The Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

[Wayne Komer]

The Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

March 23, 2016

Four players are competing for one spot in the super tournament Altibox Norway Chess 2016, which will take place April 19 to April 29, 2016

Schedule:

The pairings are as follows:

Classical games:

Round 1: Wednesday 23 March at 14:30: Tari – Hou Yifan, Hammer – Grandelius
Round 2: Thursday 24 March at 14:30: Tari – Hammer, Hou Yifan - Grandelius
Round 3: Friday 25 March at 14:30: Grandelius – Tari, Hammer – Hou Yifan

Rapid games:

Round 4: Saturday 26 March at 11:00: Hou Yifan – Tari, Grandelius – Hammer
Round 5: Saturday 26 March at 14:00: Hammer – Tari, Grandelius – Hou Yifan
Round 6: Saturday 26 March at 16:00: Tari – Grandelius, Hou Yifan – Hammer

Playoff in case of a tie for first place: Blitz games Saturday 26 March at 18:00.

Closing ceremony and prize giving: Saturday 26 March at 19:30.

Scoring system: Classical games (3 - 1 - 0) / Rapid games (2 - 1 - 0)

http://fagerneschess2016.blogspot.ca...qualifier.html

Standings After Round One

Nils Grandelius finds the best moves, and is the sole leader after 1 round. Strong start from Sweden's number 1!

The games are on chess24.com and chess bomb.

Norway Qualifier 2016
Round One, March 23, 2016
Tari, Aryan – Hou Yifan
D37 QGD, Hastings Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8. O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Bd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Bb7 14. Rad1 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nb7 16. R6d2 Rfd8 17. Kf1 Kf8 18. Ke2 Ke7 19. Nb5 Rdc8 20. Bd3 a6 21. Be4 Nxe4 22. fxe4 axb5 23. Rd7+ Kf6 24. Rxb7 Rxa2 25. Rd2 Rc4 26. e5+ Kg6 27. Rdd7 Rxb2+ 28. Kf1 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Rg4+ 30. Kf3 Rg5 31. Rxf7 Rf5+ 32. Rxf5 Kxf5 33. Rxg7 Kxe5 34. Rb7 b4 35. Rxb6 Kd5 36. e4+ Ke5 37. Ke3 Rb3+ 38. Kd2 h5 39. h4 Kxe4 40. Rxe6+ Kf5 41. Rc6 Rf3 42. Rc4 Rf4 43. Rc5+ Kg4 44. Ke3 Rf3+ 45. Ke2 Rf5 46. Rc4+ Rf4 47. f3+ Kg3 48. Rc5 Rxh4 49. Rb5 Kg2 50. Rg5+ Kh1 51. Kf2 b3 52. Rg1+ Kh2 53. Rg2+ Kh3 54. Rg3+ ½-½

Round One, March 23, 2016
Hammer, Jon Ludvig – Grandelius, Nils
D35 QGD, Exchange Variation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Bb4 7. Nd2 c6 8. e3 Nf8 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. f4 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. f5 Nh4 14. Qh5 Bxf5 15. Rxf5 Nxf5 16. Qxf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Rae8 18. Kf2 g6 19. Bd3 Re6 20. g4 Rfe8 21. Re1 Be7 22. Nf3 Bg5 23. Nd1 Rf6 24. Kg2 Rfe6 25. Kf2 Rf6 26. Ke2 Rfe6 27. Kd2 Rf6 28. Ke2 Rfe6 29. Kd2 Rf6 30. Be2 Rfe6 31. Bf1 Kg7 32. a3 Bd8 33. Bd3 Bc7 34. h4 Rf6 35. Rf1 Ba5+ 36. Ke2 Bb6 37. g5 hxg5 38. hxg5 Rfe6 39. Ne5 R6e7 40. b4 Rxe5 41. dxe5 Rxe5 42. Rg1 Bd8 43. Kf3 Bxg5 44. e4 Bc1 45. a4 Ba3 46. exd5 Rxd5 47. Bc4 Rf5+ 48. Ke4 Bxb4 49. Rf1 b5 50. axb5 cxb5 51. Ne3 Rxf1 52. Bxf1 a6 53. Nd5 Bd6 54. Ne3 Kh6 55. Kd5 Bf4 56. Nc2 Bd2 57. Nd4 f5 58. Nxb5 axb5 59. Bxb5 Kg5 60. Ke6 f4 61. Kf7 f3 62. Bc6 f2 63. Bb5 Bc3 64. Bf1 Kh6 65. Be2 g5 66. Ke6 Kg6 67. Bd3+ Kh5 68. Kf5 Kh4 69. Be2 Bd2 70. Bf1 Kg3 71. Ke4 Kh2 72. Kd3 Kg1 73. Ke2 g4 0-1

