Gausdal Classics 2005
GM-GROUP A - ROUND 7
The leading duo is still just increasing the speed in GM A: Third seeded GM Kaido Kulaots reached an amazing 6,0/7 following his unexpectedly cheap win as black against Norwegian chess shark IM Kjetil A. Lie today - but still lags that half a point behind unbeliveable GM Sergei Tiviakov, who noted another inspired win against FM Christian Kyndell Pedersen! Furthermore Kulaots 6,0/7 does not even guarantee top two, as second seeded chess bear Oleg Korneev needed only 26 moves to throw chess rabbit Sebastian Bogner over the ropes today. GM A still is a German chess tragedy as IM Roman Vidonyak lost by blunder as black against IM Simon Williams. GM A is no kindergarten either, as Magnus Carlsen wasted another won position into a draw - but still a triumph for ninth seeded IM Helge A Nordahl, as he against Carlsen scraped another draw from another endgame in which he was reported brain dead.
GM Sergei TIVIAKOV 2631 - FM Christian K. PEDERSEN 2396 1 - 0
Sicilian Najdorf truly has been the fashion of this GM A. Black probably was objectively fine from this Be3-edition, in which both players' chances for a direct attack disappeared with an exchange of queens before move 20. As white within a few moves established his rook on the d5 outpost with an ongoing pressure against the backward d6 pawn, black however had to fight a depressing uphill struggle without chances for counterplay. While black was about to run short of time white methodically increased the pressure, first realizing f4 followed by f5 and then walking his king around to c3 to attack black's c4 pawn. Black's position collapsed as the c4 pawn was lost just after the time control, and his creative try to sacrifice the d6-pawn for getting the bishop around to d4 backfired as white after sacrificing an exchange on the bishop had an easy win in the endgame. Black's resignation after 48 moves might look respectful, but his position actually was hopeless as white had three pawns for the exchange while black still had nothing to counterattack. Tiviakov's sixth win like several of his earlier was a working day win, but taken together 6,5/7 is an outstanding performance well above 2800. While Pedersen following this honest loss now needs 1,5/2 against Carlsen and Korneev to reach a 2451-performance.
IM Kjetil A. LIE 2495 - GM Kaido KULAOTS 2572 0 - 1
Lie chose 1.f4 as his third first move as white for this tournament, but appearently succeeded to confuse himself more than his opponent. 4.c4?! reportedly was a serious strategical mistake as white never felt able to realize his planned d4 after black played c5, and while white failed to get real attacking chances on the kingside black having fianchettoed both his bishops established a promising pressure against the backward d3-pawn. Feeling the cockpit crumbling around him white tried to sacrifice the d3-pawn after 15 moves, but ended up just to lose two pawns as Kulaots could answer his Ng5 with a tactical Qxg5! - winning one rook and two minor pieces if white took the queen. Being two pawns up with the better attack, Kulaots anyway was winning when Lie at move 30 blundered into a Ng4-fork losing decisive material. Kulaots coolly having won this key game still has the second place in grip and is just half a point behind Tiviakov, while Lie following his poor play as white today has a long and thorny road to reach top three.
GM Oleg KORNEEV 2611 - Sebastian BOGNER 2409 1 - 0
Third black Sicilian Najdorf and sixth Sicilian for Bogner actually seemed fine for a start, as black leaving his king in the centre appeared to have sufficient counterplay against the white king at c1. Exchanging his white squared bishop against a knight at d5 probably was acceptable, but trying to exchange the black squared bishop too by a Bg5-manouever backfired in a canon blow, as black still having his king on e8 ran into a hard f4-punch followed by a tactical Nd4. Suddenly under pressure before move 20 Bogner collapsed, allowing Korneev to open the e-file against the black king, winning a piece with an ongoing attack after 26 moves. Ongoing problems for Bogner and his Sicilian, while an all the more chess violent Korneev hangs on half a point behind Kulaots.
