Norway Chess 2014

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2014

This will take place in Stavanger, Norway from the 2nd to 13th of June.

As it was last year, the tournament will take place in different venues. So far confirmed are Inge Brigt Aarbakke factory hall in Bryne, Vågen Videregående Skole – High school in Sandnes, and the main arena in Scandic Hotel Stavanger Forus.

The organizers are making efforts to secure two additional venues. The players will be staying on the new Scandic Stavanger City hotel, which will open its doors in May.

The first prize will be 100,000 EUR, as last year.

Players

1. Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
2. Levon Aronian (Armenia)
3. Alexander Grischuk (Russia)
4. Fabiano Caruana (Italy)
5. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)
6. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria)
7. Sergey Karjakin (Russia)
8. Peter Svidler (Russia)
9. Anish Giri (Netherlands)
10. Simen Agdestein (Norway)

Schedule

Mon June 2 – Blitz
Tue June 3 – Round One
Wed June 4 – Round Two
Thu June 5 – Round Three
Fri June 6 – Free Day
Sat June 7 – Round Four
Sun June 8 – Round Five
Mon June 9 – Round Six
Tue June 10 – Round Seven
Wed June 11 – Free Day
Thu June 12 – Round Eight
Fri June 13 – Round Nine
___________

Norway Chess 2013 was won by Sergey Karjakin, with Carlsen, Anand and Nakamura second, third and fourth on tie-breaks. It was a terrible tournament for Veselin Topalov, who managed to draw just two games and had no wins.

Official Website: http://norwaychess.com/en/norway-chess-2014/

[Andy Shaw]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

It was a terrible tournament for Veselin Topalov, who managed to draw just two games and had no wins.

Terrible tournament? Great tournament compared to Agdestein's soon to be 0/9.

[Vlad Dobrich]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Terrible tournament? Great tournament compared to Agdestein's soon to be 0/9.

I see you are not taking the advice of Bator Sambuev as posted on the Capablanca Memorial thread.
So if you want to wager that Agdestein will scor 0-9 I will take the bet say $100 at even money.
I don't know anything about the player involved but I'm guessing that neither do you.
So put up or .... ..!

[Andy Shaw]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

I see you are not taking the advice of Bator Sambuev as posted on the Capablanca Memorial thread.
So if you want to wager that Agdestein will scor 0-9 I will take the bet say $100 at even money.
I don't know anything about the player involved but I'm guessing that neither do you.
So put up or .... ..!

Alright Vlad, how should we set this up?

[Vlad Dobrich]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Very simple! The tournament ends June 13th. If on that date Agdestein's score is still showing 0, then I will send you $100 by e-transfer.
If, on the other hand, he has at least made one draw (or better) you can send me the $100.
Agreed? --- Vlad Dobrich

[Andy Shaw]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Very simple! The tournament ends June 13th. If on that date Agdestein's score is still showing 0, then I will send you $100 by e-transfer.
If, on the other hand, he has at least made one draw (or better) you can send me the $100.
Agreed? --- Vlad Dobrich

I'm going to back out from the deal for now. We will keep in touch if I change my mind. Thanks Vlad.

[Vlad Dobrich]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

So, first you make an outrageous claim. Then you agree to a wager "Alright, how shall we set this up?" Then you back out.
As Bator Sambuev said "A man should be responsible for his words".
In wagering, I have never been known to take advantage of the feeble minded.
So I will improve on my offer. I will offer 2 : 1 on the same bet. If I win, you pay me $100 and if you should win, I will pay you $200.
And I will not withdraw my offer. Except of course, should Agdestein not play, the bet is void.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

So, first you make an outrageous claim. Then you agree to a wager "Alright, how shall we set this up?" Then you back out.

