Playing chess north of the Arctic Circle!

by Holger Blauhut
1/3/2025 – As part of the Norwegian Grand Prix, chess is also played far up north, where Europe ends and the arctic region begins. Holger Blauhut travelled with his daughter to Alta for the Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP tournament. Despite a snowstorm, they got to play a well-organised tournament and learned more about the region's sled dog racing. | Photos: Anna Blauhut, Holger Blauhut und Torill M. Wiggen

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Chess in Norway's Arctic region

When I received the invitation for the Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP 2024 in March last year, I wondered how many words a chess tournament name could handle. The abbreviation NGP stands for the Norwegian tournament series Norges Grand Prix, which itself consists of three words. The tournament was certainly worth all those words, and "Arctic" hintsat the fact that it takes place in the polar region. This was also the reason for the invitation to be sent out so early. There are only a few direct flights from Oslo to Alta, and flight prices are – unlike my Elo rating – on the rise. Despite the limited selection of flights, there was still room for error. More on that later.

The tournament was held in the facilities of the Arctic University in Alta from 29 November to 1 December. It featured five rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Those who arrived on Thursday were treated to a pre-tournament programme. There was a "King" and a "Queen" evening: free training sessions with GM Frode Urkedal or WIM Sheila Barth Stanford.

Queen’s evening: training with Norway's number one female player, WIM Sheila Barth Stanford | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

We flew to Alta on Thursday in a plane full of chess players. To my surprise, we were picked up at the airport and driven to the hotel. The organisers truly went out of their way to take care of the players. Those who didn't wish to stay at the hotel could also lodge with local chess players' families. On Friday morning, participants were taken to the Gargia Huskies dog farm. There, they had the chance to try dog sledding and snowmobiles.

Tournament favourite GM Frode Urkedal with his favourite husky | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

Focused on the sled - Urte Karaliute with her brakeman Emthe Solskinnsbakk | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

The farm is run by Roger Fossøy, who has extensive experience in dog sledding. This year, he placed fourth in the Finnmarksløpet, the northernmost sled dog race in the world. The race begins in Alta and covers a distance of 1,200 kilometres with a team of 14 dogs. Known for its harsh climatic conditions, the weather provided a fitting example on this Friday morning in Alta. With temperatures around freezing, there were storms with gusts reaching 150 km/h.

Iben Sofia Heggelund had a great connection with the huskies | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

Warming up at the Gargia Huskies farm | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

The storm, combined with heavy snowfall, made travel to Alta on Friday practically impossible. Mountain passes to Hammerfest and Tromsø were closed. The plane from Oslo had to abort its landing attempts and returned to the capital. Despite these challenges, 14 female players and 50 male players participated in the Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP 2024.

Symbolic first move by the main sponsor – GM Frode Urkedal didn't need too much power to defeat the author of this article. | Photo: Anna Blauhut

Excellent conditions at the university, shown here in the A-group | Photo: Holger Blauhut

The tournament featured three groups (<1600, <1800, and >1800 rating categories) and provided excellent playing conditions at the university, along with a kiosk offering very reasonable prices. In the A-group, Ben Samuel Groth Skaar (Elo 2015) had a strong showing.

GM Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen v. Ben Samuel Groth Skaar - the grandmaster looked sceptical early in the opening. | Photo: Holger Blauhut

Starting as the 13th seed, he led before the final round with 3 points from 4 games and the best tiebreak score. In the last round, he survived an attack by GM Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen with the black pieces, reaching a winning position he unfortunately could not convert.

The tournament winner versus the runner-up - IM Mads Vestby-Ellingsen v. GM Frode Urkedal | Photo: Holger Blauhut

The winners

  • Group A: 1. IM Mads Vestby Ellingsen, 2. GM Frode Urkedal, 3. GM Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen
  • Group B: 1. Miron Paranichev, 2. Øivind Jakobsen, 3. Emthe Solskinnsbakk
  • Group C: 1. Andreas Pettersen, 2. Johannes Bakkevoll, 3. Øystein Rostad

The game notation could be recorded either on a standard scoresheet or on a tablet. The tablets used the Clono programme, developed by Ole Kristian Valvåg and recognised by FIDE. With Clono, moves are entered by tapping on the screen, much like playing a game on a computer, eliminating the need for DGT boards for online broadcasting.