GM Magnus CARLSEN 2548 - IM Helge A NORDAHL 2402 ½ - ½
Even another Sicilian Najdorf duel. The first ten moves were a pretty normal Be2-line, but then black came up with an unusual Nc6-Nb4-manoeuver, which white immediately refuted by a tactical a5-break. Getting an extra passed pawn at b6 white looked more or less winning after 20 moves, and although pseudo-sacrificing an exchange later might have been unneccessary from a white point of view, it was still sufficient to reach a won queen and rook endgame. Losing his concentration for some vital moves before the time control Magnus however first exchanged his strong passed b-pawn for an ordinary pawn, and the forced himself into a rook endgame in which white's extra pawn did not give any winning chances as only kingside pawns were left. Having nothing to lose white went on playing for 20 more moves, but without getting anywhere with this classical drawn endgame. Magnus har clearly improved his play, but like against Williams he failed to realize his chances following too jumpy play today. While Nordahl still at 50 % still heads for a clear plus result, with a score much more solid than his play.
IM Simon WILLIAMS 2466 - IM Roman VIDONYAK 2417 1 - 0
Despite a mediocre score so far, both players optimistically entered a sharp King's Indian Averbakh line in which white plays g4 and g5 before ten moves. Defending actively by playing e5 and f5 black got a permanent pawn weakness in his backward d6-pawn, and castling long white seemed to have the better attack too. With black's queen having intervened on b3 the position however remained unclear after an inaccurate move 20 by white, allowing an interesting Nf6xe4-sacrifice. Instead Vidonyak fatally miscalculated the position when placing the knight at h5, allowing a simple Nd2 followed by Bxh5-manoeuver - opening the g-file and giving white an overwhelming attack before 25 moves. Following this short but intense game Williams can still hope to reach an average result, while it seems Vidonyak will have to concentrate upon defending his ninth place ahead his pupil Bogner.
GM-GROUP B - ROUND 7
In GM B, leading 14 year old IM David Howell was in serious danger of losing for the first time today. Finding an emergency exit into a different coloured bishop endgame against chronically drawish IM Jonas Barkhagen, the English whiz-kid however still is in the front seat of the group - and more important still can make a GM-norm if winning his last two games. IM Marie Sebag following another tense Michalczak draw still can be found in second place, but - for now - without chances for a GM-norm. Although the GMs in GM B overall are doing mediocre seventh round was their best so far as Ralf Åkesson about to refind himself efficiently used his chance when FM Andrew Greet went lost in the snow of a complex knight endgame, while top seeded Dimitri Reinderman got it all for free following a much too self-composed opening surprise from Jon Ludvig Hammer. Seventh round on the other hand was a bad one for the IM-norm chances: Michalczak has only theoretical IM norm chances left following his draw against Sebag, same with Tallaksen as he preferred a safe repetitition of moves to an interesting queen sacrifice against GM Chris Ward, and Greet following his loss today needs 1,5/2 against one GM and one Howell to make it...
IM Jonas BARKHAGEN 2461 - IM David HOWELL 2416 ½ - ½
White got the centre and a slight initiative from this closed Grünfeld line, and although black realizing e5 later managed to activate his pieces, white kept some pressure and won a pawn when entering the endgame. Defending accurately Howell however got in a tactical Ba3, forcing a different coloured bishop ending in which white’s extra pawn made no difference. Barkhagen although moving closer to winning chances is short of time to win any game in this tournament. While the young tournament leader Howell having used his nails creatively today, still can squeeze a GM-norm if able to use his fists on Hammer and Greet in the two final rounds.
