More than 100 players start at the Fagernes Open

by André Schulz
10/6/2020 – Despite the ongoing corona pandemic, the organisers of the Fagernes Open in Norway decided to go ahead with their tournament, which is played live and under strict hygiene regulations. Evgeny Postny, Simen Agdestein and Frode Urkedal are the top seeds in the A-Open, which also functions as Norwegian National Championship. | Photos: Tom Eriksen, Malgorzata Kopaczek-Styczen (Tournament page)

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Fagernes Open 2020

Due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic the organisers of the Fagernes Open, (4 to 11 October) had to cut back, and the field is not as strong as it would have been without the virus. A number of Grandmasters, who would have liked to come, had to cancel their trip due to travel restrictions. Nevertheless, a respectable field of more than 100 players, who start in two groups, came to Norway to play over-the-board chess again. In the A-Open, 13 Grandmasters from eight federations are taking part. The tournament also functions as Norwegian National Championship, which allows Norwegian players to get norms even if they do not play against the usually required number of foreign opponents.

The A-Open is a 9 round Swiss, the venue is the Scandic Valdres Hotel in Fagernes.

The tournament is, of course, held in close consultation with the local health authorities and under special hygiene regulations. Among other things, sufficient distance between the players had to be ensured.

Number one seed is Evgeny Postny while GM Simen Agdestein and GM Frode Urkedal are the nominally strongest Norwegian players. Urkedal and Agdestein both started with two wins, whereas Postny already had to concede a draw.

Amateur vs Master

In the first round of open tournaments strong players are often paired against weaker amateurs, and this often leads to instructive games.

 

Black first tried his luck on the kingside but now is looking for chances on the queenside. 16...Na6 17.Nxd4 Nb4 18.Qe3 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 cxd4 20.Qxd4 Nc2 21.Qxd7+ Kf8 After 22.Rb1 Qxe5 Black could still hope, but...

22.Bg5! and Black resigned. After 22...Bxg5 23.Nxg5 Qe8 24.Rac1 Nb4 25.Qd2 a5 26.Qf4 White is two pawns up and has the much better position.

1–0

Standings after two rounds

GM Simen Agdestein OSS 21 20 04
2.0
1.5
4.5
6.0
2273
 2973 (+3.50)
GM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal 1911 23 22 05
2.0
1.5
4.5
6.0
2254
 2954 (+3.20)
FM Gunnar Lund Tromsø 34 18 08
2.0
1.5
4.5
5.5
2266
 2966 (+18.60)
GM Ilmars Starostits   35 19 01
2.0
1.5
4.5
5.5
2176
 2876 (+3.20)
IM Frode Elsness Bærum 41 17 02
2.0
1.5
4.5
5.0
2060
 2760 (+2.20)
GM Evgeny Postny Beer Sheva 25 11 07
1.5
2.0
4.5
6.0
2287
 2480 (-2.00)
FM Noam Aviv Vitenberg 1911 29 15 06
1.5
2.0
4.5
6.0
2264
 2457 (+8.60)
IM Johannes Haug Offerspill 26 12 03
1.5
2.0
4.5
6.0
2215
 2408 (-1.40)
IM Benjamin Haldorsen Offerspill 27 13 16
1.5
2.0
4.5
6.0
2184
 2377 (-1.80)
10 
IM Kristian Stuvik Holm Vålerenga 28 14 12
1.5
2.0
4.5
6.0
2182
 2375 (-1.80)
11 
FM Anders Hobber Vålerenga 42 06 14
1.5
2.0
4.5
5.0
2361
 2554 (+9.20)
12 
CM Ludvig Carlsson   44 08 10
1.5
2.0
4.5
5.0
2264
 2457 (+18.80)
13 
FM Jens E Ingebretsen OSS 45 09 15
1.5
2.0
4.5
5.0
2247
 2440 (+11.20)
14 
FM Andre Z Nielsen Alta 46 10 11
1.5
2.0
4.5
5.0
2241
 2434 (+11.00)
15 
GM Benjamin Arvola Notkevich Tromsø 43 07 13
1.5
2.0
4.5
5.0
2232
 2425 (-1.10)
16 
Sigve Hølleland Masfjorden 24 36 09
1.5
1.5
4.0
5.0
2251
 2444 (+15.80)
17 
Ingrid Skaslien Vålerenga 33 05 19
1.0
2.0
4.5
6.0
2332
 2332 (+28.40)
18 
GM Normunds Miezis Asker 39 03 21
1.0
2.0
4.5
5.5
2236
 2236 (-6.00)
19 
WGM Olga Dolzhikova OSS 40 04 17
1.0
2.0
4.5
5.5
2199
 2199 (-0.40)

48 players start in the A-Open

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

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