The Clono scoresheet for the Blauhut family pairing in the third round | Photo: Holger Blauhut

Another family pairing in the third round: WIM Sheila Barth Stanford v. IM Maxim Barth Stanford | Photo: Holger Blauhut

Different perception of cold in the North: Anders Lervik, Alta | Photo: Holger Blauhut

Alta was granted city status in 2000, but even before that, it had earned the unofficial title of Norway's ugliest town. Much has changed since then. On our way back to the hotel from the venue, we walked through the new pedestrian zone with the striking Northern Lights Cathedral in sight - a church that also serves as a concert hall and, above all, a tourist magnet.

The Northern Lights Cathedral: church, concert hall and tourist attraction | Photo: Holger Blauhut

With its bowling alley, swimming pool and shopping centres, Alta is also appealing to residents of the Finnmark province. Many come to spend a "big city" weekend in this small town.

After the tournament, there was an opportunity for a group dinner accompanied by a reindeer sleigh ride. Once again, many helpers were on hand to drive us to the Sami Siida restaurant and farm.

Sami Siida restaurant | Photo: Holger Blauhut

We were served Bidus, a traditional Sami reindeer stew. Bidus is a customary dish of the Sami people, often served during confirmations, weddings and other festive occasions. The main ingredients are reindeer meat, carrots and potatoes, slow-cooked to perfection and often accompanied by sweet raisin bread.

Enjoying a meal after the tournament | Photo: Torill M. Wiggen

The only thing missing that weekend was the Northern Lights, as the sky was too cloudy. At least it's a good reason to return to Alta.

As the friendly assistants drove us to the airport, organiser Rune Hammari was already planning the next tournament. He dreams of hosting a nine-round event, which would allow for a fantastic side programme. However, finding a date for such a tournament in the busy chess calendar is challenging. Additionally, flight prices are significantly higher during holidays and festive periods.

Given the flawless organisation of this tournament, I have no doubt he will succeed.

Next year, there will first be another weekend tournament. Anyone looking to combine chess with a chance to see the Northern Lights should mark the Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP on their calendar.

Final Standings - Group A

Pl Name i-Elo Club Pts Buchholz-1 Buchholz
IM Mads Vestby-Ellingsen
2368
Porsgrunn
4.0
14.0
16.0
GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal
2536
Offerspill
4.0
13.5
16.0
GM Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen
2402
Slemmestad
4.0
12.5
15.0
Eirik Strøm Austad
2081
Porsgrunn
3.5
12.0
13.5
IM Dmitry Sklyarov
2441
Alta
3.0
14.0
16.5
FM Eivind Grunt Kreken
2288
Nordstrand
3.0
13.5
15.0
Ben Samuel Groth Skaar
2015
Alta
3.0
13.0
15.0
WIM Sheila Barth Stanford
2198
Stjernen
3.0
12.5
14.5
IM Maxim Barth Stanford
2257
Stjernen
3.0
12.0
13.0
10 
Vinjar Hammari
2053
Alta
3.0
10.0
11.0
11 
Ask Amundsen
2012
Strømmen
2.5
12.5
14.0
12 
CM Holger Blauhut
2033
Fredriksstad
2.5
11.5
13.0
13 
CM Pål Nikolai Røyset
2107
Tromsø
2.5
10.5
12.0
14 
WIM Ellen Hagesæther
2139
Akademisk
2.5
10.0
11.0
15 
Aksel Elias Gjersvik
1793
Søråshøgda
2.5
9.5
10.5
16 
Kjell Aanes
1834
Alta
2.5
8.5
9.5
17 
Birk Sæther Rostad
1970
Tromsø
2.0
12.5
14.5
18 
Aksel Brasøy
1931
Alta
2.0
8.0
9.0
19 
Anna Blauhut
1823
Fredriksstad
1.5
11.5
13.0
20 
Mikkel Damtoft Solbakken
1901
Alta
1.5
9.5
10.5
21 
Benjamin Halvorsen
1945
Tromsø
1.5
9.0
10.5
22 
Bernhard Normann Lund
1773
Hammerfest
1.5
7.5
9.0
23 
Alena Sklyarova
1933
Alta
1.0
10.5
12.5
24 
Thorir Hrafnkelsson
1805
Skjervøy
0.5
6.5
7.0

Full information on tournamentservice.com...

