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Norway Chess (2016) Background This was the fourth iteration of this event, which was first staged in 2013. It was part of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT) in 2015, but withdrew from that series till further notice. Karjakin won the first two events in 2013 and 2014, but was unable to participate in 2015 due to not being in the GCT. Veselin Topalov won in 2015. Year 2016 had Altibox as new main sponsor. When Played from 19 April 2016 until 29 April 2016. The preliminary blitz tournament Norway Chess (Blitz) (2016) that determined starting colors was played on 18 April. That event was won by Carlsen with 7.5/9, his only loss being the last round game with Giri. Where The Category XXI (2770) tournament was played in the city of Stavanger in Norway. The first six rounds were staged in the Stavanger Forum, while the final three rounds were held in the Stavanger Concert Hall. Format The tournament was a round robin featuring ten players and therefore nine rounds. Sofia rules applied, with no draw offers allowed. Chief arbiter: Karl-Johan Rist. Time control The time control was 100 minutes for 40 moves plus 50 minutes for 20 moves plus 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move 61. Tiebreaks 1. Sonneborn-Berger 2. Most wins 3. Most wins with black 4. Drawing of lots A tie for first place would be determined by blitz playoff(s). Comments There was some uncertainty if Eljanov would have a rating for this tournament due to the suspension of Ukraine by FIDE because of monetary arrears. However, the Ukrainian ratings were to be nullified with effect from the next rating period starting 1 May 2016, after the tournament ended and so Eljanov's current (April 2016) rating stood for the duration of the event. Carlsen led for most of the event until round 8 when he lost to Aronian to allow the latter to draw level with 5/8. The last round saw Carlsen defeat Eljanov and Aronian draw with Harikrishna enabling Carlsen to win Norway Chess for the first time. Stavanger, Norway, 19-29 April 2016 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Carlsen 2851 * 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 6 2 Aronian 2784 1 * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 5½ 3 Vachier-Lagrave 2788 ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 5 4 Topalov 2754 ½ ½ ½ * ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5 5 Kramnik 2801 0 ½ ½ ½ * ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 5 6 Li Chao 2755 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ * 0 ½ 1 ½ 4½ 7 Harikrishna 2763 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 * 1 ½ ½ 4½ 8 Giri 2790 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * 1 ½ 4 9 Eljanov 2765 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 * 1 3 10 Grandelius 2649 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 * 2½ Official site: https://norwaychess.no/arkiv-2016/ Regulations: http://norwaychess.no/en/reglement/ Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/mag... ChessBase: https://en.chessbase.com/post/carls... chess24: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t... TWIC: http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews... FIDE: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament... Wikipedia article: Norway Chess#2016 Previous: Norway Chess (2015). Next: Norway Chess (2017). Opening Blitz tournament: Norway Chess (Blitz) (2016)  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 45  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Kramnik vs N Grandelius 1-0 39 2016 Norway Chess D02 Queen's Pawn Game 2. Carlsen vs Harikrishna 1-0 41 2016 Norway Chess E15 Queen's Indian 3. Aronian vs Topalov ½-½ 46 2016 Norway Chess A29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto 4. Vachier-Lagrave vs C Li ½-½ 37 2016 Norway Chess C42 Petrov Defense 5. Giri vs Eljanov 1-0 36 2016 Norway Chess C50 Giuoco Piano 6. Topalov vs Carlsen ½-½ 29 2016 Norway Chess D37 Queen's Gambit Declined 7. Giri vs Vachier-Lagrave 0-1 28 2016 Norway Chess B96 Sicilian, Najdorf 8. N Grandelius vs Aronian ½-½ 32 2016 Norway Chess C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 9. C Li vs Kramnik ½-½ 42 2016 Norway Chess C26 Vienna 10. Eljanov vs Harikrishna   ½-½ 45 2016 Norway Chess E20 Nimzo-Indian 11. Kramnik vs Giri ½-½ 59 2016 Norway Chess D78 Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O c6 12. Vachier-Lagrave vs Eljanov ½-½ 52 2016 Norway Chess C67 Ruy Lopez 13. Aronian vs C Li   ½-½ 40 2016 Norway Chess D15 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 14. Harikrishna vs Topalov   ½-½ 23 2016 Norway Chess E53 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 15. Carlsen vs N Grandelius 1-0 38 2016 Norway Chess B29 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein 16. C Li vs Carlsen ½-½ 37 2016 Norway Chess D14 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation 17. Eljanov vs Topalov ½-½ 39 2016 Norway Chess D59 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower 18. Giri vs Aronian ½-½ 49 2016 Norway Chess D37 Queen's Gambit Declined 19. N Grandelius vs Harikrishna ½-½ 45 2016 Norway Chess C11 French 20. Vachier-Lagrave vs Kramnik ½-½ 60 2016 Norway Chess C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 21. Carlsen vs Giri ½-½ 48 2016 Norway Chess C77 Ruy Lopez 22. Kramnik vs Eljanov   ½-½ 43 2016 Norway Chess C53 Giuoco Piano 23. Harikrishna vs C Li 1-0 42 2016 Norway Chess D70 Neo-Grunfeld Defense 24. Aronian vs Vachier-Lagrave   ½-½ 38 2016 Norway Chess D14 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation 25. Topalov vs N Grandelius 1-0 42 2016 Norway Chess C78 Ruy Lopez  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 45    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 15 OF 20 ·  Later Kibitzing> Apr-27-16    CowChewCud: Giri's chess understanding is neither superior, nor inferior. It's equal. Giri is a very level-headed player. Apr-27-16    PawnSac: < KnightVBishop: do you guys think Giri chess understanding is superior to Magnus ; but Magnus is the better player > Magnus is the superior player because he more consistantly plays better moves. He makes better moves because he makes better choices during game play. If he consistently makes better choices we must conclude that his understanding of the game is more correct than Giri's, hence Magnus' chess understanding is superior to Giri's because his play is superior. your question and comment seem to be in disagreement. Apr-28-16    activechess55: Congrats to MC for winning the chess duel over the board ! Congrats to VK too for winning the verbal duel off the board ! Apr-28-16    Sokrates: <CowChewCud: ... Of course he did - because he memorized all the lines at home. This game was all computer analysis from start to finish.> There you go, world champion Carlsen: you're nothing but an average guy with a good memory and a computer programme. Anyone armed with those two "weapons" could win over Kramnik. It's a simple as that. Apr-28-16    Overgod: <PawnSac: < KnightVBishop: do you guys think Giri chess understanding is superior to Magnus ; but Magnus is the better player > Magnus is the superior player because he more consistantly plays better moves. He makes better moves because he makes better choices during game play. If he consistently makes better choices we must conclude that his understanding of the game is more correct than Giri's, hence Magnus' chess understanding is superior to Giri's because his play is superior. your question and comment seem to be in disagreement.> I like your logic. Apr-28-16    kellmano: I think it's reasonable to distinguish between understanding and practical playing strength. Apr-28-16    Jambow: Well ok how about Magnus Carlsen has better understanding of playing the best practical moves? I mean if results against elite players isn't good enough then what? He is close to on par with any of the top players in brute tactical play, substantially superior in quite positions requiring deep understanding and nuanced play. He then has the practical sense to reach those positions that he is superior to everyone else. Or he is the strongest player of his generation in summary? Is that hard to recognize? Is it even harder to admit? Look if being the highest rated player in all categories, the highest elo ever and world champion isn't enough what is? Sighhh Apr-28-16    WorstPlayerEver: We all could be theory experts but accuracy is what makes the one player stronger than the other. Scarnel shows again he is the most accurate chess player atm. Apr-28-16    Rolfo: <..Or he is the strongest player of his generation in summary? Is that hard to recognize? Is it even harder to admit? Look if being the highest rated player in all categories, the highest elo ever and world champion isn't enough what is? Sighhh> That's obviously not enough ... Apr-28-16    N0B0DY: <Rolfo: <..Or he is the strongest player of his generation in summary? Is that hard to recognize? Is it even harder to admit? Look if being the highest rated player in all categories, the highest elo ever and world champion isn't enough what is? Sighhh> That's obviously not enough ...