Comeback kid Sadler leads in Oslo International
10/7/2011 – This Norwegian tournament has two heroes: on the one hand, the successful author Hans Olav Lahlum, who has saved the Gausdal tradition by creating and sponsoring a new event after the former disappeared. The second is the British GM Matthew Sadler, who, after a protracted absence from chess, is back with a vengeance. Big report with pictures by GM Sergei Tiviakov.
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The well-known Gausdal chess tradition, lasting from 1970 until 2008, like
all good things unfortunately ended. But its successful organizer and arbiter,
Hans Olav Lahlum (37), decided to re-establish this legendary Norwegian chess
tradition – on new grounds in Oslo! Now cooperating with Akademisk SK
(the chess club from the University in Oslo), and with the former Gausdal hotel
manager Lars Petter Mathisen (now manager of the new conference hotel Thon Ullevaal
Stadion in Oslo), Lahlum organized a grandmaster qualifying title tournament
called Oslo Chess International 2011. This new international tournament has
been designed to bring back the combination of a serious title tournament and
the friendly atmosphere which was the hallmark of Gausdal.
Hans Olav Lahlum (born 1973) is a well known Norwegian chess player and chess organizer, having the titles of International Organizer (IO) and International Arbiter (IA) from FIDE. Apart from Gausdal 1999-2008, Hans Olav has organized numberous international events and has been chief arbiter in many other large tournaments including the Norwegian championships 2006-2010. Lahlum is also a famous historian and bookwriter in Norway, with works on all the US presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama, and a best-selling historical biography about the legendary Norwegian politician Haakon Lie. In 2010 Lahlum released a new historical book about the Norwegian Labour Party, with the title "Noen av oss har snakket sammen..." ("Some of us have spoken together..."). In the past months he has also had success with his first criminal novel "Menneskefluene" ("The Human Flies").
Back in 2004 Hans Olav interviewed a young chess talent, and in fact...
...played some blitz against him. The
report is definitely worth rereading.
Standings after seven rounds
| Pl | Name | Rtng |
Pts |
Performance |
| 1 | GM Matthew D Sadler | 5.5 |
2856 (+12.10) |
|
| 2 | GM Sergey Volkov | 4.5 |
2650 (+3.30) |
|
| 3 | GM Sipke Ernst | 4.5 |
2643 (+5.30) |
|
| 4 | GM Sergei Tiviakov | 4.5 |
2647 (+1.00) |
|
| 5 | IM Frode Elsness | 4.5 |
2617 (+9.90) |
|
| 6 | GM Vladimir Burmakin | 4.5 |
2557 (-1.50) |
|
| 7 | GM Jon Ludvig Hammer | 4.0 |
2661 (+4.60) |
|
| 8 | GM Victor Mikhalevski | 4.0 |
2615 (+6.30) |
|
| 9 | GM Eduardas Rozentalis | 4.0 |
2555 (-0.60) |
|
| 10 | WGM Nino Batsiashvili | 4.0 |
2490 (+6.40) |
|
| 11 | IM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal | 4.0 |
2480 (+2.80) |
|
| 12 | GM Rune Djurhuus | 4.0 |
2418 (-2.00) |
|
| 13 | GM Nick E De Firmian | 3.5 |
2544 (+3.10) |
|
| 14 | FM Geir Sune Tallaksen | 3.5 |
2507 (+5.70) |
|
| 15 | IM Gerard Welling | 3.5 |
2503 (+21.60) |
|
| 16 | IM Danny Raznikov | 3.5 |
2502 (+6.00) |
|
| 17 | Brede Alex. Kvisvik | 3.5 |
2484 (+29.85) |
|
| 18 | GM Kaido Kulaots | 3.5 |
2472 (-8.50) |
|
| 19 | FM David Klein | 3.5 |
2427 (+9.75) |
|
| 20 | IM Roger Moor | 3.5 |
2410 (+1.20) |
|
| 21 | FM Sander Van Eijk | 3.5 |
2402 (+5.10) |
|
| 22 | Bharat Arjun | 3.5 |
2387 (+27.75) |
|
| 23 | IM Øystein Hole | 3.5 |
2385 (+1.20) |
|
| 24 | IM Eirik Gullaksen | 3.5 |
2362 (-0.00) |
|
| 25 | IM Nicolai Getz | 3.5 |
2360 (-2.70) |
|
| 26 | WGM Nazi Paikidze | 3.5 |
2357 (-3.20)
|
British GM Matthew Sadler is staging an astonishing comeback. Born in 1974, Sadler won the British Championship at the age of 21 and 23. He represented England in the 1996 Chess Olympiad, scoring 10½/13 and winning a gold medal for the best score on board four (England finished fourth). He also played in 1998 scoring 7½/12, and was widely tipped to reach the heights scaled by such leading players as Michael Adams and Nigel Short. But Matthew stopped playing competitive chess and opted for an IT career in Holland, moving to Amersfoort in the Netherlands. He has a French mother, speaks French perfectly and is also qualified to play in closed French events.
Comeback kid: GM Matthew Sadler leading in Oslo
Sadler returned to chess in 2010 in a rapid-play tournament held in nearby Wageningen, which he duly won. After that he broke back into the international chess scene with a vengeance, winning the the Sants Open at Barcelona in August. Now he is on track to win the Oslo Chess International.
Oslo International – pictorial impressions by GM Sergei Tiviakov
The Thon Ullevaal center where the tournament is being held
The playing hall just before the start of a round
Round five is under way, with Matthew Sadler vs Sipke Ernst
Nick de Firmian, 2516, vs Sergey Volkov, 2614 ended in a draw after 45 moves
Second: GM Sergey Volkov 2614, with 4.5/7 points
IM Frode Elsness, 2491, also 4.5/7, with his daughter
Seventh: Norwegian talent GM Jon Ludvig Hammer, 2601, 4.0/7
Ninth: GM Eduardas Rozentalis, 2575, 4.0/7
WGM Nazi Paikidze, rated 2412, with 3.5/7 points
WGM Olga Dolzhikova, 2275, with her son
The famous Ullevaal Stadion, home ground of the Norway national football team
With a capacity of 25,572, Ullevaal is the largest football stadium in Norway
A typical house in this part of Oslo
LinksThe games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
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