Given how intelligent and handsome the typical reader of my blog is, you will of course note that it is not yet winter. That's just how Bristol rolls. We're pioneers and vastly ahead of our time. Or at least a few weeks.
Anyway.
Given that the tournament was being held so close to where I live, I hardly had an excuse to take a bye on Friday. This was my first major section entry and really, it was a bit of a disappointment. Great for learning and whatnot, but not for the ego. So on with the games. First I was paired with the highest graded player in the section:
Hurray! I could solidly justify not taking a bye. Shame the same couldn't be said for the rest of it.