The night of 9–10 August will go down in my personal chess history — not for triumph, but for sheer endurance. The setting was the Verochino Cafenio in Oroklini, and the occasion was an all-night blitz marathon: 23 rounds, all-play-all, 5+0 time control, with a much-needed pizza break at 3 AM.
We kicked off around midnight, and the last pieces were moved just before 7 AM. Twenty-four players took part, including some serious names: FM Paris Klerides (a true legend of all-night blitz), FM Konstantinos Michaelides (seven-time Cyprus Champion), and FM Alexandros Isaakidis (current Cyprus Champion).
From an organisational point of view, the event was flawless — smooth schedule, great venue, and a buzzing chess atmosphere. From my personal performance point of view? Let’s just say I left my best chess somewhere between the bar and the board.
My score: 11 wins, 11 losses, and 1 win by forfeit.
The reality: I couldn’t see the pieces properly, kept blundering, and miscalculated almost everything. By round 15, I wasn’t sure if I was still playing chess or just auditioning for a slapstick comedy routine. Simply tragic.
And yet… I had a great time.
The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and conversations ran as fast as the games. I caught up with Ivan Constantinou, a former youth star from Larnaca I hadn’t seen in years, and met plenty of new faces. It was a mix of nostalgia and discovery — a reminder of the wide, welcoming net the chess community casts.
I did zero preparation — just turned up and played. And that’s the beauty of an event like this: it’s not about perfect form or scoring victories. It’s about enjoying the game, the people, and the shared madness of playing until sunrise.
As for the winners: Alexandros Isaakidis took the top spot with a near-perfect 22/23, followed closely by Konstantinos Michaelides with 21.5/23, and Paris Klerides rounded out the podium with 19.5/23.
Would I recommend all-night blitz? Absolutely. Just don’t expect to play your best chess. Expect instead to make memories, laugh at your blunders, and maybe, just maybe, win a game against someone you’ll be telling stories about for years to come.
📸 Photo source: Larnaca Chess Club Facebook page.
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