It could always be worse. Some posters have been know to edit or delete inconvenient posts and make it look like someone is debating themselves.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Carlsen big favourite to win No Logo Norway Chess

From the Official Site May 30, 2014

One of Europe’s biggest online gambling providers, Unibet, do not think the challenge from Fabiano Caruana and Levon Arionian can stop Norwegian chess genius Magnus Carlsen from adding the No Logo Norway Chess-trophy to his own personal trophy cabinet next week.

The outright odds for the Norwegian, ranked as number 1 in the world, is set at 1,75 with Unibet. The betting provider will also stream the chess matches live from No Logo Norway Chess in Stavanger for its Norwegian clients. Furthermore Unibet will provide odds on all the matches; and also offer live betting for the matches involving Magnus Carlsen.

Even though Magnus Carlsen lost his matches against Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana during the Zurich Chess Challenge; Unibet do not believe the challengers have shaken Carlsen enough to rob him of the crown in his native country. The outright odds for Aronian going into the tournament is 6,00, while a flutter on Caruana pays back eight times your stake; if he were to win No Logo Norway Chess.

- As the defending champion we believe that Carlsen will be in top shape for the tournament in Stavanger. This time he plays on his own turf, and he wants to show the Norwegian public that he is the world number 1. We also believe he is hungry for revenge since he lost out in this tournament last year to Sergej Karjakin.

Unibet rank the trio of Aronian, Caruana and Kramnik ahead of Alexander Grischuk who has made a big leap on the world ranking (from 6th to 3rd) during the last month. The outright odds for Grischuk, and Sergej Karjakin, is 15,0 to win in Stavanger.

The second Norwegian participant in the tournament, the former professional footballer, Simen Agdestein, is priced at 150,0 to shock the world of chess by winning in Stavanger.



Unibet’s outright betting for No Logo Norway Chess:

1. Magnus Carlsen (NOR) 1,75
2. Levon Aronian (ARM) 6,00
3. Fabiano Caruana (ITA) 8,00
4. Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) 12,50
5. Alexander Grischuk (RUS) 15,00
6. Sergej Karjakin (RUS) 15,00
7. Veselin Topalov (BUL) 18,00
8. Peter Svidler (RUS) 25,00
9. Anish Giri (NED) 25,00
10. Simen Agdestein (NOR) 150,00

[Vlad Dobrich]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Wayne,
I believe the odds quoted may be misleading. If I bet $100 that Magnus will win the tournament will I win $175? - Probably not. I think that the site quotes 1,75 to include the 1,00 wagered. Thus I will only receive $75 plus my $100 back. We've had this discussion before on ChessTalk, and I pointed out that the prices quoted are misleading. Traditionally, the price quoted should not include the amount of your bet. If you ever sit at a blackjack table, you will see in front of you the words "blackjack pays 3 : 2 or 1 1/2 to 1. They don't take your bet and then return it as part of your winnings.
I'm guessing the prices you quote above do include your bet (one unit) in the payout. These online wagering sites like to use weasel words to make the novice player think he is winning more than the actual fact.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Norway Chess 2014

Blitz Tournament
June 2, 2014

There is a nine-round blitz tournament today, which among other things determine the order of the draw for the main tournament. One would want the extra white. The blitz is not going to be rated. The time appears to be 4 minutes for the game with 2 sec increments each move.

The official site is:

http://live.norwaychess.com/

and the commentators are two of the best Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam and Nigel Short.

The sponsor of the tournament is Unibet but non-state sponsored betting companies aren’t allowed to advertise publicly in Norway. What to do? Just call it “No Logo” Norway Chess 2014 and still post odds and do business.

