The next Magnus Carlsen in Molde?

by Holger Blauhut
11/28/2022 – With Magnus Carlsen, chess has become incredibly popular in Norway and the Norwegian Junior and Children's Championships attracted a lot of young players. Maybe one of them is the next Magnus Carlsen? Holger Blauhut reports. | Photos: Holger Blauhut and the organisers

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The Norwegian Championship for Children and Juniors 2022

The championship was played in Molde from 18-20 November. Although the city on the Romsdalsfjord, not far from the Atlantic Ocean, is not exactly the most central venue, 248 players turned up.

Hotel Seilet – The Sail

The venue in the Bjørnsonhuset.

Parents and coaches had to leave the playing hall after 5 minutes (rapid chess) or 10 minutes (standard games).

The championship was played in eight age groups, with the youngest and the oldest four age groups playing different systems.

The older players in the groups U26 (20-26 years) and A-C (17-19, 15-16 and 13-14 years) first played two rounds of rapid chess (15 min. + 5 sec.) on Friday evening and then another round with standard time control (90 min. + 30 sec.). On Saturday and Sunday there were two rounds each with standard time control.

The younger players in the groups D-G (12, 11, 10, 9 years and younger) played nine rounds. They started on Friday with three rounds of rapid chess. On Saturday, they continued with one round of rapid chess, followed by three rounds with shorter standard time control (60 min. + 30 sec.). On Sunday, the last two rounds were also played with the shorter standard time control.

As the flight options from Oslo to Molde were limited, we arrived on Friday morning with a plane full of chess players. We played and stayed at the Hotel Seilet. We were able to check in there as early as 10.00 in the morning, which left us still enough time to take a walk through the little town before the tournament started.

We visited the Romsdal Museum, where we learned that Norway's first bus line opened in Molde in 1908. But most importantly, there is a room in this museum that shows parts of the work of the German artist Kurt Schwitters, a prominent member of the Dada and Surrealist movement. In the 190s Schwitters had to flee from the Nazis and was often in Norway, where he had a small hut on the island of Hjertøya.

The first round started on Friday at 17.30. The venue was in the hotel's conference room Bjørnsonhuset - named after the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who went to school in Molde in the 1840s.

Already at the beginning of the tournament, it became clear that not everything had gone smoothly when the dice were thrown to plan the schedule. Eating and playing times overlapped, to the point where it was impossible to combine the two.In addition, on Friday evening the hotel kitchen was surprised by requests for gluten-free or vegetarian food, but on the other days they had this under control. Since all eight groups played in one hall, but started at different times, there were disturbances when the youngest (with their parents in tow) stormed the hall while the older ones were already playing. Probably the Norwegian Junior Chess Federation should rethink the concept. Five rounds with standard time control, plus two or four rounds of rapid chess within 48 hours is simply too much.

On Sunday afternoon, one could congratulate the new Norwegian champions:

U26: GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen

Organiser Tor Wetle Wetlesen Hoem and GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen

A: Mathias Lind Schouten

B: Saad Abobaker Elmi

Photo: Anniken Vestby, Source: https://bergensjakk.no

C: FM Aksel Bu Kvaløy

D: Evsuld Myagmarsuren

E: David Myrseth Nilsen

F: Eivind Jiabao Ji

G: Noah Jullum Amundsen

Perhaps some of these names will become familiar to us. If you look at older lists of winners you'll find names like Aryan Tari, Jon Ludvig Hammer or Magnus Carlsen.

Standings and games

U26

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points SoBerg Performance
GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen
7.0
21.00
 2419 (+5.60)
Leander Eriksen
5.0
12.00
 2017 (+52.00)
Sigve Hølleland
5.0
11.00
 1939 (-6.20)
Bjørn Robert L. Unhjem
4.0
8.00
 1849 (-17.40)
David Hellesøy
4.0
7.00
 1910 (+33.60)
Mikita Shuldau
2.0
1.00
 1671 (-67.20)
Martin Johnsen
 
1.0
0.00
 1555 (-46.80)
Vegard Lauvik Fjeldstad
0.0
0.00
 1201 (-16.20)

 

 

 

