Norway Chess 2021

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 6, 2021

This year’s Norway Chess will take place between September 7th -18th in Stavanger

The chess super tournament that was supposed to take place in May was postponed due to entry restrictions to Norway as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The organizer quickly decided to do its very best to find new dates for the tournament.

The over the board tournament is now scheduled for September 7th to 18th and will be played at Clarion Hotel Stavanger. The tournament format this year, as the previous year, will be somewhat different, with 6 players instead of 10. The 6 players will meet each other twice for classical chess, with reverse colors from the first match. The time control in the classical game is set to the minimal, and if a match ends in a draw, the players will move on to an Armageddon game. Armageddon was introduced by Norway Chess as the first super tournament to do so back in 2019. Restricted time control and Armageddon has increased the TV and online audience, reaching record viewer ratings.

Magnus Carlsen to meet his championship match opponent at Norway Chess

In November this year, Magnus Carlsen will play the world championship match in Dubai after it was postponed by one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. His opponent, Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, is one of the participants in Norway Chess and it will therefore most likely be the last time they meet over the board before the world championship match. It will be Nepomniachtchi’s first time to play Norway Chess. This also goes for Hungarian Richard Rapport, who also will play Norway Chess for the first time. It is an exciting field this year and viewers around the world have a lot to look forward to!

The players are:

World number 1 and world champion: Magnus Carlsen – Norway

World number 4: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Russia

World number 11: Richard Rapport – Hungary

World number 13: Alireza Firouzja – FIDE

World number 15: Sergey Karjakin – Russia

World number 119: Aryan Tari – Norway

Play starts at 11AM Toronto/Montreal time


https://norwaychess.no/en/2021/06/01...ay-chess-2021/

[Hans Jung]

Good field. 2 Norwegians, 2 Russians, and two wild ones. (draw disturbers)

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 7, 2021

Tournament Schedule

Round 1, September

Nepo-Karjakin
Firouzja-Carlsen
Tari-Rapport

Round 2, September 8

Karjakin-Rapport
Carlsen-Tari
Nepo-Firouzja

Round 3, September 9

Firouzja-Karjakin
Tari-Nepo
Rapport-Carlsen

Round 4, September 10

Tari-Karjakin
Rapport-Firouzja
Carlsen-Nepo

Rest Day, September 11

Round 5, September 12

Karjakin-Carlsen
Nepo-Rapport
Firouzja-Tari

Round 6, September 13

Karjakin-Nepo
Carlsen-Firouzja
Rapport-Tari

Round 7, September 14

Rapport-Karjakin
Tari-Carlsen
Firouzja-Nepo

Round 8, September 15

Karjakin-Firouzja
Nepo-Tari
Carlsen-Rapport

Round 9, September 16

Carlsen-Karjakin
Rapport-Nepo
Tari-Firouzja

Round 10, September 17

Karjakin-Tari
Firouzja-Rapport
Nepo-Carlsen

Round 1

Commentators are J. Houska and J. Polgar

Due to visa issues, Ian Nepomniachtchi was prevented from boarding his flight and had to have a new visa issued to go to Norway. The Russian grandmaster will arrive in Stavanger on September 7. However, he will arrive too late to start the first round at 17.00 and will therefore play round 1 on the free day (Saturday, September 11), when he will face his Sergey Karjakin.

Each of the 10 rounds consists of a classical game, with a time control of 2 hours for all moves, with a 10-second increment per move only after move 40.

In case of a decisive result - the winner gets 3 points; the loser gets 0 points

In case of a draw, an Armageddon decider is played - the winner gets 1½ points; the loser gets 1 point

In Armageddon, White (the same player who had White in the classical game) has 10 minutes to Black’s 7, with a 1-second increment from move 41. Black wins if the game ends in a draw.

A tie for first place will be decided by two 3+2 blitz games followed, if necessary, by an Armageddon game (White gets 5 minutes to Black’s 4).

