Grandelius gains entry to Norway Chess

by André Schulz
3/31/2016 – On 18th April one of the strongest tournaments of the year will begin: the Altibox Norway Chess Tournament 2016. M. Carlsen, V. Kramnik, A. Giri, L. Aronian, M. Vachier-Lagrave, V. Topalov, S. Karjakin, P. Eljanov and Pentala Harikrishna were invited, the tenth participant was established in a qualifier. Which Swedish GM Nils Grandelius managed to win.
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The Norway Chess Qualifier took place from 23th to 26th March and four players were given the chance to qualify for the top tournament: the Norwegians Jon Ludvig Hammer and Aryan Tari, Nils Grandelius from Sweden, and Women's World Champion Hou Yifan.

Aryan Tari (left), born 1999, Norwegian Champion 2015,
focuses before his game against Nils Grandelius (born 1993).

Women's World Champion Hou Yifan (born 1994) and Jon Ludvig Hammer (born 1990)

The four players played one game in classical chess and one rapid game against each of the other three players. A win in classical chess was awarded with 3 points, a win in rapid chess with 2 points. A draw yielded only 1 point, no matter whether it was classical or rapid chess.

Nils Grandelius won in both formats. In both classical and rapid chess he won two of his three games and drew one, thus scoring a total of 12 points.

Grandelius had a good start into the tournament. In the first round (classical chess) he played with Black against top seed Jon Ludvig Hammer and won an interesting game because his opponent overpressed:

 
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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,166,62354%2421---
1.d4947,29855%2434---
1.Nf3281,60256%2441---
1.c4182,10256%2442---
1.g319,70256%2427---
1.b314,26554%2427---
1.f45,89748%2377---
1.Nc33,80151%2384---
1.b41,75648%2380---
1.a31,20654%2404---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466446%2360---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c343351%2426---
1.h328056%2418---
1.a411060%2466---
1.f39246%2436---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
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 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.f5 Nh4 This is a new move and it is likely that Grandelius analysed its tactical consequences at home. A previous top-level game continued with 13...Ne7 14.Nde4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 17.Nf2 Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Nxf5 19.Qf3 Nd6 20.e4 f6 21.Bc2 Be6 22.Nd3 Nc4 23.Kg1 Bd6 24.Nf4 Bxf4 25.gxf4 Rad8 26.f5 Bf7 27.Qc3 Rfe8 28.Bd3 Nb6 29.a4 a6 30.a5 Nc8 31.e5 Ne7 32.e6 Bh5 33.Be4 Nd5 34.Qh3 Be2 35.Kf2 Bb5 36.Rg1 Kh7 37.Qa3 Bc4 38.Rg4 Bb5 39.Rg1 Bc4 40.Rc1 Bb5 41.Bf3 Nf4 42.Rd1 Kh8 43.d5 Aronian,L (2830)-Mamedyarov,S (2757) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 1-0 14.Qh5
14...Bxf5 A surprising tactical shot. Black gives two pieces for a rook and a pawn and stops White's attack. 15.Rxf5 After 15.Bxf5 g6 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.Rxf6 gxh5 18.Rxh6 Nf5 19.Rxh5 Nxe3 the engines assess the position as equal. Black is pawn down but has good play. 15...Nxf5 16.Qxf5 Qxf5 17.Bxf5 Rae8 The engines also give this position as equal. White's e-pawn is weak and White's minor pieces find it surprisingly difficult to find targets to attack. 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
Grandelius was obviously content with a draw and did not show any intention to avoid the repetition of moves. But Hammer wants to continue the game and play for a win. In fact, White is definitely not worse and might even be slightly better here. 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?!
Allowing Black to change the position favorably. After 39.Bc2 or 39.Kd2 White runs no danger to lose the game. 39...R6e7 40.b4
40...Rxe5! After this exchange sacrifice Black is a piece down but he will get three pawns for it - and suddenly it is White who has to be careful. 41.dxe5 Rxe5 42.Rg1 Bd8 43.Kf3 Bxg5 44.e4?
White finally wants to get rid of the weakness which has plagued for the last moves. However, now the black bishop finds new targets on the queenside. After a non-committal move such as 44.Rg2 the position is still roughly balanced. 44...Bc1 45.a4 Ba3 46.exd5 After 46.b5 dxe4+ 47.Bxe4 cxb5 48.axb5 Rxb5 White also loses a pawn. 46...Rxd5 47.Bc4 Rf5+ 48.Ke4 Bxb4 Now Black has four pawns for the piece and is the one playing for a win. 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 Liquidating into an endgame with opposite-colored bishops which is perhaps White's best hope for a draw. However, Black's king is too active. 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
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hammer,J2701Grandelius,N26460–12016D37Norway Chess Qualifier1.1

Final standings

Norway Chess Qualifikationsturnier
Rk Name Ti FED Rtg Pts
1 Grandelius, Nils GM SWE 2646 12
2 Hammer, Jon Ludvig GM NOR 2701 8
3 Hou, Yifan GM CHN 2667 6
4 Tari, Aryan IM NOR 2553 2

The games with classical time control

 
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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 10.0-0 0-0 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
  • Start an analysis engine:
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hammer,J2701Grandelius,N26460–12016D37Norway Chess Qualifier1.1
Tari,A2553Hou Yifan2667½–½2016D37Norway Chess Qualifier1.2
Hou Yifan2667Grandelius,N2646½–½2016C97Norway Chess Qualifier2.1
Tari,A2553Hammer,J27010–12016A48Norway Chess Qualifier2.2
Grandelius,N2646Tari,A25531–02016A34Norway Chess Qualifier3.1
Hammer,J2701Hou Yifan26671–02016A77Norway Chess Qualifier3.2

The rapid games

 
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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
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hou Yifan2667Tari,A25531–02016A34Norway Chess Qualifier4.1
Grandelius,N2646Hammer,J27011–02016D38Norway Chess Qualifier4.2
Hammer,J2701Tari,A25531–02016A20Norway Chess Qualifier5.1
Grandelius,N2646Hou Yifan26671–02016A35Norway Chess Qualifier5.2
Hou Yifan2667Hammer,J27011–02016C26Norway Chess Qualifier6.1
Tari,A2553Grandelius,N2646½–½2016C84Norway Chess Qualifier6.2

(From left to right:) Hou Yifan, Jon Ludvig Hammer, Aryan Tari, Nils Grandelius

Photos: Tom Erikson (Tournament blog)

 

André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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