Magnus Carlsen is playing. It was decided today, he is fresh and motivated for another 9-round tournament starting two days after Biel.

The town Tromso, north in Norway, is bidding for the Winter Olympics in 2018. To profile Tromso as an organizer of big events, they are also bidding for the Chess Olympics in 2014. And to profile Tromsø as a place to play chess, Arctic Chess Callenge will be a yearly tournament.

The day before there are 112 players registered, myself included. The GMs:

1 GM Magnus Carlsen 2710 NOR
2 GM Bartosz Socko 2660 POL
3 GM Vugar Gashimov 2655 AZE
4 GM Aleksander Moiseenko 2641 UKR
5 GM Mikhail Gurevich 2633 Turkey
6 GM Victor Mikhalevski 2598 ISR
7 GM Bartlomiej Macieja 2596 POL
8 GM Mikhail Brodsky 2595 UKR
9 GM Vladimir Epishin 2587 RUS
10 GM Simen Agdestein 2582 2601 NOR NTG
11 GM Vladimir Burmakin 2581 RUS
12 GM Nick de Firmian 2540 USA
13 GM Kjetil A. Lie 2536 2551 NOR Porsgrunn
14 GM Antoaneta Stefanova 2481 BUL

Magnus has to score high just to preserve his rating.

There will be live games. The link to the tournament:
http://www.arcticchess.org/engindex.htm

That's great news Akselborg!

The land of the 'Midnight Sun'...



...returns back to us once again!

He did very well last year losing only to GM Sergei Shipov and tying for 2nd-3rd with GM Leif Erlend Johannessen at 7-2 a half-point behind.

I'm sure you'll recognize this topic \'Midnight Sun Chess Challenge\' that you gave us last year.

And, here I was thinking we were all gonna be bored stiff until Mexico 2007 started! :laff:

Although, I wouldn't worry too much over Magnus... He's beaten recently so far (+2700) the likes of Topalov, Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Aronian and Radjabov and many of them several times. And, that's just this year! Me thinks he's already started a 'master list' with names for some of the others he has not even beaten yet... :p

'Good Luck' in the chess tournament and hope you can give us some personal insights as to how it's all going when time allows...

Regards, - Mal

PS (Edit add): I need a new pair of glasses! :laff:

Where are you, Akselborg??


Chess Fan

Henrik Carlsen (the father of Magnus Carlsen) leads his son in the 'Arctic Chess Challenge' by ½ point!

Film at 11... :laff:



Super GM Magnus Carlsen

Seriously, there I was looking at the results page and I couldn't find Magnus! He wasn't at the very top where I expected him to be... So, I started to scroll down to the ½ point group and there he was. It was Brede Hagen (rated 2034 from Norway) lucky day!

Here's the PGN score...

__________________________________________________

[Event "Arctic Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Scandic Hotell Tromsø"]
[Date "2007.08.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hagen, Brede"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2034"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kampfgeist"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2 Nbd7 9. O-O b5 10. h3 Bb7 11. g4 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 O-O 14. Ng3 Re8 15. a3 a5 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Qd2 Nb6 18. b3 Bf8 19. Rfd1 bxa3 20. Rxa3 a4 21. Qb4 Qxc2 22. Rc1 Qb2 23. Rca1 Bxd5 24. Qxb6 Rab8 25. Qxb8 Rxb8 26. Bxd5 axb3 27. Ra7 Qc2 28. Rc1 Qg6 29. Bxf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. Rb1 b2 32. Bd2 d5 33. Bc3 Rc8 34. Bxb2 Rb8 35. Rd1 Rxb2 36. Rxd5 Ke6 1/2-1/2




The position after 36... Ke6 Draw
__________________________________________________


In all fairness it should be pointed out that Brege and Magnus are boyhood friends. They also attend the same school NTG (The Norwegian College of Top Athletes) and both have been tutored by GM Simen Agdestein. Under the circumstances it's understandable as Brege played a good game where Magnus tried but it all fizzled out and an equal position resulted. Magnus gets my old chess friend GM Nick deFirmian next in round #2. Nick had the misfortune to lose in round #1 to Even Thingstad (rated 1893) from Norway. Thanks to <TheGladiator> <hardliner> and <Ezzy> all from CG.com who supplied the personal info and the raw score.