Blitz Results

Round 1

Agdestein-Kramnik 0-1
Topalov-Carlsen 0-1
Giri-Karjakin 1-0
Grischuk-Caruana 1-0
Aronian-Svidler 1-0

Round 2

Karjakin (0)-Grischuk (1) 0-1
Caruana (0)-Aronian (1) 0.5-0.5
Agdestein (0)-Topalov(0) 1-0
Carlsen (1)-Giri (1) 1-0
Kramnik (1)-Svidler (0) 1-0

Round 3

Grischuk (2)-Carlsen (2) 0.5-0.5
Svidler (0)–Caruana (0.5) 1-0
Aronian (1.5)– Karjakin (0) 0-1
Giri (1)-Agdestein (1) 1-0
Topalov (0)-Kramnik (2) 0.5-0.5

Round 4

Topalov (0.5)-Giri (2) 0.5-0.5
Karjakin (1)-Svidler (1) 0.5-0.5
Carlsen (2.5)-Aronian (1.5) 0.5-0.5
Kramnik (2.5-Caruana (0.5) 0.5-0.5
Agdestein (1)-Grischuk (2.5) 0.5-0.5

Round 5

Caruana (1)-Karjakin (1.5) 0-1
Giri (2.5)-Kramnik (3) 1-0
Grischuk (3)-Topalov (1) 0.5-0.5
Aronian (2)-Agdestein (1.5) 1-0
Svidler (1.5) – Carlsen (3) 0-1

Round 6

Topalov (1.5)-Aronian (3) 0-1
Carlsen (4)-Caruana (1) 1-0
Agdestein (1.5)-Svidler (1.5) 0-1
Kramnik (3)-Karjakin (2.5) 0-1
Giri (3.5)-Grischuk (3.5) 1-0

Caruana has a lost game in 10 moves!

Norway Chess 2014 Blitz
Round Six
June 2, 2014
Carlsen, Magnus-Caruana, Fabiano
C07 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nb5 Na6 8. Nc3 Qd8 9. a3 Be7 10. Qf3 O-O 11. Bxa6 1-0

In the Giri-Grischuk game, Nigel shouts out that Giri could have won a rook but missed it. There was a slight break at move 115 but the players are back at the K,R and c pawn vs K, N and d pawn. Grischuk blunders and Giri has a technical win in 12 moves (on his 156th move!).

Round 7

Aronian (4)-Giri(4.5) 1-0
Grischuk (3.5)-Kramnik (3) 1-0
Caruana (1)-Agdestein (1.5) 1-0
Svidler (2.4)-Topalov (1.5) 1-0
Karjakin (3.50-Carlsen (5) 0-1

Round 8

Giri (4.5)-Svidler (3.5) 0-1
Agdestein (1.5)-Karjakin (3.5) 0-1
Kramnik (3)-Carlsen (6) 0.5-0.5
Grischuk (4.5)-Aronian (5) 0.5-0.5
Topalov (1.5)-Caruana (2) 0.5-0.5

Round 9

Aronian (5.5)-Kramnik (3.5) 1-0
Karjakin (4.5)-Topalov (2) 1-0
Svidler (4.5)-Grischuk (5) 0.5-0.5
Carlsen (6.5)-Agdestein (1.5) 1-0
Caruana (2.5)-Giri (4.5) 1-0

The FIDE World Rankings for Blitz for May 2014 are 1. Nakamura 2879, 2. Karjakin 2866, 3. Aronian 2863, 4. Carlsen 2837 and Vachier-Lagrave 2835.

Final Standings

Carlsen 7.5
Aronian 6.5
Grischuk 5.5
Karjakin 5.5
Svidler 5.0
Giri 4.5
Caruana 3.5
Kramnik 3.5
Topalov 2.0
Agdestein 1.5

A convincing win for Carlsen. The first five in the standings will have an extra white in the nine-round tournament.

Games start at 15:30 P.M. = 9:30 AM Toronto, Montreal. The venue is Sandnes, Norway about 450 km west of Oslo.

First Round Pairings

Carlsen-Giri
Aronian-Agdestein
Grischuk-Caruana
Karjakin-Topalov
Svidler-Kramnik

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Norway Chess 2014

June 3, 2014
Round One

Commentators Nigel Short and Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam.