IM Marie SEBAG 2417 - FM Thomas MICHALCZAK 2369 ½ - ½
This was a Ponziani transposing into an approximately balanced hanging pawns position after two minor piece exchanges. Black invited to a repetition of moves by Nf5-Nh4-Nf5-Nh4 just after 20 moves, but then suddenly accelerated to sacrifice the knight at g2 when white refused to repeat any more. As accepting the piece was interesting but risky, Sebag instead found a combination exchanging to a drawish double rook ending, in which white forced black to take out a perpetual check just after 30 moves. Sebag lost her last GM-norm chance today, but still in second place she still heads for a very nice result. While Michalczak still has chances for an IM-norm, but having won a total of none games in the first seven rounds seems unlikely (at best) to win both the last two…
FM Andrew GREET 2403 - GM Ralf ÅKESSON 2461 0 - 1
Åkesson played an underestimated line in the underestimated Queen’s Gambit Vienna line, and as white was helpful to exchange all the rooks, black after 15 moves was no way worse in the queen and knight ending. Greet despite some weak queenside pawns still should have excellent drawing chances in the knight endgame. Apparently playing for a win white however went astray when climbing his king all the way up the kingside to win the black pawn at h7... His king ended up trapped in front of his own h-pawn, while black's knight danced around to created passed pawns on the queenside. Following this loss Greet too is moving under pressure needing 1,5/2 against Reinderman and Howell to complete his IM-norm. While group senior Åkesson now sharing second place with Sebag only half a point behind Howell, suddenly might be a hot candidate even for the first prize.
GM Christopher WARD 2485 - FM Geir Sune TALLAKSEN 2326 ½ - ½
White came slightly better in this Nimzo with 4.Bg5, but played much too loose when sacrificing his e-pawn with an aggressive f4 instead of just exchanging at f6. As his plan A turned out to lose material in two moves white had to create an emergency exit, which worked out as draw was agreed due to repetition of moves just after 20 moves. As pointed out by Magnus Carlsen in the analysis, black however could have sacrificed his queen for rook and bishop, to get a promising position with two active rooks and bishops against queen and rook. Tallaksen needing 2,5/3 for an IM-norm before this game probably should have played on, but as he is (officially) now playing for a nice result drawing a GM as black of course is fine.
Jon Ludvig HAMMER 2303 - GM Dimitri REINDERMAN 2509 0 - 1
Not having much to fight for except minimizing the ELO-loss, Hammer chose to test out a self composed Reti against the top seeded. Playing original of course is a strength for a talented young player, but for this talented young player this game became much too original much too early... Having played b4 as well as g4 white had no place to hide his king, while Reinderman having occupied the centre and placed all his pieces in active positions, went on to open the queenside without being disturbed by any kind of counterplay. As black had all the better pieces, it felt nothing but natural when he just before 30 moves crashed through with a bishop sacrifice at d3. Reinderman finally on a plus score actually might still save an ELO plus and/or a moneyprize in this very even group, while Hammer hopefully will not be hit down too hard.
IM-GROUP A - ROUND 7
The GMs in IM A still have only very good and even better rounds. Second seeded Finn GM Heikki Westerinen has an outstanding 6,5/7 following a not too tiring win against the younger Bentsen brother today. But still top seeded Latvian GM Aloyzas Kveinys having the easier schedule left, should have the upper hand on the first prize envelope following his long but important win in the key game against FM Øystein Hole today. Chances for a Norwegian IM-norm unfortunately was reduced following this, as Hole having missed several drawing lines in a complex rook endgame now needs 1,5/2 against Westerinen and Andreasen. USA sensation man Eric Moskow however is still in that run, as he despite two portions of time shortage succeeded to win a complex 74 moves endgame against still non-working IM Svein Johannessen today. Finally FM Per Andreasen did without dramatic razzias today, but still arrested all Sjur Ferkingstad's pieces in the endgame. While FM Marc Ghannoum about to make a new inofficial nine rounds Gausdal record for wasted chances, failed to win despite a positional iron grip on Paul Cooksey today. An exciting duel for first place goes on between two inspired GMs scoring even better than they are playing - but IM norm candidates Hole and Moskow still are the most exciting players to follow in round eight...
FM Øystein HOLE 2329 - GM Aloyzas KVEINYS 2539 0 - 1
Today's 1.Nf3 transposition from Hole went into a Queen's Gambit, but Kveiny's Cambridge Springs seemingly was a surprise as white did not test any of the critical lines. From a pleasant isolani position black via some tactical exchanges went down to a double rooks ending in which black's pawn structure gave him a clear advantage. Hole's try to defend actively gave black a threatening passed h-pawn, but the single rook endgame still should be within the drawn area. A swinging rook endgame reportedly later was first won for black, then drawn again - and then ended up with a rook against queen endgame black decided before 70 moves. Kveinys did not play accurate all the way today, but a win still a win - meaning that Kveinys at 6,5/7 still shares the lead with Westerinen, while Hole again is behind his IM-norm schedule as he now must defeat Westerinen or Andreasen to make it.