Round 1, September 7
Firouzja, Alireza – Carlsen, Magnus
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 Ng6 6.c3 d5 7.h4 a6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.h5 Nf4 10.d4 Nxh5 11.Ne5 Nf6 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.e5 Ng8 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.dxc5 Qb7 18.b4 a5 19.Qb3 O-O 20.Nd2 Qa6 21.Nf3 Qc4 22.Qxc4 dxc4 23.Re4 axb4 24.cxb4 Ra4 25.Rxc4 Rfa8 26.Nd4 Rxa2 27.Rxa2 Rxa2 28.b5 cxb5 29.Nxb5 Nc6 30.Nd4 Nxd4 31.Rxd4 Kf8 32.c6 Rc2 33.Rd8+ Ke7 34.Rd7+ Ke8 35.Rc7 g5 36.Rc8+ Ke7 37.Rc7+ Ke8 38.Rc8+ Ke7 39.Rc7+ 1/2-1/2

It's a draw in Firouzja-Carlsen, so we're going to have our first Armageddon of #NorwayChess

Round 1, September 7
Tari, Aryan – Rapport, Richard
C01 French, Exchange

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.O-O Nbc6 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nh4 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Re8 13.Qf3 Qd7 14.Bd2 Na5 15.Rae1 Nc4 16.Bc1 a5 17.Qh5 Ra6 18.Nf3 g6 19.Qh4 f6 20.Re2 Nf5 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Qf4 Qd7 23.Re1 g5 24.Qg4 Re6 25.h4 Rxe1+ 26.Nxe1 Qe6 27.Nd3 Qe4 28.Qxe4 dxe4 29.Nc5 Nxh4 30.Nxb7 Nf5 31.Nc5 Nfd6 32.g4 Kf7 33.Kg2 Kg6 34.a4 h5 35.gxh5+ Kxh5 36.Kg3 f5 37.Ne6 f4+ 38.Bxf4 Nf5+ 39.Kh3 gxf4 40.Nxf4+ Kh6 41.Ne6 Ne7 42.Nxc7 Kg5 43.Kg2 Kg4 44.Kf1 Kf3 45.Ke1 Nc8 46.Ne6 N8b6 47.Ng5+ Kf4 48.Ne6+ Kg4 49.Nc5 Kf3 50.Nb3 Nxa4 51.d5 Nab6 52.d6 a4 53.Nd4+ Kf4 54.Nb5 Nxd6 55.Nxd6 a3 0-1

Armageddon
Round 2, September 7
Firouzja, Alireza – Carlsen, Magnus
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 b6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bb7 8.Nc3 a6 9.Bf1 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qe3 Bc5 12.Qg3 O-O 13.e5 f5 14.exf6 Rxf6 15.Bg5 Rxf2 16.Bxd8 Rf3+ 17.Kh1 Rxg3 18.Bxb6 Bxb6 19.hxg3 Bf2 20.Re2 Bxg3 21.Ne4 Be5 22.Nc5 Bc8 23.c3 d6 24.Ne4 Kf7 25.Rd1 Ke7 26.g3 Rb8 27.Bg2 d5 28.Nc5 Kd6 29.b4 a5 30.a3 axb4 31.axb4 Ra8 32.Ne4+ Kc7 33.b5 dxe4 34.Rxe4 Ra3 35.Rc4 Rxc3 36.Rxc3 Bxc3 37.Rc1 Na7 38.Rxc3+ Kb6 39.Bc6 e5 40.Kg1 Bf5 41.Be8 g6 42.Kf2 h5 43.Ra3 g5 44.Ra6+ Kb7 45.Rf6 Be4 46.Re6 h4 47.g4 Nc8 48.Rxe5 Nd6 49.Bd7 Kc7 50.Be6 Bb7 51.Ke3 h3 52.Rxg5 h2 53.Rh5 h1=Q 54.Rxh1 Bxh1 55.g5 Be4 56.Kd4 Bh7 57.Ke5 Ne4 1/2-1/2

Alireza was completely winning but in a wild time scramble he threw away the win and Magnus wins the day and 1.5 points! Alireza gets 1 point:

Nepo – Karjakin postponed

Standings after Round Two

1 Rapport 3
2 Carlsen 1.5
3 Firouzja 1
4-6 Tari, Nepo, Karjakin 0

Magnus Carlsen beat Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon, but it's Richard Rapport, up to world no. 9 on the live rating list, who leads after beating Aryan Tari!

[Hans Jung]

Its a good thing Richard Rapport and Alireza Firoujza are a part of the tournament. Firoujza and Magnus had entertaining battles and Richard Rapport won a lovely game using knights (just look at that endlessly entertaining knight play!) and ticklers over Tari.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Richard Rapport is a very creative and very strong chess player who entered the top 10 yesterday, happy to see him in strong tournanents.

[Hans Jung]

Today Richard Rapport chased Karjakhin around and I thought it was all over but Karjakhin survived.