The official website gives their potted biographies:

Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam

Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam is editor-in-chief of New In Chess, the international chess magazine that has readers in 97 countries. He is also a prolific writer. His best-known books are Linares! Linares!, Finding Bobby Fischer and The Day Kasparov Quit, the last two being collections of his best interviews with the famous and fabled of chess.
Dirk Jan (a.k.a. DJ) graduated from Groningen University where he studied English Language and Literature and General Literature.
He made his debut as a commentator at the 2012 World Championship match between Vishy Anand and Boris Gelfand in Moscow. Last year he hosted the English language commentary at the Alekhine Memorial in Paris/St. Petersburg, the first edition of Norway Chess and the final rounds of the Tromsø World Cup.
Outside of chess (and the history of the game), Dirk Jan is passionate about art (particularly Dutch 17th century painters, but also the other greats from Dürer to Lucian Freud) music, both classical (from Mozart to Mahler) and modern (from Led Zeppelin to Kanye West), and everything else that makes life fascinating.

Nigel Short

Nigel Short is a chess grandmaster, columnist, coach and chess commentator.
After becoming the youngest International Master in chess history aged 14 (breaking Bobby Fischer's 1958 record), he was awarded the grandmaster title in 1984, aged nineteen – becoming the youngest grandmaster in the world at that time, he is now regarded as the strongest and best known English player of the modern era, ranked third in the world for a period of 18 months from 1988 to 1989 (third to Kasparov and Karpov), and in the top ten for over a decade. Winning candidate matches against Karpov and Speelman, he went on to challenge Garry Kasparov in the World Chess Championship in 1993.
Nigel has become known as one of the most extensively travelled grandmasters, visiting over 100 countries to date. A keen promoter of chess across the world, these visits have included lectures and simuls for federations such as Barbados, Trinidad, Malawi, Mozambique etc. in addition to being a patron for the UK charity program Chess in Schools.
In addition to playing, Short has written chess columns and book reviews for the British broadsheet newspapers The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Spectator, The Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian for over twenty years, and is now writing a monthly column for New In Chess. He was a commentator at the 2012 London Chess Classic, the 2013 London Candidates tournament and the final rounds of the 2013 Tromsø World Cup.
Outside of his chess career, Nigel is passionate about playing guitar, wine (drinking, and the finer points), international cricket, swimming and olive oil production at his home in Greece.
_____

Gary Kasparov is the first guest. He analyzes the games with the guys and then talks about the situation of world chess for almost an hour.

The top five players from yesterday’s blitz have the extra white in the classical tournament.

The commentators intend to ask a question each day, the correct answer from a draw getting a free year’s subscription to NIC:

Answers to the quiz: quiz@norwaychess.com

Magnus Carlsen is the odds on favorite to win this tournament. There is one player in this tournament who has won all the tournaments he has played in Norway. How many were there and who is that player?

I am not sure what the correct answer is – that will be given tomorrow. But, the biography on the official site says that Agdestein has won the Norwegian Championship seven times, and he was ranked 16th in the world at his best. Perhaps he is the answer.

Nigel also asks a question:

1. e4 f6. Who was the player who defeated Paul Morphy with that opening?

We learn later on in the day that he was Thomas Wilson Barnes, in 1858.

The first game to finish is Carlsen-Giri. It looked like Magnus was within an ace of winning but Giri defended well and it was a draw. Both players seemed happy at the press conference.

Norway Chess 2014
Round One
June 3, 2014
Carlsen, Magnus-Giri, Anish
A34 English, Symmetrical, Three Knights Var

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. d4 g6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. a4 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ba3 b6 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Qd5 Bxb5 14. axb5 Nd7 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Ng5 e6 17. Qc6 Qxc6 18. bxc6 Ne5 19. c7 Rdc8 20. f4 h6 21. Ne4 Nc4 22. Rd7 Nb6 23. Rad1 Nxd7 24. Rxd7 Bf8 25. c4 a5 26. Nc3 a4 27. Nb5 Re8 28. e4 Rac8 29. Na7 Ra8 30. Nb5 Rac8 31. Na7 Ra8 32. Nb5 0.5-0.5

In great time pressure Grischuk went down to defeat against Caruana.

