I walked in late and badass to Chess with the lawyers. The short professor, who always looks sharp in a suit that could be better tailored, was giving a simul.

The assistant quickly found a spot for me between some noobs and I waited for the Master (is he?). He had eighteen other boards to play but it was a short wait.

I stood hovering over my well-set pieces provoking a psychological apeture to our match. My seated classmates watched him beat me to a handshake and afford me a flat and unaffected cerulean glance before opening.

Twenty-six moves later I had to admit obvious impending defeat as time had run out and he had to teach another class (not chess). After playing against eight of my students last spring I couldn’t speak coherently.

Afterwards I dropped my sacred watch off for repair and swung by the plaza for further mental trauma. I gave away another forty minute game in the cold. Shivering is no excuse for poor endgame. I even brought my clock out (even though I shouldn’t have) and lost a few more five minute Blitz games (which I also shouldn’t have) before I gave up for the day.

Why do I still have a Chess ego? I’ve won less than 1/9 of the games I’ve played in Chile. I’m going to have to drop it as dead weight if I’m going to make it on time to Chess with the economists in eight hours. Hopefully I’ll learn something for the tournament Friday.