Sjakkfantomet

Today came the rain and it really was a lot of it. But when the Barbecue Party started it had stopped as promised by the weather forecast. This is the fighting weather Jon Norwegian GM Jon Ludvig Hammer wanted all week and we're quite pleased that he didn't get that wish come threw. Here you see a picture of the Barbecue Party. Temperatures has dropped a bit so no T-shirts.

Over the chess board at 12 o'clock we got all the action we needed once again on the penultimate day. We got all the action we needed - and also today we got a few small upsets - even though it was time for the stronger Grandmasters to make their move. Norwegian WFM Katrine Tjølsen got her GM-scalp - and once again GM Heikki Westerinen became the victim. Nicolai Getz (2219) from Oslo, and NTG, did excellent once again. He played a strong draw against Super GM Igor Khenkin (2634) and he already achieved an IM-norm what ever happens in his last round game with GM Malakhatko. GM Emanuel Berg made a move for first in this round by beating GM Sulskis in a sharp Sicilian where Sulskis got humiliated in the long diagonal a8/h1. Another strong victory in an attacking game by the Swedish Champion and he is got with 3 victories in a row! When both IM Marijan Petrov vs IM Ray Robson on first board and Monika Socko in her game on second board played a draw GM Berg catched up with the leaders in a 4-way tie for first. GM Amon Simutowe lost to the teenager FM Arkadiusz Leniart from Poland. Here are the standings before the last round:

Top 9, those with 6 points or more:

1. GM Monika Socko (2449) 6,5
2. IM Ray Robson (2491) 6.5
3. IM Marijan Petrov (2479) 6.5
4. GM Emanuel Berg ( 2610) 6.5
5. GM Julian Radulski (2539) 6.0
6. IM Luca Shytaj (2455) 6.0
7. GM Jon Ludvig Hammer (2583) 6.0
8. GM Allan Stig Rasmussen (2536) 6.0
9. GM Yuri Drozdovskij (2620) 6.0

Norm Chances:

Then what's on every-one's lips:

IM Ray Robson from US needs a draw versus GM Emanuel Berg to score his first GM-norm.

Caissa hasn't been fair with IM Marjan Petrov from Bulgaria it seems. He played a fantastic tournament and played high boards since 4th round - but he only faces his second GM in the tournament when he faces GM Monika Socko in the last round. He can't score a GM-norm without 3 GMs. His chance was spoiled by the fact that several other IM's was doing so well - and even when he played first board in 8th round he didn't face a GM!

IM Luca Shytaj from Italy needs a draw with white against GM Bartosz Socko to score a GM-norm.

Nikolai Getz has already scored his first IM-norm as mentioned - he has no chances to score a GM-norm.

FM Kjetil Stokke needs a draw with white against Peter S Poobalasingam (2224) to score his second IM-norm.

FM Arkadiusz Leniart needs a draw has already scored an IM-norm. It was his 7th IM norm so more important for him was rating. Even here he was over 2400 before the tournament, hence he has full filled all the criterias and will be an IM.

WFM Katrine Tjølsen will take her second WIM-norm with a draw even though she has met two unrated players.

If you want to find out more about the different norm rules check this link.


Ida Lahlum is a board member of Tromsø 2014 and vice president of the Norwegian Chess Federation. I saw her both in the playing hall today and at the Barbecue party. She came to Tromsø before the weekend to followed the last weekend and participating in meetings for Tromsø 2014.


This is Press Officer IM Torstein Bae. He is writing press reports, ChessBase articles, making videos and he is the Press Contact during Arctic Chess Challenge.


In the Cafeteria I found some of the South Africans playing Blitz. It's a place to buy food, do analyses and socializing.


From Grand Master to Waffle Master. Simen was making Waffle's today and he enjoyed it! He feel fine as helping out organizing Arctic Chess Challenge and he managed the Football tournament, drives the mini-bus, was mountain climbing and much more.


Morten Sand (left) is legal adviser of Tromsø 2014 and adviser of Arctic Chess Challenge. He has invited his friend GM Bachar Kouatly with a team to the last weekend of Arctic Chess Challenge. GM Kouatly became the first French Grandmaster in 1989 and he is owner of Europe Echecs - the main French Chess Magazine.


At least 75 people attended the Barbecue Party. Here you see half of the group with people inside the "Saloon".


The Dane Alan Stig Rasmussen (left) joined the Swedish group. From left to right. GM Rasmussen, Kaj Engstrøm, Erik Degerstedt, Tobias Peterson and GM Emanuel Berg.


Deputy Arbiter Trond Romsdal (left) brought up the idea of Arctic Chess Challenge more than 4 years ago and this is the 4th edition of the tournament - the first was named Midnight Sun Chess Challenge but since it was moved to August it changed name. The Midnight Sun ends in late July. International Arbiter Panagiotis "Takis" Nikolopoulos (right), has done a great job as Chief Arbiter of Arctic Chess Challenge. About everything has gone after schedule. I was provided the information of norm-chances by Mr. Romsdal - and even though they are not 100% sure - they should be correct.
 

Here are a few Finnish players and several Norwegians. Can you find two Grandmasters on this picture?


From left to right: Alan Stig Rasmussen,...., Matthew Turner, IM Marijan Petrov, GM Julian Radulski, IM Bjørn Tiller,...., and FM Kjetil Stokke.


Gary Robson and Yee-chen Robson enjoyed the Barbecue Party together with their 14 years old son Ray Robson. Gary is eating a Salmon Fish Soup. I tried it too and it was delicious. The best part I think was the Light Smoked Salmon but it was a lot of food to chose from.


The Socko family. It actually is a Socko on first place before the last round of Arctic Chess Challenge - but not top seed Bartosz! His wife over performed him and she has so far done her best chess result ever! Bartosz added that it will not be the best forever - her best result is still infront of her!

The official homepage of Arctic Chess Challenge with results, table and games.

The entire text and all photos that not are credited others by Sven Wisløff-Nilssen (C) 2009