[Hans Jung]

Tari had magnus where he wanted him but couldnt finish.
The best was Nepo - Firoujza. First game was a draw and then Nepo played the King's Gambit!! Gotta love it.

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Rapport played a truly great game in a Taimanov sicilian but could not pass Karjakin tenacious defense. Nepo played the king's gambit againt Firouza and had +5 after 10 moves. Good publicity for his chessable book, !

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 8, 2021

Round Three

Round 3, September 8
Carlsen, Magnus – Tari, Aryan
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.Nbd2 a5 7.Nf1 Be6 8.Bb5 O-O 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.Ne3 Qf6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Nf4 17.h4 Rfb8 18.b3 a4 19.bxa4 Rb2 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Bxf4 gxf4 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Re8+ 24.Kf1 Qxf5 25.Rh5 Qg6 26.Rh4 Ree2 27.Qxe2 Rxe2 28.Kxe2 Qe4+ 29.Kf1 Qxd4 30.Re1 Qxa4 31.Kg1 Kf8 32.Rh8+ Kg7 33.Rc8 f3 34.gxf3 Qa5 35.Re4 c5 36.a4 d5 37.Re7 Qxa4 38.Rexc7 c4 39.Rc6 Qa1+ 40.Kg2 Qe5 41.Kh3 Qg5 42.Kh2 Qf4+ 43.Kg2 Qf5 44.Kg3 Qh5 45.Kg2 Qh4 46.R8c7 Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, September 8
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Firouzja, Alireza
C78 Ruy Lopez, Archangel variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Qxd4 d6 11.axb5 axb5 12.f4 Nc6 13.Qd3 O-O 14.Nc3 Re8 15.e5 dxe5 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf4 Re8 19.Rae1 Nc4 20.Bxc7 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Rb7 22.Rd1 Bd7 23.Bd8 Ng4 24.Ne4 Bc6 25.Nc5 Rb8 26.Rd4 Nge3 27.Bg5 Nf5 28.Rf4 Nfe3 29.Rd4 Nf5 30.Rf4 Nfe3 31.Rd4 1/2-1/2

Round 3, September 8
Karjakin, Sergey – Rapport, Richard
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.Qd2 b4 10.Ne2 Qxe4 11.Rg1 Qc4 12.Nf4 Qc7 13.O-O-O Nf6 14.Bg2 Bb7 15.g5 Ne4 16.Qd4 Nd6 17.Qxb4 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Rb8 19.Qa4 a5 20.Bd2 Nc4 21.Bc3 Bb4 22.Bxg7 Rg8 23.Bf6 Be7 24.Bc3 Bxg5+ 25.Ne3 Nxe3 26.Rxg5 Rxg5 27.fxe3 Rbb5 28.Qd4 Rbf5 29.e4 Rf3 30.Kb1 f6 31.a4 Rg7 32.h4 h5 33.Qd2 Qf4 34.Qe2 Qg4 35.Qb5 Re7 36.Bxa5 Rf5 37.exf5 Qxd1+ 38.Ka2 exf5 39.Bb4 Rg7 40.Qxf5 Qg4 41.Qxf6 Qxb4 42.Qxg7 Qxa4+ 43.Kb1 Qxh4 44.Qe5+ Kd8 45.Qb8+ Ke7 46.Qe5+ Kd8 47.Qb8+ 1/2-1/2

Armageddon Games

Round 4, September 8
Carlsen, Magnus – Tari, Aryan
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.Nbd2 a5 7.Nf1 Be6 8.Bb5 O-O 9.Ng3 Ne7 10.d4 exd4 11.cxd4 Bb4+ 12.Kf1 c6 13.Bd3 a4 14.a3 Bb3 15.Bc2 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 Ba5 17.Qxa4 d5 18.e5 Ne4 19.Qc2 f5 20.Ne2 f4 21.Bxf4 Ng6 22.Be3 Nh4 23.Ng3 Nxf3 24.gxf3 Ng5 25.f4 Nf3 26.h4 c5 27.Kg2 Nxd4 28.Bxd4 cxd4 29.f5 Qe8 30.b4 Bb6 31.Rhe1 Rc8 32.Qb3 Rc4 33.Qf3 Qc6 34.f6 Qe6 35.Nf5 g6 36.Ne7+ Kh8 37.Nxd5 d3 38.Nxb6 Rg4+ 39.Kf1 d2 40.Re3 Rd4 41.Rd1 Qxb6 42.e6 Qb5+ 43.Re2 Rd3 44.e7 Re8 45.Qe4 Qd7 46.f7 Qh3+ 47.Kg1 1-0

The Carlsen-Tari Armageddon has begun - Magnus has 10 minutes to Aryan's 7, but must win!