So, maybe we should start a Carlsen family scoreboard!

After Round #1:

1) Henrik Carlsen (2089 NOR) 1 point
2) Magnus Carlsen (2710 NOR) ½ point
3) Ingrid Øen Carlsen (1059 NOR) 0 point

In the chess tournament all play all (Swiss system 9 rounds) in the same section although it's broken down into three categories (1.klasse, 2.klasse & 3.klasse) for prize distribution. Magnus, of course, is in 1.klasse, whereas Henrik, Brege, Even and Ingrid are all in 3.klasse.

This one is for littlefish...

***********************************



'GM Antoaneta Stefanova'

She did manage to win her first round game
(against Paul Johan Jensen - 1879 NOR)!

***********************************


So, stay tuned more to follow (although I'm hoping that Akselborg scoops me!)... :p

- Mal

Reference - Another useful website covering this event - \'Tromso Sjakklubb\' which also links to Norwegin Blogs where I got the pictures of Magnus and Eti.
PS: Online Chess Diagram credit: "Interactive Chessboard with Diagram Generator."

A view from the 'Arctic Chess Challenge' webcam well before the start of Round #2.

Well, with only one draw in Round #1 between Carlsen and Hagen, Magnus played the top player in the '0 point group' in Round #2 which was GM Nick de Firmian on Board #25! It was a fantastic game with Magnus pressing all the way... He could have won with 27. Qe3! (27. Re7 was another candidate move) but the move he played was a good human decision based on the fact that it was totally safe and Nick was in severe time pressure (as he eventually lost this game on time).

Here's the PGN score...

__________________________________________________

[Event "Arctic Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Scandic Hotell Tromsø"]
[Date "2007.08.05"]
[Time Control "120/60/30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "de Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "Kampfgeist"]

Round #2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.Nb3 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.O-O O-O 11.Bxb4 Ncxb4 12.Qd2 Qb6 13.Na3 Nxa2 14.Nd4 Ndb4 15.Nf3 Rd8 16.Qf4 Bd7 17.Nc4 Qa6 18.Rfd1 f6 19.Rd6 Nc3 20.Re1 Ncd5 21.Qe4 Qb5 22.b3 Nc3 23.Qd4 Ncd5 24.Qd2 Qc5 25.e4 b5 26.exd5 exd5 27.Rxd7 Rxd7 28.Nb2 Rc7 29.Nd3 Nxd3 30.Qxd3 Kh8 31.Nd4 a6 32.Qe2 Rcc8 33.Qg4 Re8 34.Ne6 Qe7 35.Bxd5 Rad8 36.Bc6 1-0 (time forfeit)




The final position after 36. Bc6 1-0

Note the cute variation 36... Rg8 37. Qe4 Rd6 38. Ng5!! (targeting both 'f7' and 'h7') and wins. Or, should I just say 'Ouch!' :p
__________________________________________________


The other twelve Grandmasters in this event (all with 2-0 scores) continue with their winning Swiss-system ways (not unexpected). The game above between Magnus and Nick was relayed on the ICC manually. The organizers promise to put Magnus on a DGT electronic chessboard today so it can be relayed automatically!

A small correction from my previous post. There are actually four groups (not three as alluded to above). The 'Top Section' and then the three class groups. They set the limit at Elo 2301 and everyone below that is in 1-3 classes with separate prizes for each group. They also have a Best Woman prize and a Best Junior prize (born in 1987 or later). Everything (all the prizes and amounts) are posted on the official webpage (just click on the official logo on top and it will take you right there).

Update - Carlsen family scoreboard.

After Round #2:

1) Magnus Carlsen (2710 NOR) 1½ points
2) Henrik Carlsen (2089 NOR) 1 point
3) Ingrid Øen Carlsen (1059 NOR) 0 point

Go Ingrid!

Top pairings today for Round #3 are...

GM Bartosz Socko-IM Espen Forså
GM Vugar Gashimov-GM Antoaneta Stefanova
GM Alexander Moiseenko-FM Diego Suarez Pousa
GM Mikhail Gurevich-IM Gediminas Sarakauskas
GM Victor Mikhalevski-FM Espen Lie
GM Bartlomiej Macieja-IM Jon Ludvig Hammer
GM Michail Brodsky-Lukasz Dworakowski
GM Vladimir Epishin-GM Heikki M.J. Westerinen
GM Simen Agdestein-IM Joanna Dworakowska
GM Vladimir Burmakin-WIM Katarzyna Toma
GM Kjetil A. Lie-Joachim Thomassen

and of course...