All available games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nge2 h6 8.Ng3 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 g6 11.e4 Na6 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Rfe1 Nb4 14.Qd2 dxe4 15.Ngxe4 Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Kf8 17.Bxh6+ Kg8 18.Rae1 Bf6 19.h3 Qd7 20.Rg4 Re8 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Bg5 Bxg5 23.Rxg5 f6 24.Ra5 Na6 25.d5 cxd5 26.Rxd5 Qc6 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
Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal2536Holger Blauhut20331–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Ben Samuel Groth Skaar2015Dmitry Sklyarov2441½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen2402Ask Amundsen20121–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Birk Sæther Rostad1970Mads Vestby-Ellingsen23680–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Eivind Grunt Kreken2288Benjamin Halvorsen19451–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Alena Sklyarova1933Maxim Barth Stanford22570–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Sheila Barth Stanford2198Aksel Brasøy19311–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Mikkel Damtoft Solbakken1901Ellen Hagesæther21390–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Pål Nikolai Røyset2107Kjell Aanes18341–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Anna Blauhut1823Eirik Strøm Austad20810–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP1
Maxim Barth Stanford2257Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal2536½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Dmitry Sklyarov2441Pål Nikolai Røyset21071–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Ellen Hagesæther2139Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen24020–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Mads Vestby-Ellingsen2368Sheila Barth Stanford21981–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Eirik Strøm Austad2081Eivind Grunt Kreken2288½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Thorir Hrafnkelsson1805Vinjar Hammari20530–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Aksel Elias Gjersvik1793Holger Blauhut20330–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Ask Amundsen2012Mikkel Damtoft Solbakken19011–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Aksel Brasøy1931Birk Sæther Rostad19700–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Benjamin Halvorsen1945Anna Blauhut18230–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP2
Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal2536Eirik Strøm Austad20811–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Vinjar Hammari2053Dmitry Sklyarov24410–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen2402Mads Vestby-Ellingsen2368½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Eivind Grunt Kreken2288Ben Samuel Groth Skaar2015½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Sheila Barth Stanford2198Maxim Barth Stanford2257½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Birk Sæther Rostad1970Ellen Hagesæther21391–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Pål Nikolai Røyset2107Ask Amundsen20120–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Holger Blauhut2033Anna Blauhut1823½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Alena Sklyarova1933Aksel Elias Gjersvik1793½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Bernhard Normann Lund1773Thorir Hrafnkelsson18051–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP3
Mads Vestby-Ellingsen2368Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal2536½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Dmitry Sklyarov2441Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen2402½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Maxim Barth Stanford2257Eivind Grunt Kreken22880–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Kjell Aanes1834Sheila Barth Stanford21980–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Ellen Hagesæther2139Alena Sklyarova19331–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Aksel Elias Gjersvik1793Pål Nikolai Røyset2107½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Ask Amundsen2012Eirik Strøm Austad20810–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Anna Blauhut1823Vinjar Hammari20530–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Holger Blauhut2033Bernhard Normann Lund17731–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Ben Samuel Groth Skaar2015Birk Sæther Rostad19701–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP4
Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal2536Dmitry Sklyarov24411–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen2402Ben Samuel Groth Skaar20151–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Eivind Grunt Kreken2288Mads Vestby-Ellingsen23680–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Birk Sæther Rostad1970Maxim Barth Stanford22570–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Sheila Barth Stanford2198Vinjar Hammari2053½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Ask Amundsen2012Ellen Hagesæther2139½–½2024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Pål Nikolai Røyset2107Anna Blauhut18231–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Eirik Strøm Austad2081Holger Blauhut20331–02024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Mikkel Damtoft Solbakken1901Aksel Elias Gjersvik17930–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5
Bernhard Normann Lund1773Kjell Aanes18340–12024Power Solutions Arctic Chess NGP5

All games on Clono...

Links


Author, publisher and office worker. Holger Blauhut lives in Fredrikstad in Norway.

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.