at all times and in all spheres of human activity the word "veteran" has a noble meaning. Friends often ask: “Vladimir, aren't you tired of playing chess? I always say no, I'm not tired. Where else can you find such a large space for self-expression? "Chess is not for the faint of heart", Steinitz once said. I agree 100%! Chess players don't need swollen muscles, they need a stable neuropsychiatric organization. How else can you withstand the constant pressure that every nerve cell in the player experiences? I don't always like this constant struggle with the stress hanging over you, especially when you're wrong in a winning position. And in recent years, another "problem" has been added: incredibly powerful computer engines that younger opponents use skillfully to prepare for the game. But when you win a beautiful game or use a theoretical novelty invented at home (even with the help of a computer), or defend a difficult and desperate position, how great is it! And in those moments you don't think about what chess is: it's science, art or sport. Moments like this, they're just part of your life. Well, it's time to close and, in closing, tell the dear reader: how incredibly interesting it is to be an active chess player, even if you are a veteran.

~ Vladimir Okhotnic