GM Heikki WESTERINEN 2365 - Håkon BENTSEN 2159 1 - 0
This was a closed Ruy Lopez in which white played slow and black fast from the opening. It soon turned out however that white had not wasted his time while black should have used some more time, as his search for counterplay on the queenside turned out just to give white a promising pressure against the b5-pawn. Unwilling to fight on with a bad position a pawn down, Bentsen instead sacrificed to get a bad position a piece down. Having one pawn and not much more for the piece, black threw in the scoresheets after just 19 moves. Westerinen having 6,5/7 makes his best Gausdal result for decades, while Bentsen still having about his expected score is fighting to avoid the bottom place.
FM Per ANDREASEN 2323 - Sjur FERKINGSTAD 2237 1 - 0
Via 1.g3 this transposed into an English fianchetto, in which white got his full quota of queenside play while black despite an ambitious Dutch set up failed to get any tax free on the kingside. Black's search for counterplay on the queenside instead backfired, as white was allowed to establish a dominating passed pawn of d6. Later white instructively exchanged down to a rook and equally coloured bishop endgame, in which white's king intervened to decide against paralyzed black pieces just after 40 moves. Andreasen might be about to save his result, while the remaining question for Ferkingstad is how much ELO he will lose on this tournament.
FM Marc GHANNOUM 2252 - Paul COOKSEY 2252 ½ - ½
This meeting between two desillusioned former IM-norm candidates started as a Caro-Kann advance, in which white played a demonstratively unambitious a3-line. As black played even slower white however was allowed to establish a positional iron grip, including a nice c5-outpost as well as a space advantage and chances for a kingside attack. Although having a clear advantage for 20 moves, white failed to produce anything except exchanges. White finally seemed close to something in the queen and minor piece endgame, but defending creatively by sacrificing a piece black got the necessary help to reach a perpetual check within a few moves after the time control. Cooksey although dissatisfied with his own play is not that far below his expected score following this draw, while Ghannoum burning all his chances is still in the struggle to avoid last place.
Eric MOSKOW 2194 - IM Svein JOHANNESSEN 2281 1 - 0
Optimist for an IM-norm although needing 3/3 following his unfortunate loss yesterday, Moskow again hit in with a preparation. This one via 1.c4 transposed into an Old Indian line in which white's space advantage probably gave him an edge. Having a pair of bishops and controlling the c-file black appeared fine even in the rook and minor pieces endgame after 30 moves. As white exchanged a rook at c4 black however probably became overambitious when taking back with the b-pawn, as white in mutual time trouble established pressure against the c4-pawn. Picking up the c-pawn and even black's e-pawn just before 40 moves Moskow reached a winning position, but he again made the game exciting by spending much time on the next few moves without finding any forced win. Having successfully blocked the white passed pawn at b7 black seemed close to a draw in the rook and different coloured bishop ending after 5 1/2 hours and sixty moves, but suddenly finding back the track Moskow instructively exchanged rooks and gave up his b-pawn to win the remaining black kingside pawns. 1-0 after 74 moves even when white had less than four minutes left for the game, as black realized he would have to give up his bishop upon white's running h-pawn with an easy win to follow. Even another unneccessary loss for Johannessen, while Moskow scoring well above expectations is still in the IM-norm run.
IM-GROUP B - ROUND 7
The IM meeting of round seven became a firework attacking battle in which top seeded Krzystof Jakubowski sacrificed a piece just after the opening, and finally completed his attack before 40 moves to establish a firm grip on the first prize. Second seeded Sebastian Siebrecht still however lags only half a point behind, winning somewhat luckily following a grave time trouble blunder from Nicolas Arsenault today. IM-norm chances were further reduced as FM Simon Silseth had a long fight to scrape a draw against FM Ove Weiss Hartvig today, but the Swedish hope still can make it if succeeding to win both his final games. To end on a happy note, we could following 18 unsuccessful tries finally note a won game for a Norwegian in this group: Øyvind Bentsen won that contest by picking up some loose pawns and defend them into the endgame against FM Tor Kristian Schølseth, a few minutes before Ove Sævareid succeeded to do the same against Kalle Niemi. A Polish first place ahead of two Germans seems very likely, but Jakubowski-Silseth in last round might become a hard game if Silseth is then still an IM-norm candidate.