Norway Chess 2014
Round One
June 3, 2014
Grischuk, Alexander-Caruana, Fabiano
A62 Benoni, Fianchetto Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. O-O Re8 10. a4 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rb4 13. Ra2 a5 14. b3 b5 15. axb5 Nd7 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Qc2 Rxb5 18. Bg5 Nf6 19. Qd3 Rb7 20. Qe3 h6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Qf4 Be5 23. Qxh6 Rxb3 24. Nxc5 Rb5 25. Nd3 Bg7 26. Qd2 a4 27. Qc2 a3 28. Rxa3 Rxa3 29. Qxc8 Kh7 30. Bf3 Rc3 31. Qg4 Rbb3 32. h4 f5 33. Qa4 Ra3 34. Qd1 Bh6 35. Kg2 Qf6 36. Rh1 Qd4 37. Qb1 Rab3 38. Qa2 Rxd3 39. exd3 Rb2 0-1

Nigel has said all through the commentary that the betting odds against Caruana are 8 to 1. He thought that was good enough to lodge a small bet on Caruana.

All the rest of the games were drawn. The results:

Aronian-Agdestein 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Giri 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Caruana 0-1
Karjakin-Topalov 0.5-0.5
Svider-Kramnik 0.5-0.5

Round Two Pairings

Aronian-Karjakin
Kramnik-Carlsen
Caruana-Svidler
Topalov-Grischuk
Agdestein-Giri

Simen Agdestein has had a nasty cough and there were some fears that he would have to withdraw. The rules are quite clear - If Agdestein should withdraw before round 5, his games do not count for the final standings (while all games played at the board are FIDE-rated). If he withdraws after round 5, his games do count, and his remaining opponents will get a free point.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Norway Chess 2014

Round Two
June 4, 2014

The commentators are, as usual, Nigel Short and Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam. Their work is a blend of analysis, chess history, anecdotes and humour. With Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson, they represent the best commenting in English.

They talk about openings not named after the originator and Stigler’s Law is cited:

Stigler’s Law – no scientific discovery is named after the man who discovered it.

Wiki: Stigler's Law tells us "No scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer." The term was coined by University of Chicago statistics professor Stephen Stigler in a 1980 paper. Stigler was building on a number of earlier ideas, including that of the sociologist Robert K. Merton, whose Matthew Effect held that scientists who are already famous are more likely to get credit for a new discovery than their still unknown peers, no matter if the former's research is identical or inferior to that of the latter.

The guys say that Karjakin has 17 consecutive draws so far in top level classical chess. Nigel would bet that today the run of draws will be extended.
________

The game under discussion is Caruana-Svidler, where Peter gave up a queen not to be mated!

They have Silvio Danailov as a guest and he talks about his achievements as head of the ECU. He is running again for the post and running against Zurab Azmaiparashvili of Georgia.

He makes the point that FIDE doesn’t have an advertising and PR department at all. How can you get sponsors in this day and age without that?

Nigel says that we have a rotten administration in the FIDE and they have to be kicked out! Come on, Nigel, tell us what you really think!
__________

Yesterday’s Question: Magnus is the odds on favorite to win this tournament. One other participant has won all the tournaments he has played in Norway so far – who is the player and how many tourneys were there?

Many people picked Karjakin. The answer is Vladimir Kramnik and 2. He won World Cup Tromso, 2013 and in 1992, when he was 16, with long hair and smoked like a chimney and drank, won in Gausdal in Norway.

The winner is a guy from Cologne, Bernd Dahm, Germany.

New question:

There is a rich tradition of chess players living in a country where they were not born. Fischer born in Chicago, died in Iceland.
Spassky born in Russia, lived in France. How many of the participants in this tourney do not currently live in the country in which they were born?