Group A

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Med.Buchh Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
Mathias Lind Schouten
5.5
20.5
26.0
29.0
1798
 2067 (-2.80)
Ask Amundsen
5.5
19.5
25.0
27.5
1742
 2011 (+51.20)
Leo Moen Eidet
4.5
22.0
27.5
30.5
1896
 2026 (+103.60)
FM Mathias Unneland
4.5
21.5
27.0
28.0
1827
 1882 (-32.20)
Gaute U. Bergan
4.5
19.0
23.5
24.5
1716
 1780 (-16.00)
Gard Rye Høyforsslett
4.0
19.0
24.5
26.0
1835
 1851 (+28.00)
Nikolai Olsen Wernberg
4.0
18.5
24.0
25.0
1759
 1749 (+17.60)
Gustav Hestholm
4.0
15.5
19.5
21.0
1522
 1568 (-85.60)
Thomas Sekkingstad
3.5
20.5
26.0
28.0
1718
 1709 (-22.80)
10 
Kim Andre Engvik
3.5
15.0
19.5
20.5
1775
 1646 (+13.40)
11 
Khaled Alkhatib
3.0
17.5
23.0
25.0
1652
 1563 (+16.40)
12 
Sverke Linga Øfeldt
3.0
16.5
22.0
23.5
1711
 1622 (-6.40)
13 
Aleksander Stolp
2.5
18.5
24.0
25.0
1708
 1635 (-42.00)
14 
Emilie Lazareva
2.5
17.5
22.0
24.0
1681
 1609 (+12.80)
15 
Vetle Røysland Jacobsen
2.5
13.5
17.5
19.0
1535
 1223 (-16.80)
16 
Charlotte Schreiner
 
2.0
14.5
18.5
19.5
1590
 0000 (+0.00)
17 
Jørgen Nordfjæren
 
1.5
17.0
21.5
23.0
1780
 0000 (+20.00)
 

 

Group B

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Med.Buchh Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
Saad Abobaker Elmi
6.0
22.5
28.0
31.5
1985
 2309 (+22.40)
Shazil Shehzad
5.5
22.0
28.0
30.5
1933
 2190 (+6.20)
Eirik Strøm Austad
5.5
21.5
27.5
30.0
1881
 2142 (+64.80)
Eivind Grunt Kreken
4.5
21.0
27.0
29.5
1916
 2035 (-18.40)
Sverre Lye
4.5
20.0
26.0
28.5
1729
 1864 (-34.80)
Peder Marcus Aamodt
4.0
22.0
28.0
31.5
1893
 1976 (+6.40)
Sindre Lyngsaunet Ytrestøyl
4.0
21.0
26.5
28.5
2023
 1951 (-17.60)
Vinjar Hammari
4.0
20.0
26.0
29.0
1768
 1841 (+6.40)
Lukas Dominik Gåsland
4.0
17.5
23.0
23.5
1617
 1690 (+9.60)
10 
Elias Fredrik Budde
4.0
17.5
21.5
23.5
1466
 1550 (+90.00)
11 
Olai Dyrhaug Eriksen
4.0
17.0
21.5
24.0
1569
 1630 (-46.40)
12 
Amelia Nordquelle
4.0
16.5
22.0
24.0
1649
 1723 (+14.40)
13 
Jo Frønsdal Engedal
3.5
18.0
23.5
24.0
1798
 1772 (+25.20)
14 
Amadeus S. Sveggen
3.5
17.0
23.0
25.0
1683
 1658 (-1.20)
15 
Andreas Jan Van Der Meulen
3.5
14.0
18.0
18.5
1522
 1390 (-30.80)
16 
Arne Eikre
3.5
13.0
17.0
18.5
1480
 1424 (-6.80)
17 
Jacek Stefan Kotkowski
3.5
12.5
16.5
18.5
1514
 1376 (+6.00)
18 
Elma Selvik
3.0
18.0
23.5
25.5
1632
 1544 (-19.20)
19 
Thomas Kirkholm Skauen
3.0
17.5
22.0
22.5
1504
 1482 (-11.20)
20 
Matheo Frøsøye
3.0
16.5
21.0
23.0
1539
 1450 (-22.40)
21 
Gabriel Skotte
2.5
18.0
23.5
25.0
1663
 1499 (-2.00)
22 
Xavier Alexander Nylænde
 
2.5
16.5
20.5
22.0
1521
 0000 (+20.00)
23 
David Kristiansen
2.5
15.0
19.0
19.5
1396
 1231 (-7.60)
24 
Adrian Wolstad Farstad
 
2.0
13.5
17.0
17.5
1371
 1202 (-3.60)
25 
Susanne Wiggen Larsson
1.0
14.5
18.5
20.0
1451
 0777 (-42.40)
 

 