Round 4, September 8
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Firouzja, Alireza
C34 King’s Gambit Accepted, Schallop Defence

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Nh5 5.d4 d6 6.Qe2 dxe5 7.Nxe5 Qh4+ 8.g3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 Qxh1 10.Bxf4 Be6 11.Nc3 g5 12.d5 gxf4 13.dxe6 Bd6 14.O-O-O Qh6 15.Qb5+ Nc6 16.Nxf7 Qxe6 17.Bc4 Qe3+ 18.Kb1 Qc5 19.Nxd6+ cxd6 20.Qxb7 Qxc4 21.Qxa8+ Nd8 22.Re1+ Kf7 23.Qxa7+ Kg6 24.gxf4 Qc5 25.Rg1+ 1-0

Nepo tweet: Ask and you receive #TheKingsGambit

Round 4, September 8
Karjakin, Sergey – Rapport, Richard
B01 Scandinavian Defence

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bd2 Bb4 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Qb6 10.Ne5 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Bb3 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Rfd8 14.exf6 Rxd1 15.Raxd1 g5 16.Rd7 h5 17.Rfd1 Rf8 18.Re7 Kh7 19.Bc4 Kg6 20.Rdd7 Qc6 21.Rxc7 Qe4 22.Bf1 h4 23.h3 b6 24.Rxa7 g4 25.Red7 gxh3 26.Rd4 hxg2 27.Rxe4 gxf1=R+ 28.Kxf1 Bxe4 29.Ra4 Kf5 30.f3 Bxc2 31.Rxh4 e5 32.Rh5+ Kxf6 33.Rxe5 Kg6 34.Kf2 Rd8 35.Rb5 Rd6 36.Be5 Bd3 37.Bxd6 Bxb5 38.Bc7 Kf5 39.Ke3 Ke6 40.Bxb6 Kd5 41.b3 Bd7 42.Kd3 Bh3 43.a4 Bg2 44.f4 f5 45.Kc3 Bf3 46.Bc7 Bd1 47.Be5 Kc5 48.Kb2 Kd5 49.Kc3 Kc5 50.Bd4+ Kc6 51.Kc4 Bc2 52.Be3 Bd1 53.Kb4 Bc2 54.Ka3 Kd5 55.Bf2 Bd1 56.b4 Kc4 57.b5 Bc2 58.Be1 Bd1 59.Bb4 Bc2 60.Bd6 Bd1 61.Bc7 Bc2 62.b6 Be4 63.a5 Kb5 64.Kb3 Bb7 65.Kc3 Kxa5 66.Kd4 Ka6 67.Ke5 Be4 1/2-1/2

It was a thriller, but Richard Rapport got the draw he needed to defeat Sergey Karjakin in Armageddon and keep a 1.5 point lead in #NorwayChess!

Standings after Day Two

1 Rapport 4.5
2 Carlsen 3
3 Firouzja 2
4 Nepo 1.5
5-6 Karjakin, Tari 1

[Hans Jung]

Lovely armageddon game by Magnus. I think I like this idea of an armageddon game following a draw. Great entertainment!

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 9, 2021

Round Five

Round 5, September 9
Rapport, Richard – Carlsen, Magnus
E94 King’s Indian, Orthodox variation

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 Nc6 10.Nc2 Nh5 11.g4 Be5 12.gxh5 Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Qh4+ 14.Kg1 Qg3+ 15.Kh1 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Qg3+ 17.Kh1 Qh4+ 18.Kg1 Qg3+ 1/2-1/2

An 18-move draw by repetition in Rapport-Carlsen and the big match-up of the day goes to Armageddon! Whatever the result, Richard will keep his #NorwayChess lead

