I consider myself an avid chess player (roughly 1700), and I play frequently on the Free Internet Chess Server under the username notofthisworld. I am coached by Thomas Katsampes (user sorcery on FICS), who is rated around the 2000 level. His more positional style has influenced me since we started working together, and my style has become more focused on technique than the all-out gambits of my beginning chess years. He gets the credit for my rise from about 1200 to 1700.
I’ve played Thomas multiple games online, winning about 30% of them. Below is probably my best:
Katsampes-Stech FICS, 2009 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 a6 8.Nbd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Be6 11.Ne4 f6 12.Ba3 Qd7 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Rfd1 Bg4 15.Ned2 Rhe8 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Nf4 18.b5 Na5 19.Qc2 Nxc4 20.dxc4 Nxh3 21.Kf1 Qg4 22.c5 Qc4 23.Ke1 Ba5 24.Bb2 Nf4 0-1 (White resigns)
I played in TeamLeague on FICS for a few years, but dropped out for time constraints. During that time I played for TheLastPawns and TheRejoicingTeam in the U1600 divisions. Through this (and chess in general) I’ve made many acquaintances and friendly rivals who have pushed me to my limits. I’m grateful for all of their support and competition.
If you wish to register for FICS (the site I most recommend), click here.
If you wish to go to Thomas’s chess page, click here.
