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ShortNPlaychess

   "The handsome English chess legend :)" respecting and quoting his own words on the Playchess.com profile. I have not played in my life with many GMs, I mean OTB. More than that, I think I played officially (at long time) against one single GM: Alon Greenfeld (1st International Chess Festival Roma Citta Aperta 2016). Because, I was not lucky to be paired with such a strong player, in the first rounds and a patzer like me, did not reach in the next rounds so high rank, except with Greenfeld, when I played on board number 25 of 85 and it was the 7th round. 

   In OTB blitz chess tournaments or rapid, I was more lucky, meeting few GMs but at that time, they were not sent at FIDE the tournaments. Online, however, I was fortunate enough to meet plenty of great players. In my view, I believe that, the most powerful and famous of the "personal collection" has become today, GM Nigel Short!  (FIDE profil here)

 Countless winning tournaments and the 1st (until now the only one) english player, to play a World Chess Championship match, London 1993, against Kasparov. The peak of his Elo FIDE: 2712 (April, 2004).  Those who want to deepen the interesting data career of this brilliant player, can consult WIKI (here). 

 The context in which I managed to play with Short was... surprising. During the time I was in charge, of Responsible with Online Chess Activities for Romanian Chess Federation, I bought a Playchess.com account, called TD-ROU (Tournament Director from Romania). It was used only for the tournament organization but later, with this account, played GM Constantin Ionescu (current secretary general of Romanian Chess Federation) at that time, federal coach. Why? Because we wanted our tournaments, to appear in bold letters on the chat (need Rook rank or higher).

 Today I reactivated this account and immediately, in Main Playing Hall, I was challanged by Nigel Short. There was a moment of surprise and shame for me, but that was the big opportunity. I could not miss in any way! I thought: Thank you, Mr. Costica Ionescu! This is my lucky day!

  Now, I do not know if Nigel noticed what I wrote after he "crafted" me in the first two games (I explained: I'm not Ionescu) but he sent a new challenge and after 3rd, another one! Well, I thought this is enough lost time for him... I thanked and I was left with something (respecting proportions), which he probably felt during the famous games online against Fischer!

 The games are not great, sometimes we see how scared I am :-), but I was satisfied with at least the last two, which I honestly came out of the opening phase. The more important thing is that I played (me, Marian Tudorache) against him but Nigel is very generous and is known to play online exclusively on Playchess.com, often accepting lesser-rated players.