Answer tomorrow.
__________

Games are being played out now. In the old days, a player might appear at the board in his tennis outfit, take a quick draw and go out on the court – Spassky and Ulf Andersson were two examples. One cannot imagine Kramnik and Carlsen doing that today.

The most discussed game today:

Norway Chess 2014
Round Two
June 4, 2014
Caruana, Fabiano-Svidler, Peter
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. f3 b5 10. Kb1 Ne5 11. g4 b4 12. Na4 h6 13. Rg1 d5 14. Bf4 dxe4 15. g5 hxg5 16. Rxg5 Nfd7 17. Rxg7 exf3 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Bd3 Bf6 20. Bg6 Nxg6 21. Bxc7 Bxg7 22. Qd3 Nge5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Qe4 Ra7 25. Nc5 Ke7 26. Rf1 Rf8 27. Nxd7 Rxd7 28. Qxe5 Rd5 29. Qe3 Rdf5 30. Qf2 a5 31. b3 Bd7 32. Rg1 Bc6 33. Kb2 R8f7 34. Rg8 Rf8 35. Rg4 R8f7 36. a3 bxa3 37. Kxa3 Kd6 38. Rc4 Bd5 39. Rc8 Ke5 1-0

Just before the time control, with Caruana having an enormous advantage, the players shook hands and the site showed that it was a draw. This was quickly changed as a win for White. The players came to the press conference and the sound went off! I don’t have a single word that Svidler said on his loss!

Caruana has now risen above the 2800 level and has a 2800.5 live rating to join Carlsen and Aronian at the top.

Agdestein draws with Giri, so he won’t be swept in this tournament. Topalov goes down to Grischuk:

Norway Chess 2014
Round Two
June 4, 2014
Topalov, Veselin-Grischuk, Alexander
A04 Reti, Zukertort

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. h3 e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 Be7 11. f4 exf4 12. Bxf4 Nc6 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. O-O-O Nce5 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Rxd5 O-O 17. Kb1 Qc7 18. Rd1 Nb6 19. h4 Nec4 20. Rh3 Bf6 21. c3 Rfe8 22. Nd4 Qc5 23. Nf5 d5 24. e5 Bxe5 25. Qg4 g6 26. h5 Qf2 27. Nh6 Kg7 28. Bc1 f5 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 Rad8 31. g4 d4 32. hxg6 hxg6 33. Rfd3 Nd5 34. cxd4 Bf4 35. Bxf4 Nxf4 36. Rf3 Re1 0-1

Sasha said it was like he was sleepwalking yesterday (and lost to Caruana). All of his excitement came from the blitz tournament the day before. Instead of going back to his hotel he sits down again and helps the guys analyze the Kramnik-Carlsen game. Nigel laughs and says that the game is going on for another thousand moves.

Karjakin loses and breaks his string of draws.

Norway Chess 2014
Round Two
June 4, 2014
Aronian, Levon-Karjakin, Sergey
E15 Quiet Line, QID

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 d5 9. Qc2 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Bc3 Nbd7 12. Nxf6 Bxf6 13. Bd3 c5 14. Be4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 O-O 16. O-O Qc7 17. Rad1 a6 18. Rfe1 Rfd8 19. Qe3 cxd4 20. Bxd4 h6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Ne5 b5 23. Rc1 bxc4 24. Rxc4 Qd6 25. Qf3 Qd5 26. Kg2 a5 27. Ra4 Ra6 28. Re3 Rf8 29. Rc4 a4 30. b4 a3 31. Qxd5 Nxd5 32. Rb3 Rfa8 33. b5 Rb6 34. Nd7 Rb7 35. Nc5 Rb6 36. Na6 Kf8 37. Nc7 Ra5 38. Nxd5 exd5 39. Rc5 Ke7 40. Rxd5 Ke6 41. Rc5 Rb7 42. Re3 Kf6 43. Rc6 Kf5 44. b6 f6 45. Rc7 Rxc7 46. bxc7 Rc5 47. Re7 g5 48. Kf3 Rc3 49. Ke2 Kg4 50. Kd2 Rc6 51. Kd3 Kh3 52. Kd4 Kxh2 53. Kd5 Rc2 54. Kd6 Kg2 55. Rf7 1-0
________