Group C

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Med.Buchh Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
FM Aksel Bu Kvaløy
6,0
24,5
30,0
34,0
1768
 2103 (+0,20)
Nicolai Maxime Østensen
5,5
23,0
29,0
33,0
1826
 2014 (+4,40)
Isak Vinh Brattgjerd
5,5
22,0
28,0
32,0
1643
 1900 (+9,20)
Aidas Juodziukynas
5,5
20,5
26,0
29,0
1592
 1809 (+35,60)
William Alexander Olsen
5,0
22,5
28,5
31,0
1749
 1928 (+49,60)
Pantham Kaewpitakkun
5,0
19,5
25,5
28,0
1522
 1663 (-10,40)
Martin Holten Fiskaaen
4,5
23,5
29,5
33,0
1771
 1829 (-33,20)
Even Huneide Hetland
4,5
20,5
26,0
29,0
1608
 1730 (+31,60)
Elias Buschmann Rustan
4,5
20,0
25,0
27,5
1628
 1681 (+48,40)
10 
Matei Kristian Marin
4,5
20,0
25,0
27,5
1613
 1683 (+58,00)
11 
Villum Brevick Kierulf
4,5
19,5
25,0
27,5
1500
 1561 (-12,80)
12 
Jacob Tollefsen
4,5
19,0
25,0
27,5
1473
 1543 (-4,80)
13 
Nicolai Frøyshov
4,5
17,5
22,0
22,5
1387
 1484 (+33,60)
14 
Raphael Leif Mathias Iglesias Stuhaug
4,0
21,0
26,5
29,5
1652
 1597 (+6,00)
15 
Olav Bjørkan
4,0
20,5
26,0
27,5
1660
 1600 (+1,20)
16 
Teodor Tenfjord Engelsen
4,0
19,5
25,0
27,5
1522
 1594 (-16,40)
17 
Eskil Møklebust-Lien
4,0
19,5
25,0
25,5
1496
 1581 (+49,20)
18 
Rafe Rehman
4,0
18,5
23,0
26,0
1404
 1439 (-62,00)
19 
Christine Nordahl
4,0
18,0
23,5
25,0
1530
 1544 (+48,00)
20 
Daniel O.Vollheim
4,0
16,5
22,0
24,5
1497
 1637 (+63,60)

45 players

 

 

Gruppe D

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Med.Buchh Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
Evsuld Myagmarsuren
8.0
40.5
48.0
50.0
1544
 1862 (+19.20)
Jiahao Eric Ji
7.5
39.5
47.5
50.0
1429
 1734 (+0.40)
David Mindestrømmen Simonsen
7.0
41.5
49.5
54.0
1497
 1709 (+6.00)
Felix Wiger-Nordås
6.5
39.5
47.5
51.0
1513
 1631 (+65.20)
Nikolay Jørgensen Den Roover
6.0
40.5
48.5
52.5
1440
 1567 (-8.80)
Oda Kofoed Skramstad
6.0
33.0
40.0
43.5
1396
 1474 (+10.80)
Fredrik Lexow Bjørge
5.5
39.5
47.5
50.5
1532
 1496 (-3.60)
Siver Flaten
5.5
37.0
44.5
48.0
1413
 1435 (+40.00)
Aksel Bræin
5.5
36.0
44.0
48.0
1366
 1443 (+64.80)
10 
William Arntzen Walgren
5.0
35.5
43.5
46.0
1489
 1446 (-12.40)
11 
Lars Ystad-Deglum
 
5.0
32.5
39.5
42.0
1293
 1296 (-27.60)
12 
Emilian Loeve Brandsdal Bjugn
5.0
32.5
38.5
42.5
1274
 1252 (-12.80)
13 
Thomas Nissen Hellerud
5.0
31.0
39.0
41.5
1320
 1302 (-31.20)
14 
Mikael Ruud
5.0
30.0
36.0
39.0
1244
 1289 (+16.00)
15 
Jørgen K. Frøisland
5.0
28.0
34.0
37.0
1303
 1279 (+13.60)
16 
Victor Lindstad
4.5
37.5
44.5
46.5
1432
 1293 (+6.40)
17 
Emthe Solskinnsbakk
4.5
33.5
41.0
44.5
1332
 1264 (+7.80)
18 
Amalie Linnea Heibo
4.5
31.0
38.5
41.5
1254
 1181 (-47.60)
19 
Niels Andreas Samuelsen
 
4.5
27.5
33.0
35.0
1259
 0000 (+20.00)
20 
Sebastian Sigvaldsen
 
4.5
27.5
32.5
35.0
1154
 0000 (+0.00)

36 players

 