58.Nxb5? better is Ne6

Remember, there is a supercomputer giving analysis of Norwegian games at:

http://analysis.sesse.net/

Lovely, in its way…

[Wayne Komer]

Re: The Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

March 24, 2016

Round Two

I tuned in to watch a bit of the play at chess24. The commentary was by Jesper Hall, presumably in Swedish or Norwegian. I guess it was skyped in from his home, because behind him was a bookshelf, a framed wedding picture and a bed! During the commentary, his cell phone rang and he answered it!

Norway Qualifier 2016
Round 2, March 24, 2016
Tari, Aryan – Hammer, Jon Ludvig
A48 King’s Indian, Torre Attack

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 c5 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nh5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. O-O Nc6 11. Re1 f6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. b4 g5 14. Bg3 g4 15. Nh4 f5 16. b5 Nd8 17. Be5 Bh6 18. Nf1 Bg5 19. g3 Nf7 20. Qd3 e6 21. Ng2 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Nf6 23. Nf4 Rae8 24. Nd2 Bxf4 25. gxf4 Nh5 26. Qe3 Qxb5 27. Re1 Qd7 28. Nf1 Ng7 29. f3 Qf7 30. Re2 Kh8 31. Ng3 gxf3 32. Qxf3 Rc8 33. Rg2 Rc6 34. h4 Rfc8 35. Re3 Rg8 36. Nh1 Nh5 37. Re2 Rcc8 38. Qe3 Qf6 39. Rf2 Qxh4 40. Qxe6 Rce8 0-1

Round 2, March 24, 2016
Hou Yifan – Grandelius, Nils
C96 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Bd7 13. b3 Nb7 14. c4 b4 15. Nbd2 g6 16. Nf1 Nh5 17. Bh6 Ng7 18. g4 f6 19. a3 a5 20. Ng3 Rab8 21. Ra2 Nd8 22. Bd2 Nf7 23. Qa1 Qc8 24. axb4 axb4 25. Ra7 Bd8 26. Qa6 Bb6 27. Qxc8 Bxc8 28. Ra2 Bb7 29. g5 Ra8 30. Rea1 Rxa2 31. Rxa2 Ra8 32. Rxa8+ Bxa8 33. gxf6 Ne8 34. Ng5 Bd8 35. f4 Bxf6 36. Nxf7 Kxf7 37. Bd1 Bb7 38. Ne2 Bc8 39. Kg2 exf4 40. Bxf4 Be5 41. Bxe5 dxe5 42. Nc1 Ke7 43. Nd3 Kd6 44. Bg4 Bxg4 45. hxg4 Nf6 46. Kf3 g5 47. Nf2 Nd7 48. Nh3 h6 49. Ng1 Ke7 50. Ne2 Kf6 51. Ng3 Kg6 52. Nf5 Kh7 53. Ke3 ½-½

Final analysis of both boards at:

http://analysis.sesse.net/#board1

Standing After Round Two

No. Name Points

1. Grandelius 4
2. Hammer 3
3. Hou Yifan 2
4. Tari 1
_______

The Qualifier is played at the same time as the Fagernes International 2016. It is organized by Hans Olav Lahlum, one of the better chess writers of the day. His first round report is at:

http://www.bergensjakk.no/tv2_fagern...bulletin_1.pdf

[Wayne Komer]