> You obviously forgot Stan Vaughan Apr-28-16    Absentee: Does it say anywhere HOW Vaughn's fantabulous rating was computed? His site is tactfully silent on the matter. Apr-28-16    alexmagnus: Topalov has quite a good showing here. Where was his form during the Candidates?! I mean, <before> the Candidates he played well too. It looks like it was something psychological rather than - as many thought - age catching up with VT. The "ppsychological" explanation is also supported by the fact he finished last in the <previous> Candidates too. Apr-28-16    keypusher: <alexmagnus> Topalov is certainly playing better than he did in the Candidates, but...he's gotten six draws and a win against Grandelius here. It's possible that he has psychological issues <AND> age is catching up with him. Apr-28-16    jphamlore: One doesn't see an opening like 1. ♘f3 e6 2. g3 b5 3. e3 a6 every day at this level at classical time controls. Apr-28-16    posoo: Dats RITE kepush! Aroons finally pulled himself out of IGNOMUNY. Here are da UPDATED REAL STANDINGS under da PSS Mugnus 6 Pentela 5 Girus – a surprising 4! Eljunov – 4 but who CARS Krumnok - 3 Tupluv – 2 Aroons – 2 MV Lagroov – 2 Grundolus – 4 (BUT SUBJECT TO NO-WIN RELEGATION) Li Chao – 1 (WINNER OF EMBARUSMENT TROPHY) Apr-28-16    activechess55: One of the main purposes of putting forth one's analysis on cg.com is to show knowledge and make other patzers admire us. However, there is another very important purpose for putting forth one's analysis i.e. to show one's ignorance and make other patzers laugh. Apr-28-16    KnightVBishop: So lets say both Magnus and Levon win tomorrow then Levon wins the touranemnt because higher SB? Apr-28-16    WorstPlayerEver: By the time Magnus got his Bishoppe from c8 it was a sacrifice. Apr-28-16    Absentee: <KnightVBishop: So lets say both Magnus and Levon win tomorrow then Levon wins the touranemnt because higher SB?> Yes. Eljanov has a lower (tournament) score than Harikrishna, so Aronian would keep the lead in S-B and win the event. But tomorrow I'll be more interested in Topalov-Kramnik... Apr-28-16    KnightVBishop: there is no blitz playoff? Apr-28-16    diceman: In the world of 3 letter results: Lev beats Mag. Apr-28-16    Peligroso Patzer: <KnightVBishop: So lets say both Magnus and Levon win tomorrow then Levon wins the tournament because higher SB?> No, in the case of a tie for first place, there will be a playoff. Here are the regulations: 8. In case of shared first place, there will be a blitz play-off to decide the winner. If two players share first place, there will be a 2 game match with the same time control as in the blitz tournament: 3 min + 2 sec increment for each move. If this match ends in a tie, there will be an Armageddon game where white has 4 min and black has 3 min with draw odds. If more than two players share first place, there will be a double round robin with the same tiebreak rules as the opening blitz tournament. The remaining players in this will share their money prizes. 9. Tiebreak for the main tournament: A: Sonnenborn Berger points B: Most wins C: Most wins with black D: Drawing of lots. Source: http://norwaychess.no/en/reglement/ Apr-28-16    Absentee: <KnightVBishop: there is no blitz playoff?> Ah yes, you're right, there's a playoff for 1st place. My bad. Apr-28-16    KnightVBishop: <Pellgroso Patzer> then why does the Tiebreak say Sonneborn Berger points, Most wins, most wins with black, drawing of lots? Apr-28-16    Peligroso Patzer: <KnightVBishop:> The regulations are poorly-written, but my understanding is that the formulae in section 9 are only used to determine tie-breaks further down the placements; and the playoff system in section 8 is used to decide first place in the event of a tie at the top. Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 20) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 15 OF 20 ·  Later Kibitzing> NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! 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