Round 5, September 9
Tari, Aryan – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nd5 Nc6 11.Bc4 Ne7 12.O-O Rc8 13.Qd3 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Rxc2 16.Qxb7 Qc8 17.Qd5 Qc6 18.Rad1 Ke7 19.b3 Rc8 20.Qa5 Rb8 21.Rd3 Kf8 22.Qe1 Rb2 23.Qd1 Qxe4 24.Rxd6 Qb4 25.Qd5 Qxb3 26.Nxe5 Bxe5 27.Rd8+ Ke7 28.Qxe5+ Kxd8 29.Qd6+ Kc8 30.Qc6+ Kd8 31.Qd6+ Kc8 32.Qc6+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, September 9
Firouzja, Alireza – Karjakin, Sergey
C53 Giiuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.a4 a5 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nbd2 Nb6 12.Bb3 Qxd3 13.Nxe5 Bxd1 14.Nxd3 Bxb3 15.Nxc5 Bc2 16.Nf1 Ra7 17.Ne3 Bg6 18.b3 Rd8 19.f4 f6 20.Ba3 Bf7 21.Rad1 Nd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Bxd5 24.Rd1 Bf7 25.f5 Ra8 26.Rd7 Rc8 27.Nxb7 Ne5 28.Re7 Nc6 29.Rd7 Ne5 30.Rd4 Nc6 31.Rd2 Bxb3 32.Nc5 Bf7 33.Ne6 h5 34.Rd5 Re8 35.Rd7 Bxe6 36.fxe6 Rxe6 37.Rxc7 1/2-1/2

Armageddon Games

Round 6, September 9
Rapport, Richard – Carlsen, Magnus
A08 Reti, KIA

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Be7 6.Na3 Be6 7.e4 d4 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Ng5 Bxg5 10.Bxg5 f6 11.Bd2 h5 12.f4 h4 13.Qe1 hxg3 14.Qxg3 O-O-O 15.b3 Nh6 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 fxe5 18.c3 Ng4 19.cxd4 exd4 20.Bf4 Qe7 21.Rac1 g5 22.Rxc5+ Qxc5 23.Rc1 Qxc1+ 24.Bxc1 Rxh2 25.Bxg5 Rg8 26.Qd6 Rxg5 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 28.Qd6+ Ke8 29.Bf3 Ne5+ 30.Kf1 Nxf3 31.Qe6+ Kd8 32.Qf6+ Ke8 33.Qxf3 Rc5 34.Kg1 Rxa2 35.Qf4 Rcc2 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.Qe5+ Kf7 38.Qd5+ Kg6 39.Qf5+ Kg7 40.Qg5+ Kh7 41.Qh5+ Kg7 42.Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

The Rapport-Carlsen Armageddon has begun! Richard isn't one for repeating openings, and goes for 1.g3 this time

Magnus Carlsen wins another Armageddon (with a draw as Black) despite having been completely lost at one point, just as against Firouzja!

Round 6, September 9
Tari, Aryan – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B23 Neo-Sicilian, Grand Prix Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.d3 Na5 8.Bd2 e6 9.Qe2 Ne7 10.e5 Nf5 11.Bb5 d5 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Bxa5 Qb5 15.Bc3 d4 16.Bd2 Qxb2 17.O-O O-O 18.Qe4 b6 19.g4 Ne3 20.Bxe3 dxe3 21.Rae1 Qxc2 22.f5 Rfe8 23.e6 Qxa2 24.Rxe3 fxe6 25.fxg6 h6 26.g5 Qd5 27.Qh4 Qf5 28.Qh5 Rf8 29.Re4 Rf6 30.Rg4 Rxg6 31.Nh4 Qxg4+ 0-1

Round 6, September 9
Firouzja, Alireza – Karjakin, Sergey
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Modern variation

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Nxd4 6.Bxd4 b6 7.g3 Bb7 8.Bg2 Bc5 9.Bb2 h5 10.d4 Bb4+ 11.Nc3 h4 12.e3 d5 13.Qc2 Bc8 14.h3 hxg3 15.fxg3 c6 16.O-O-O Be6 17.Ne2 a5 18.Nf4 a4 19.Kb1 axb3 20.Qxb3 Bd6 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.g4 O-O 23.g5 Bxf4 24.gxf6 Bh6 25.fxg7 Kxg7 26.Bxe4 f5 27.Rhg1+ Kh7 28.Bd3 Qd6 29.Rg2 Bxe3 30.Re1 Bh6 31.Qd1 Bd7 32.Qh5 Rf6 33.Reg1 Qf8 34.Bc1 Qb4+ 35.Bb2 Qf8 36.a3 Rc8 37.Rg6 Be8 38.Rxf6 Bxh5 39.Rxf5 Kh8 40.Rxf8+ Rxf8 41.Re1 Rf3 42.Re6 Kg7 43.Be2 Rxh3 44.Bxh5 Rxh5 45.Rxb6 Be3 46.a4 Rh4 47.a5 Bxd4 48.Rb4 Rh1+ 49.Ka2 Bxb2 50.Kxb2 Kf6 51.a6 Rh8 52.Kb3 Ke5 53.Rb6 d4 54.a7 Ra8 55.Ra6 Kd5 56.Kb4 d3 57.Kb5 d2 58.Ra1 Kd4 59.Kb4 Kd3 60.Ra3+ Ke2 61.Ra2 Ke1 62.Ra1+ d1=Q 0-1