Group E

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
David Myrseth Nilsen
7.5
43.5
45.0
1368
 1461 (+22.80)
Hallvard Foss Bjørnstad
7.0
43.5
46.5
1338
 1484 (+35.20)
Sigur H. Myny
6.5
48.5
50.5
1310
 1480 (+0.80)
Aksel Bjøntegaard Straus
6.5
47.5
50.5
1309
 1428 (+89.20)
August Minh Brattgjerd
6.0
47.0
51.5
1350
 1421 (-6.80)
Theodor Mohr
 
6.0
43.5
47.0
1258
 1325 (+7.20)
Mateja Krbacevic
6.0
43.0
43.0
1364
 1312 (-16.40)
Abdishakur Abobaker Elmi
 
5.5
41.0
44.0
1250
 1124 (-45.20)
Olav Faye Helvik
5.5
38.5
41.5
1229
 1261 (-28.00)
10 
Filip Myrseth Nilsen
 
5.5
35.5
39.0
1313
 0000 (+0.00)
11 
Jan Karol Statkiewicz
5.0
45.5
49.5
1219
 1234 (-37.20)
12 
Alec Bernhoftsen-Banks
5.0
44.5
48.0
1237
 1349 (+24.00)
13 
Alina Shehzad
5.0
40.0
44.0
1294
 1122 (-40.00)
14 
Noah Darbinian-Johansen
5.0
39.5
41.0
1341
 1254 (-7.60)
15 
Henrik Nome
4.5
45.0
49.0
1283
 1171 (+19.60)

34 players

 

Group F

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
Eivind Jiabao Ji
9.0
45.5
49.5
1211
 1891 (+21.60)
Githiha Sathish
7.0
47.5
51.0
1309
 1446 (+21.80)
Fredrik Valstad Elsness
6.5
46.0
50.0
1251
 1340 (+42.00)
Sophie Damiano
6.0
47.5
51.0
1310
 1364 (+19.00)
Lauritz Nissen Hellerud
6.0
43.0
45.0
1330
 1289 (+32.40)
Aksel Elias Gjersvik
6.0
41.5
45.5
1213
 1336 (+26.00)
Halldor Olaves Grytten
 
5.5
46.5
50.5
1336
 1131 (-45.60)
Sondre Olsen Linkjendal
 
5.5
38.0
41.5
1151
 1274 (+14.80)
August Solbu
5.5
37.0
37.5
1258
 1282 (+5.60)
10 
Alan Kizatbay
 
5.5
33.0
35.0
1225
 1104 (-23.20)
11 
Eirik F. Reigstad
 
5.0
47.0
50.0
1274
 1244 (-25.60)
12 
Bjarne Stafseth
5.0
44.0
47.5
1215
 1098 (+0.40)
13 
Leander Theodor Kragh Muraas
5.0
41.5
44.5
1173
 1037 (-46.80)
14 
Pål Folven
4.5
42.5
45.0
1160
 0933 (-57.60)
15 
Henrik Helland Kaada
4.5
42.0
43.5
1246
 1119 (-49.60)

31 players

 

Group G

Pl. Name FIDE-Elo Points Buchholz-1 Buchholz Average FIDE Performance
Noah Jullum Amundsen
7.5
46.0
50.0
1216
 1405 (+26.40)
Adam Statkiewicz
7.0
48.5
53.5
1174
 1299 (+20.80)
Astor Moe Maurstad
 
7.0
48.0
51.0
1197
 1470 (+29.60)
Birk Braaten
7.0
47.5
50.5
1207
 0454 (-25.60)
William Olsen
7.0
46.5
51.0
1169
 1169 (+0.00)
Nhat Anh Nguyen
 
6.5
39.5
42.5
1193
 0000 (+0.00)
Espen Siben Yang
 
6.0
45.0
49.0
1212
 0000 (+0.00)
Tommy Matysiak
 
6.0
45.0
49.0
1154
 0000 (+0.00)
Bjørn Mennink Røyrvik
 
6.0
43.5
46.5
1263
 0000 (+0.00)
10 
Kasper Macdonald Haldorsen
 
6.0
43.0
46.0
1165
 1901 (+18.00)
11 
Halvor Heierland Farsethås
 
6.0
40.0
40.5
 
 0000 (+0.00)
12 
Maxy Dolek
 
5.5
50.0
53.0
1200
 1189 (-6.40)
13 
Jotautas Jonas Indrasius
 
5.5
49.0
52.5
1179
 0000 (+0.00)
14 
Artem Ryabchikov
 
5.5
44.0
46.5
1154
 0000 (+0.00)
15 
Terje Kevin G. Lysen
 
5.5
42.0
44.0
 
 0000 (+0.00)

52 players

 

Molde Sjakklubb...


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