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My Journey at the Italian Chess Championship 2023
- 20 January 2024
- Posted by: Alessandro Santagati
- Category: Event tournaments
Today, I want to share with you the exciting journey I undertook at the Italian Chess Championship 2023, held in Brescia from November 28th to December 9th. In this tournament structured with a single round-robin format, I had the opportunity to challenge the best Italian players of the moment. Participating in the final was a unique emotion, especially considering that I qualified by securing the second position in the semifinal of Italian Chess Championship assoluto e che nessun giocatore siciliano si qualificava da oltre 20 anni alla finale. With determination, I faced the tournament aware that each game represented an opportunity to showcase my skills, encountering esteemed opponents with a proactive approach. The first round was postponed because I agreed to reschedule the game with FM Valerio Carnicelli, , who wasn’t feeling well. I could have taken the victory and earned an immediate point, but I came here to play and compete with the best. The tournament didn’t start in the best way, and the first positive result came in the 6th round with a victory against IM Gilevych Artem , who was in excellent form and undefeated until that moment. In the seventh round, there was a prestigious draw against GM Danyyil Dvirnyy the Italian champion in 2015. The last victory came in the ninth round against one of the favorites for victory, GM Lorenzo LodiciThe combination that led to my victory was dubbed by chess content creators on YouTubeas the “2023 Sacrifice: Insane Combination“.
In the final phase, I had the honor of facing opponents of the highest level, including GM Luca Moroni Jr the winner of the tournament. Every move was made with courage and determination, knowing that the journey is as important as the destination.
I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who followed and supported my journey in this tournament. Every word of encouragement was a guiding light during the most challenging matches. Your support was the fundamental engine that fueled my determination in every game. Every tournament is a new chapter in my chess adventure. I look forward with the same passion and dedication, aware that each game, each tournament, is an opportunity to learn, grow, and share the beauty of chess with a passionate community. Heartfelt thanks for being by my side in this extraordinary chess adventure.