A 3rd Armageddon loss in a row for Alireza Firouzja, who was winning for much of the game against Sergey Karjakin!

3 Armageddon games today, 3 wins for the players with the black pieces!


Standings after Round Six

1 Rapport 5.5/10
2 Carlsen 4.5/10.5
3 Nepo 3/7
4 Firouzja 3/10.5
5 Karjakin 2.5/7
6 Tari 2/10

Carlsen plays Nepo tomorrow

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 10, 2021

Day Four

Round Seven

Judit Polgar and Jovanka Houska are joined by Nepo’s trainer Vladimir Potkin.

Round 7, September 10
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Nc3 Be6 11.Ng5 Bc8 12.h3 Be7 13.Nf3 h5 14.Ne2 Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.g3 Be7 17.Kg2 Bf5 18.c3 c5 19.Be3 g5 20.f3 g4 21.Nf4 gxf3+ 22.Kxf3 b6 23.Rd2 Rd8 24.Rad1 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Bd8 26.h4 c6 27.Ng2 Bg4+ 28.Kf2 Rg8 29.a3 Be7 30.Bf4 Rg6 31.Ne1 Be6 32.Nf3 Bd5 33.Bg5 Bxf3 34.Bxe7 Kxe7 35.Kxf3 Ke6 36.Kf4 Rg4+ 37.Kf3 Rg6 38.Kf4 Rg4+ 39.Kf3 1/2-1/2

Ian Nepomniachtchi keeps his 4:1 wins score vs. Magnus Carlsen as their classical game ends in a draw:

Round 7, September 10
Rapport, Richard – Firouzja, Alireza
D90 Grunfeld, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bd2 O-O 7.Rc1 Nxc3 8.Bxc3 Nd7 9.e3 b6 10.Be2 Bb7 11.b4 Nf6 12.O-O Ne4 13.Ba1 Qd6 14.Ne5 Rfc8 15.Qa4 a6 16.Nc6 b5 17.Qc2 Bxc6 18.Qxc6 Qxc6 19.Rxc6 a5 20.Bd3 Nf6 21.Bxb5 axb4 22.Bc4 Ne4 23.Rc1 Nd2 24.Ba6 Rcb8 25.R1c2 Rb6 26.Rxb6 cxb6 27.Bb7 Ra7 28.Bc6 Nb1 29.Bd5 Nc3 30.Bb3 Rc7 31.f4 e6 32.g4 Bf6 33.g5 Be7 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.Kf3 h6 36.h4 Rc8 37.Bb2 b5 38.Rc1 Bd8 39.a3 Ba5 40.axb4 Bxb4 41.e4 Ba5 42.d5 exd5 43.exd5 hxg5 44.hxg5 b4 45.d6 Rd8 46.Rd1 Bb6 47.d7 Kf8 48.Rd6 Ba7 49.Bc4 Bc5 50.Rc6 Bd4 51.Rc8 Ke7 52.Bxf7 Kxd7 53.Rc4 Ke7 54.Bxg6 Rd6 55.Rxb4 1-0

Round 7, September 10
Tari, Aryan – Karjakin, Sergey
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.Qc3 d5 14.Nd2 Bf5 15.Re1 c6 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Nc7 18.Nf3 Ne6 19.Be5 Be7 20.c3 Qb6 21.Re2 Re8 22.h4 h5 23.Bg3 Bf6 24.Be5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Qxb2 26.Ng5 Qc1+ 27.Kh2 Qf4+ 28.Kg1 Qc1+ 29.Kh2 Qf4+ 30.Kg1 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