Re: The Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

March 25, 2016

Round Three

Norway Chess Qualifier, 2016
Round 3, March 25, 2016
Grandelius, Nils – Tari, Aryan
A34 English, Symmetrical, Three Knights System

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. h4 h6 8. Ba3 Qc7 9. Qb3 Bg7 10. d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nc6 12. Rc1 Be6 13. Bc4 Qa5+ 14. Ke2 Bxc4+ 15. Rxc4 O-O 16. Ra4 Qc7 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. d5 Ne5 19. Re4 Nxf3 20. Rxe7 Nd4+ 21. exd4 Rfe8 22. d6 Rxe7+ 23. dxe7 Bf6 24. Qh3 Qb5+ 25. Kd2 Qa5+ 26. Qc3 Qf5 27. Qf3 Qa5+ 28. Qc3 Qf5 29. Qf3 Qa5+ 30. Kd1 Qa4+ 31. Rc2 Qxd4+ 32. Rd2 Qxh4 33. Qxb7 Qa4+ 34. Ke2 Re8 35. Qd7 Qc4+ 36. Ke1 Qe6+ 37. Kf1 Qxd7 38. Rxd7 a5 39. Ke2 h5 40. Kd3 Kg7 41. Ke4 g5 42. Kf5 g4 43. g3 1-0

Round 3, March 25, 2016
Hammer, Jon Ludvig – Hou Yifan
A77 Benoni, Classical

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11. h3 a6 12. a4 Rb8 13. a5 b5 14. axb6 Nxb6 15. Bd3 g5 16. f4 gxf4 17. Rxf4 Nbd7 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Rxe5 20. Rf3 Nd7 21. Rg3 Nf8 22. Bxa6 Ng6 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Ra7 Rb7 25. Rxb7 Qxb7 26. Rf3 Re8 27. Rf1 Ne5 28. Qh5 Ng6 29. Qf5 Re5 30. Qf3 h6 31. Ne2 Qd7 32. Ng3 Nh4 33. Qd3 Qb7 34. Qe2 Qd7 35. Bf4 Re8 36. Qh5 Ng6 37. Bxh6 Bxb2 38. Bg5 Bd4+ 39. Kh1 Qb5 40. Rxf7 Kxf7 41. Qh7+ Bg7 42. Nf5 Qf1+ 43. Kh2 1-0

Standing After Round Three

Grandelius 7
Hammer 6
Hou Yifan 2
Tari 1

There will be three rapid games on Saturday

Hou Yifan’s Live Rating is, as of today, 2663 in classical chess.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: The Norway Chess Qualifier 2016

Norway Chess Qualifier

March 26, 2016

Press Release:

GM Nils Grandelius took clear first place in Altibox Norway Chess Qualifier after getting the best score in both the classical and rapid parts of the tournament. GM Jon Ludvig Hammer took second place, while Women's World Champion GM Yifan Hou placed third. Young IM Aryan Tari finished in fourth and last place.

The Swedish grandmaster is now qualified for the super tournament Altibox Norway Chess played 18th -24th April 2016 in Stavanger. The other participants are Carlsen, Kramnik, Giri, Aronian, Vachier-Lagrave, Topalov, Karjakin, Eljanov and Harikrishna.

