My game with Grandmaster Luis Galego

The tournament began poorly for me, having only 1.5 points from the first three rounds. While I can not speak for the play of my opponents, I can say that – at my age – playing the entire game with a mask in a room without any air-conditioning definitely worked against me.

Fortunately, I was able to turn things around, employing a strategy of eating plenty of chocolate, drinking cold liquids and getting up and walking around after every move.  The quality of my play might have suffered somewhat (it did!), but atleast my body was getting more oxygen and sugar. 

In the final round I was able to catch up with the tournament leaders by defeating GM Luis Galego with the Black pieces.  Luis and I go back a long way and I have lost track of how many times we have played over the years.  All of our games are interesting fights, this last round game being no exception.

gm Galego,L – gm Spraggett,K
Figueira da Foz 7.11.2021
0-1