Pseudocyst

The adventures and life of a Specialist Nurse in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. If you then double and triple this by having a primary school age child AND being married to another Nurse then you have double the trouble….aehm I mean fun. Hobbies are playing chess, board games and being taxi for our son!!!

Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this blog are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

chess

  • Norms, Mountains & One Horrible Move

    Disclaimer The following contains mild traces of self-pity, regret, caffeine withdrawal, and the occasional burst of chess-related melodrama. No boards were flipped in the making of this post. All views are entirely my own, occasionally supported by logic, coffee, and deep sighs. Please read responsibly. So: the title norm climb for my correspondence chess SIM Read more

  • Two Tournaments, 29 Boards, One Sanity: A Correspondence Chess Survival Plan

    Disclaimer No openings were harmed. Any blunders were raised ethically on a free-range analysis board. There’s a comforting myth that once you’ve got “IM” next to your name you can retire to a hammock woven from laurel leaves and engine hash tables. Sadly, titles don’t auto-renew like Netflix. And because I didn’t exactly study the Read more

  • “Check, Please” — My First Chess Tournament in a Decade

    Disclaimer This post contains scenes of mild self-deprecation, time scrambles, and questionable endgame technique. Viewer discretion advised. All views expressed in this post are entirely my own and written in a personal capacity. This blog is for entertainment purposes only and does not represent the views of my employer, colleagues, or any chess federation I Read more

  • The Return of the (Almost) Chess Player

    *Or: How £27 Bought Me Nothing but Itchy Feet* Disclaimer This blog is written in a light-hearted spirit. Any financial decisions regarding tournament entry fees, refunds, or Domino’s pizzas are entirely my own and should not be taken as financial advice. Any references to my chess titles or ratings are purely factual and not an Read more

  • Why Lichess.org Is a Game-Changer in Online Chess (vs Chess.com and ICC)

    Lichess.org has become a powerhouse in the world of online chess, quietly redefining how millions engage with the game. In a competitive landscape dominated by Chess.com and the Internet Chess Club (ICC), Lichess offers something rare: a fully free, ad-free, and open-source platform with no paywalls. But how does it compare to its rivals, and Read more

  • Viktor Kuprejchik: A Fearless Attacker on the Chessboard

    Viktor Kuprejchik (1949–2017) was a Belarusian chess grandmaster renowned for his aggressive and imaginative playing style. Born on July 3, 1949, in Minsk, Belarus, he became one of the most prominent figures in Soviet and Belarusian chess. Kuprejchik’s international recognition began early; at 19, he secured an individual gold medal at the 15th World Student Read more

  • BOris SPasski (1937 – 2025)

    A Chess Legend Boris Spassky, born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, was a Russian chess grandmaster renowned for his dynamic and adaptable playing style. He became the 10th World Chess Champion in 1969 by defeating Tigran Petrosian and held the title until 1972. Spassky’s chess talent emerged early; he became Read more

  • My First IM norm

    I got my first IM norm in a tournament in 2019. I played in the Champions League in Division B on board 3. Before the tournament you look at the opponents and trying to figure out which game you might be able to push for a win. Looking at the players in the table above Read more

  • 3 0 blitz against GM

    I am small light in the world of chess. But on the rare occasion I can produce some great games. In a lichess tournament (Bundesliga tournament which is twice weekly) I produced a brilliant game against GM Parligras from Romania. In all fairness my opponent – who is over 500 points “heavier” – did not Read more

  • Correspondence Chess

    I have – so far – written very little about my correspondence chess. I started playing correspondence chess (CC) when Somerset was looking for players for the national county championships. That was around 2010 and I thought it was a good idea to improve my opening knowledge whilst still playing regular over the board (otb) Read more