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The Elo-group had an unfortunate start today, as the blind star Kai-Roger Johansen (1995) a few minutes before the game had to declare himself
unable to play competition chess today. Second board following this gave a point without play for 14 year old Eivind Risting (2032).
Hopefully Johansen, having won all his four games so far, will recover and be in form to play the three final rounds.
It turned out this was a black round and a favorite’s round on the other top boards, as the three top rated players all won their games with black.
On the first board, third seeded Tarjei Svensen (2082) got a hard test against the Norwegian U13 Champion Andreas Garberg Tryggestad (2019).
The game still was exciting in the second half of the fourth hour, as Svensen an exchange down on the board was about to run seriously short
of time on the clock. Playing with queen, rook and bishop versus queen and two rooks, black due to his powerful bishop on b7 however still
had a promising kingside attack. Anyway he efficiently used his chance to win decisive material by tactics, when white made the well
known error of playing too fast. Having won all the five games he has played this tournament, Svensen following this is still leading alone – now at 5.5/6.
First seeded FM Daniel Jakobsen Kovachev (2289) however also stood out a critical test today, winning as black against the solid Kongsvinger
veteran Ole Smeby (2042). Kovachev once more ran critically short of time, but again accelerated in time. On the board he established a pressure
as black in the middle game and went on to win a long endgame with an extra pawn.
Second seeded Johannes Kvisla (2096) well back from his studies got a much easier journey, as so far solid Geir Moseng (1983) collapsed from
the opening in a positionally complex Catalan line. Following an early queen exchange black came a sound pawn up before 15 moves, and after
blundering another pawn at f2 white respectfully resigned after 22 moves.
The tournament has reached a critical stage now, and tomorrow we will have two more key games on the top boards – as Svensen will play white
against Kovachev and Kvisla white against Risting.
62 year old Per Omtvedt (1948), winner of the first Elo-group back in 2011, might be an upcoming challenger for the 1-2 generations younger favorites.
Today Omtvedt won his third game in a row, as he with legendary patience completed the endgame win against Olav Erikstad (1832).
Italian Sonia Sirletti (1843) after winning her fourth game today might be another challenger, as she is playing and scoring very well above her
modest Elo so far. Second lost game in a row, but still many more chances to come for her 12 year old opponent Daniel Nordquelle (1814).
More important than any game result, this Elo group with 76 participants spread out across 71 years remains a remarkable illustration
of the potential chess has as an integrating and developing sport for very different human beings – on a local level as well as a national
and international level. In that regard, the Elo group is a bigger and more important success than the GM group.
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