IM Krzystof JAKUBOWSKI 2479 - IM Stefan LÖFFLER 2429 1 - 0
This meeting between two IMs both having 5,5/6 became a turbulent and extremely messy attacking battle, far from the quiet draw many competitiors expected. As Jakubowski unexpectedly started up with 1.d4 Löffler unexpectedly snatched a pawn at c4, in an odd Queen's Gambit with an early Bb4. As white played hard for a direct kingside attack black probably was correct to return the pawn at e6 to win a piece at g5 just afterwards. Although white got a dangerous attack for the piece, he appearently had nothing decisive. Following some tense moves black probably was correct to take the second knight at g5, but if so he gave up his queen for a rook in the wrong way afterwards: As the moves went white playing with queen and bishop against an exposed king and scattered black pieces, won decisive material before move 40. Still having lost only one draw as black and nothing whatsoever as white, Jakubowski following this extremely important win is a clear favourite for first place - as he now leads half a point ahead of Siebrecht who is playing Löffler in the final round. While Löffler still is granted a moneyprize, he probably will have to defeat Siebrecht to reach anything more than third place, after becoming the first IM in this group to lose a game.
Nicolas ARSENAULT 2159 - IM Sebastian SIEBRECHT 2438 0 - 1
In this Kan Sicilian, black probably made a qualified decision to snatch a pawn at c3 despite having castled long. His decision to snatch another pawn at a2 instead of exchanging queens however looked dubious, as white getting some play in the half open queenside files as well as on the black squares in the remaining queen, rook and bishop position at least got the easier position to play. With both players about to run short of time black still playing a better position suddenly was struck by panic, and hastily convinced himself that he had to return both his extra pawns. Feeling relieved and thankful to get back the pawns with an advantage, white immediately blundered a rook at a6 and resigned. This was by far not the most convincing win of Siebrecht, but 6/7 still of course is a great result - while Arsenault still playing better than he scores fights to reach his expected score and/or to avoid last place.
FM Ove Weiss HARTVIG 2246 - FM Simon SILSETH 2310 ½ - ½
Needing 2,5/3 for an IM-norm Silseth principally played for a win as black in this Vienna game. Practically he however got no chance to play for it, as white getting the pair of bishops had a pleasant initiative from the opening. White eventually won a pawn following a pseudo-sacrifice at g6, but defending actically he hung on to reach a rook endgame in which his active pieces assured a draw despite 1-2 fewer pawns. White might very well have missed winning chances sometimes somewhere, but still Silseth should be credited for a nice defending performance after getting the wrong foot out today. Hartvig is en route for a small and quiet plus result, while Silseth en route for a clear plus result is short of points for an IM-norm following this draw, as he now needs to defeat Jakubowski as black.
FM Tor K. SCHØLSETH 2213 - Øyvind BENTSEN 2185 0 - 1
This was a sharp King's Indian Four Pawns duel, in which black snatched loose pawns first on e5 and then at b2. It all looked risky but reportedly all was theory. Bentsen having the better preparation however came clearly ahead on the clock and succeeded to exchange pieces without running into anything really threatening on the kingside. Black actually blundered an exchange to a Bh6-stroke late in the middlegame, but first his queenside pawns still should compensate for the exchange - and second Schølseth again short of time overlooked his chance . White resigned before losing on time at move 34, as black had consolidated his kingside and started to run with his extra queenside pawns. Bentsen was lucky to win the first Norwegian win of this group a few minutes before Sævareid, but scores just above expected so far. While an always rusty and never lucky Schølseth following this fifth loss needs a strong finish to avoid an unshared tenth place.
