I took the train to Blackpool for the chess congress on Friday 10 February. The train I was due to catch was however cancelled due to a fatality on the line. I was directed onto the Glasgow train, which was diverted via Manchester to stop at Preston, to get a connection to Blackpool.
The Hotel where I stayed, really a B&B, was halfway between the station and the chess venue. I was the only client there, and was put in the room decorated with an Egypt theme, other rooms still being prepared for the coming season. The lack of hot water in the tap was a problem I've encountered before in hotels, but the full English breakfast was OK, and the landlady was a genial conversationalist.
The chess congress (or 'Conference' as it is officially known) was at the Imperial Hotel. Some photos I took of the playing areas have come out very blurred, so I can only show an external view.
My final score was only 1.5 out of 5, consisting of a win, a draw, and three losses. Of these the losses were the longest and most interesting games. Two of the losses were against young women and went to over 70 moves with only kings and pawns on the board at the end. The win on Sunday morning was a surprisingly quick game of only 15 moves against a stronger graded man.
This is the first time I have travelled any distance for three years, and may have reinforced my confidence to travel more later this year, preferably when it is a bit warmer. Walking around Blackpool in the cold wind, when most of the attractions are closed was not particularly pleasant, but I did get some good fish and chips.