GM Magnus Carlsen-FM Karsten Larsen

Should be fun! The games begin at 10 AM EDT.

- Mal

PS: As always - Online Chess Diagram credit: "Interactive Chessboard with Diagram Generator."

Update - the Carlsen family scoreboard.

After Round #3:

1) Magnus Carlsen (2710 NOR) 2 points
2) Henrik Carlsen (2089 NOR) 1½ points
3) Ingrid Øen Carlsen (1059 NOR) ½ points

Go Henrik!


Magnus drew again! This time against FM Karsten Larsen (who played a great game!). Well, that's the bad news for Magnus and the good news is that he could still score 8-1!


Top pairings today for Round #3 are...

GM Bartlomiej Macieja (3) - GM Bartosz Socko (3)
GM Vugar Gashimov (3) - GM Michail Brodsky (3)
GM Kjetil A. Lie (3) - GM Alexander Moiseenko (3)
GM Mikhail Gurevich (3) - GM Simen Agdestein (3)
FM Espen Lie (3) - GM Vladimir Epishin (2½)
GM Vladimir Burmakin (2½) - GM Heikki M. J. Westerinen (2½)
Sondre Waage Tofte (2½) - WIM Katarzyna Toma (2½)
GM Magnus Carlsen (2) - Ørnulf Stubberud (2)
FM Srinath Narayanan (2) - GM Victor Mikhalevski (2)
Jon Kr. Røyset (2) - GM Antoaneta Stefanova (2)


I'll make a rare prediction and go out on a limb and say that Magnus won't draw today! :p

- Mal

PS: ICC is now relaying 5 boards including the Carlsen games.

Carlsen played another draw today, this time against his old trainer Simen Agdestein!

Macieja and Lie leads with 4½ of 5.
Magnus is tied with 3½ together with his dad Henrik!

that's what happens when you play a Karpov idea to your old trainer who most likely knows and has analyzed most if not all of karpov games no to say that variation which was one of the most famous variations developed by karpov, and Carlsen got lucky he didn't lose that one

Just a small update...

It looks like GM Mikhail Gurevich won his game against WIM Katarzyna Toma in Round #5 so he too joins the top group (GM's Macieja and Lie) all with 4½ points. I watched the game 'Agdestein-Carlsen' live this morning and after also reviewing the analysis over at CG.com Magnus was never really in any danger and a draw was agreed too on move 35. As Rimfaxe has just pointed out above Henrik Carlsen and his son Magnus are again now tied with 3½ points each. What's really funny are the pairings below for Round #6...


Top pairings tomorrow for Round #6 are...

GM Mikhail Gurevich (4½) - GM Kjetil A. Lie (4½)
GM Bartlomiej Macieja (4½) - GM Alexander Moiseenko (4)
GM Vladimir Burmakin (4) - GM Bartosz Socko (4)
GM Vugar Gashimov (4) - GM Simen Agdestein (4)
Gunnar Berg Hanssen (4) - GM Victor Mikhalevski (4)
Frode Bull Jæger (4) - GM Michail Brodsky (4)
GM Vladimir Epishin (4) - Joachim Thomassen (4)
FM Diego Suarez Pousa (3½) - IM Jon Ludvig Hammer (4)
GM Magnus Carlsen (3½) - Henrik Carlsen (3½)
Tobias Pettersson (3½) - WIM Katarzyna Toma (3½)


Hehehe... Well look at that it's 'son vs. dad' on board #9! :p

I can see the opening lines now (not the chess score)...

Henrik Carlsen, 'OK - if I see one aggressive chess move on this chessboard then no late night snack for you later tonight!' :laff:

- Mal

Mal beat me to the punch! I noted earlier that Magnus and his dad had the same score. Now it is confirmed that they are paired up tomorrow. I think Magnus will continue winning with the white pieces.

On an aside, I hope Ingrid Carlsen can get on the board with her first win.

And good luck Akselborg -- whoever you are!