While Kramnik-Carlsen goes on and on, viewers ask a couple of questions which Dirk Jan and Nigel field:

Why isn’t Nakamura here?

One reason is that the World Rapid and Blitz Championships start in Dubai immediately after this tournament (June 15) and Nakamura very much wants to win it and he will be well rested by not coming here. He will have some stiff competition from Grischuk and Carlsen. Everyone would like to win a world title.

Does Nigel have any long-term aspirations?

My intention is to win the World Seniors Championship next year when I qualify (over 50). I am serious about this, I am in training already.

Does Nigel have any grandmaster that he really enjoys playing against?

I have enjoyed playing people whom I have won against. Ljubomir Ljubojević for one. Also Boris Gelfand, I have beaten him 12 times out of 24 games. I have terrible records against Alexei Shirov and Vassily Ivanchuk.

Can Nigel recommend any good improvement books other than the classics?

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Bronstein). Bronstein published a letter of mine (Nigel) that I wrote him when I was ten years old in Secret Notes (2007).

Also Mikhail Tal’s book on his match with Botvinnik in 1960.
__________

Kramnik-Carlsen is drawn. The players are quite happy and relaxed at the press conference, after five hours play. Finally, Carlsen had to leave to meet a host of photographers and journalists.

Standings after Round Two

Caruana 2, Aronian 1.5, Giri 1.0, Agdestein 1.0, Grischuk 1.0, Carlsen 1.0, Kramnik 1.0, Svidler 0.5, Karjakin 0.5 and Topalov 0.5

Carlsen as White meets the leader, Caruana, tomorrow and he says that he will try and stop him.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

Norway Chess 2014

Round Three
June 5, 2014

Sensation! Aronian busted after 14 moves by Grischuk!

Norway Chess 2014 Classic
Round 3
June 5, 2014
Grischuk, Alexander-Aronian, Levon
A18 English, Mikenas-Carls, Flohr Variation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 e5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. d5 Nb8 11. h4 Nd7 12. Bd3 e4 13. h5 Qf5 14. Rh4 *

Aronian doesn't want to lose a superminiature and plays on:

14. ... exd3 15. Rf4 Nc5 16. Rxf5 Bxf5 17. Nd4 Bd7 *

The game is over. Grischuk has won:

The whole game:

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 e5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. d5 Nb8 11. h4 Nd7 12. Bd3 e4 13. h5 Qf5 14. Rh4 exd3 15. Rf4 Nc5 16. Rxf5 Bxf5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Kf1 Bd6 19. Nb3 f6 20. Be3 b6 21. Nxc5 bxc5 22. Qxd3 O-O 23. Qd2 Be8 24. h6 g5 25. Qb2 Bd7 26. Qa3 Rfe8 27. Bxc5 Bh2 28. Re1 Bf5 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. Be3 Kf7 31. Ke2 Be5 32. Kd2 Bg4 33. Qxa7 Kg6 34. a4 Kxh6 35. a5 c6 36. dxc6 Rc8 37. f3 Bf5 38. g4 Be6 39. Qe7 Bxc4 40. Bd4 1-0

Levon said he had analyzed this opening a week ago but only remembered the losing line – a memory malfunction. He could not remember why it was refuted. When he saw that he was lost, Aronian did not think of resigning, just hitting himself!

[Hans Jung]

Re: Norway Chess 2014

A delicious queen trap but if the black king can survive than swindle potential (Nc5 is a great outpost) ?!?