Final Standing

1. Grandelius, Nils 14 points
2. Hammer, Jon Ludvig 9 points
3. Hou Yifan 8 points
4. Tari, Aryan 2 points

Hou Yifan’s 3 Blitz Games in Rounds 4-6

Norway Chess Qualifier 2016
Round 4, March 26, 2016
Hou Yifan – Tari, Aryan
A34 English, Symmetrical, Three Knight’s System

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Nd3 9. Qe2 Nxc1 10. Rxc1 e6 11. h4 a6 12. e5 Nc6 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Rh3 Rc8 15. Re1 b5 16. Ng5 Nd4 17. Qg4 h6 18. Qh5 hxg5 19. Qxh8 Bc6 20. Bb1 Kd7 21. Qh5 g6 22. Qxg5 Qxg5 23. hxg5 Be7 24. Rh7 Rf8 25. Ne2 Nxe2 26. Rxe2 Bd5 27. f4 Bc4 28. d3 Bd5 29. Re3 a5 30. Reh3 a4 31. Rg7 Ke8 32. Rhh7 Bd8 33. d4 cxd4 34. Rxf7 Bc4+ 35. Ke1 d3 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Kd1 Bb6 38. Rh3 b4 39. a3 Bd4 40. Bxd3 Bd5 41. Kc2 bxa3 42. bxa3 Bxg2 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Rh6 Bd5 45. Rxg6+ Kf7 46. Rh6 Be3 47. Rh4 Bc5 48. Kb2 Bd4+ 49. Kb1 Bc5 50. Bc2 Bxa3 51. Bxa4 Bc5 52. Bc2 Be3 53. Bd3 Kg8 54. Kc2 Bf2 55. Rh6 Be3 56. Rf6 Bc5 57. Kd2 Bb4+ 58. Ke2 Bf8 59. Rxf8+ Kxf8 60. Ke3 Bc4 1-0

Round 5, March 27, 2016
Grandelius, Nils – Hou Yifan
A35 English, Symmetrical, Four Knights System

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. cxd4 Bd6 12. e4 Rb8 13. e5 Be7 14. Be3 b6 15. Rc1 Kd8 16. f4 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Ke2 Kd7 19. Kd3 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Kxc8 21. Rc1+ Kd8 22. g4 Rd7 23. f5 Rd5 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Rf1 Ke8 26. Rc1 h6 27. Rc8+ Bd8 28. Bd2 Kd7 29. Ra8 a5 30. a4 Kc6 31. Rc8+ Kb7 32. Rc1 b5 33. axb5 Rxb5 34. Rf1 Kc6 35. Rf7 Rb7 36. Rf8 Rd7 37. Ke4 a4 38. Bb4 Be7 39. Bxe7 Rxe7 40. Ra8 Kb5 41. d5 exd5+ 42. Kxd5 Rd7+ 43. Ke6 Rd2 44. Kf7 Rxh2 45. e6 Re2 46. e7 g6 47. e8=Q+ Rxe8 48. Rxe8 h5 49. g5 h4 50. Kxg6 h3 51. Re1 a3 52. Kf5 1-0

Round 6, March 26, 2016
Hou Yifan – Hammer, Jon Ludvig
C26 Vienna, Paulsen-Mieses Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bc5 7. Ne2 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. d3 Re8 10. Be3 Qd6 11. Rb1 Bb6 12. Qd2 Be6 13. c4 Rad8 14. Qc1 Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Bf4 Qd7 17. Qa3 c5 18. Rfe1 Bh3 19. Bxh3 Qxh3 20. Qa4 Re6 21. Bd2 Kf8 22. Rxe6 Qxe6 23. Ba5 Rd6 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Bxb6 Rxb6 26. Rb5 Rxb5 27. cxb5 a6 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. Qa5 g5 30. Qb6 Kg7 31. a4 h5 32. a5 h4 33. Qd6 Qf5 34. Qc6 h3 35. Kf1 g4 36. f4 Kh7 37. Qd6 Kg7 38. Qc6 Kh7 39. Ke2 Qe6+ 40. Qxe6 fxe6 41. Kd2 Kg6 42. c3 Kf5 43. cxd4 cxd4 44. Kc2 e5 45. fxe5 Kxe5 46. Kb3 Kd5 47. Kb4 Kd6 48. Kc4 Kc6 49. Kxd4 Kb5 50. Kd5 Kxa5 51. Kc5 1-0