Ove SÆVAREID 2206 - Kalle NIEMI 2247 1 - 0
White did not get much on the queenside in this English fianchetto, but neither did black despite an ambitious set up on the kingside. Chances probably still were about balanced in a closed middlegame after 30 moves. White's king at f3 looked a little airy but worked out well as it provoked black to sacrifice first one pawn at e4, and then another one at f3 - the second in frustration as white unsportingly refused to take a sacrificed knight at g4. Having consolidated his two extra pawns, white anyway was winning when he just after 40 moves found a pseudo queen sacrifice immediately forcing a won pawn endgame. Sævareid might still reach an average result following this win, while young Niemi although looking untouched hardly can be following his much too loose play this tournament.
ELO-GROUP - ROUND 7
Former ELO group hegemon Ralf Schnabel today ran into his second knock in two days, as he mysteriously collapsed within a few moves after the opening against 14 year old Northern Norway hope Espen Forså. The first prize following Schnabel's double puncture again is very much open for discussions as the top seeded German down at 5,0/7 was caught not only by Forså, but also by Martin Valla winning an interesting King's Indian duel against Kristian Aandal as black today. Second seeded Tarjei Svensen and third seeded Thomas Nyland finally steams upward following nice black wins today, and same does the highly talented micro-German Alexander Schaefer - despite some hic ups during his opponents' time trouble today.
Ralf SCHNABEL 2184 - Espen FORSÅ 2036 0 - 1
Properly introduced to Forså's predictable but still potentially dangerous Tromsø Dragon, Schnabel chose as his weapon a slow positional line with short castling. Although black was left with no problems and a strong g7 bishop following an early queen exchange, a long struggle was still expected after 20 moves. Still it was all over before 30 moves as white for very mysterious reasons sacrificed his vital d5-pawn to open up the board for black's fianchetto bishops. Efficiently cashing in two more pawns within a few moves in the rooks and bishops endgame, black returned one of them to reach a double rook endgame in which his passed a-pawn and threat to double on the seventh rank immediately decided. Schnabel was even more unrecognizable as white today than as black yesterday, and following this double puncture his given first prize suddenly is very much in doubt. Forså looking all the more confident might very well snatch the honour (and cash!) - if he can survive another critical test as black against Valla tomorrow.
Kristian AANDAL 1918 - Martin VALLA 2050 0 - 1
This meeting between two ambitious and probably underrated Norwegian juniors made an interesting start as a sharp King's Indian Four Pawns line. Aandal however first forgot about the theory in a critical line, allowing Valla to sacrifice two minor pieces for a pawn and a rook, to control the e-file with a promising pressure against the white kingside. Although both players following a blitz start spent much time in the middle game the steam later did not change much, as black slowly turned his pressure into a direct attack. White succeeded to exchange some pieces, but having his knight at g3 caught in an unpleasant pin he found himself lost following a more tricky than convincing pseudo sacrifice at f5. White's 32.Qa4, efficiently refuted by Qxa4 0-1 might seems a given winner in the competition for the worst blunder of the tournament, but actually it was a very desperate last trap in an otherwise lost position. Valla having played better again the last two rounds is sharing the lead with Schnabel and Forså and might even candidate for first prize, while chess yo-yo Aandal now needs (at least) two wins in a row to get a moneyprize.
Askild BRYN 2027 - Tarjei SVENSEN 2099 0 - 1
Via 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 this transposed into a slow white double fianchetto set up, in which black equalised for free as white failed to put pressure upon the centre with c4 until black had successfully activated all his pieces (and instead methodically tried to block in his bishop at b2 by playing c3 and a3). Suddenly playing c4 early in the middlegame, white within a few moves succeeded to give up a centre pawn for less than nothing, a black remained closer too a kingside attack too. Having consolidated an extra passed pawn on d4 and keeping the more active pieces, black anyway was much better when white short of time for 40 moves collapsed - first sacrificing an exchange, then blundering one more piece to resign at move 41. Cool win by second seeded Svensen finally about to catch the top, but uneven local hero Bryn was a helpful opponent today.