Armageddon Games

Round 8, September 10
Tari, Aryan – Karjakin, Sergey
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.O-O d6 7.d4 O-O 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nc3 h6 10.Be3 exd4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.h3 c5 13.Nde2 Bc6 14.Ng3 Re8 15.Qf3 Bf8 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Nf5 Qe5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd7 20.Ng3 Qxb2 21.Nh5 Qxc2 22.Bxh6 Qf5 23.Bf4 Rab8 24.Ng3 Qf6 25.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Qg6 27.Qa3 Rb1 28.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 29.Kh2 Qb4 30.Qe3 Qd4 31.Qf3 c4 32.Be3 Qd3 33.Ne4 c3 34.Qf4 c2 35.Ng5 Qf5 36.Qc4 Qe5+ 37.g3 Qf5 38.Qxc7 Bb5 39.g4 Qe5+ 40.f4 Qxd5 41.Qxc2 Bd3 42.Qc8 Qxa2+ 43.Kg3 a5 44.f5 Qe2 45.Qe8 Bc4 46.Qe4 a4 47.f6 g6 48.h4 Qd3 49.Qe8 a3 50.h5 gxh5 51.gxh5 Be6 52.Kf2 Qf5+ 53.Nf3 Bd5 54.Bh6 Qxf3+ 55.Ke1 Qe4+ 0-1

Sergey Karjakin cruises to victory in Armageddon:

Round 8, September 10
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
A07 Reti, KIA, Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c4 c6 6.b3 Ne4 7.d4 O-O 8.Bb2 a5 9.Nc3 Bf5 10.e3 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qe2 a4 13.Rfc1 axb3 14.axb3 Rxa1 15.Rxa1 Qb6 16.b4 Nd7 17.c5 Qc7 18.Ra7 Qb8 19.Qa2 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 e5 21.b5 e4 22.Be2 Nxc5 23.Bb4 Na6 24.Bxf8 Bxf8 25.Rxb7 Qxb7 26.Qxa6 Qb8 27.Qxc6 Qd6 28.Qxd6 Bxd6 29.Bd1 Bc7 30.Bb3 Kg7 31.Bxd5 f5 32.g4 Kf6 33.h4 h6 34.Kg2 Bd8 35.h5 fxg4 36.hxg6 Kxg6 37.Bxe4+ Kg5 38.f4+ Kf6 39.Kg3 h5 40.Kh4 Ba5 41.b6 1-0

Richard Rapport is now 2.5 points ahead of Carlsen, and 4.5 points ahead of Karjakin and Nepomniachtchi, who play their Round 1 game on tomorrow's rest day!

Standings after Round 4/8

1 Rapport 8.5
2 Carlsen 6
3-4 Nepo, Karjakin 4
5-6 Firouzja, Tari 3

[Hans Jung]

Richard Rapport shows he has many tools in the toolbox and has taken a commanding lead in the tournament.

Magnus - Nepo - minority attack success and wonderful pawn play across the board. Endgame lovers rejoice!

[Wayne Komer]

Norway Chess 2021

September 11, 2021

Round One (postponed)

Nepo and Karjakin played their postponed first round game today, the rest day.

Round 1, September 11
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Karjakin, Sergey
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 h5 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Ng5 Rh6 14.Rfe1 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Nce4 c5 17.Nf6 Bxa2 18.b3 Kc8 19.Nxf7 Rg6 20.Nh8 Rxf6 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Be5 Bxe5 23.Rxe5 Nd4 24.Rxc5 b6 25.Rc4 c5 26.Ra4 Bb1 27.c3 Nc6 28.Nf7 Bc2 29.Ra3 a5 30.Nd6+ Kc7 31.Nc4 Na7 32.Ne3 Bh7 33.b4 Nb5 34.Ra1 cxb4 35.cxb4 axb4 36.Nd5+ Kd6 37.Nxb4 1-0

Position after Black’s 17…Bxa2



Ian Nepomniachtchi credits his second Vladimir Potkin for his 17.Nf6! and says that in his file he had 17...Bxa2? (Sergey's move) 18.b3! 1-0

Standings

1 Rapport 8.5/13
2 Nepo 7/13.5
3 Carlsen 6/14
4 Karjakin 4/13.5
5 Firouzja 3/13.5
6 Tari 3/13.5

[Marc Andre Beaudry]

Magnus is having a tough 2021 in my humble opinion. Today against Karjakin he had a -1 advantage in a sveshnikov until he took a kind of poisoned exchange, it went downhill from there.
Think I'll have to revise how much favored he would be against Nepo.