Levi Andre TALLAKSEN (1391) - Anders HOBBER (1186) ½ - ½
15 moves, Semi-Slav Anti-Meran. Both the young Porsgrunn stars (aged 23 if taken together!) claimed to play for a win, but never the less a draw was agreed after 15 moves although white still had the freer play. This internal draw did little to change the plus results of both players, but Tallaksen meeting his first unrated opponent unfortunately lost the chance to complete his FIDE-ELO in this tournament.
Katrine TJØLSEN (1361) - Guttorm ANDERSEN (1284) 1 - 0
Via 1.c4 g6 this transposed into a Dutch Leningrad fianchetto, in which black first seemed fine as white without many ambitions played Bg5 and exchanged her bishop against a knight at f6. As black closed off the kingside by playing f4, a closed and approximately balanced battle followed. Until black overlooked a g5-hit winning a sound pawn. White later played a sound pawn up in the rook and minor pieces endgame, but black still had some drawing chances until he within a few moves just before 40 first gave up his h-pawn and then blundered his e-pawn. Later Tjølsen probably could have realised the win somewhat faster, but the main reason of why this became the last game of the round still was that the grown up played on 3-4 pawns down in a hopeless endgame. Tjølsen heads for another solid plus result following this mature win, while Andersen has fallen back again after his surprising win in round four.
Bård STANDAL 1949 - Ellen Øen CARLSEN 1871 ½ - ½
Jovial Standal seemingly played for a win today, as he after starting up with a modest Sicilian advance line suddenly played for a direct kingside attack in the early middlegame. For some reason Standal however came to believe his Ng4-Qh6+-plan was about to mate black, and when realizing it was not like that, he at move 18 offered a draw although still having a somewhat better position. More due to lack of ambitions than lacking capacity, Standal's tournament has slowed down following a speedy start, while Ellen steadily increases her modest FIDE-ELO.
Per JOHANSSON 2048 - Thomas NYLAND 2090 0 - 1
Today's Nyland Slav was a rare success, as he without feeling any pressure was allowed to place the troublesome white squared bishop outside the pawn chain at f5, before playing e6 and entering a slow Catalan line. Exchanging the queens before 10 moves and then weakening your pawn structure to exchange some bishops too might not be the ideal strategy to defeat Nyland, but chances still seemed roughly balanced until white did not test his chance to disrupt the black pawn structure by exchanging at h5. Instead he was helpful to exchange down to a double minor piece endgame in which white had serious problems to activate his king, and in the knight endgame arising after 40 moves black's king intervened via e4 to establish a decisive passed d-pawn within a few moves. Johansson obviously only having recovered partially from his bad start still plays way too tame, while second seeded Nyland after all still might be in the run for a moneyprize.
Gunnar BUE 1925 - Alexander SCHÄFER 2035 0 - 1
This was a true generation battle which can not be seen in many sports except chess, as white started up with 50 years more routine that black! Facing a Queen's Indian white played a "patient" (read: Boring) set up with e3 and b3, but as black played even more awaiting, Bue succeeded to get a promising advantage in the middlegame - playing with a pair of bishops and an impressive pawn wall from b4 to e4. As white spent much time without finding any way to exploit his space advantage black however acheived counterplay in the queen and minor pieces endgame. Having got the necessary help to pick up two pawns, black despite different coloured bishops should be winning in the queen and bishop endgame. Just before 40 moves the game however turned into an entertaining comedy of errors: Playing Bd5 to pin the black f7 pawn white seemingly set a trap, threatening Qg6+ with a mate in three. As black actually overlooked it totally by playing b5??, it was however revaled that white had no idea what he was actually threatening, as he played Qf5?? (in chess as in life going too far often is fatal, but not stretching far enough also might be....) Schafer suddely looking like a ketchup bottle discovered the dangers in time to save his king, but still won the game only because Bue short of time withdraw his bishop from the attack instead of forcing black to accept a perpetual check. As the clock is an important piece too I guess the champion of tomorrow won well deserved today, and hopefully he will following this shock never again overlook a Qg6+-pin...
Sudhir Gupta (1412) got a walkover.