Norway Chess 2015 - Chess and Board Game Strategy

Here's a link to the tournament website.

http://2015.norwaychess.com/

It runs from June 15th to June 26th. Quite the impressive field.

Carlsen
Anand
Aronian
Topalov
Nakamura
Caruana
Grischuk
Giri
Vachier-Lagrave
And a wildcard to be announced May 15th

I'm going to go out on a limb here and put my money on Carlsen

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05-07-2015 , 09:01 AM

wlrs

adept

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 989

Would you bet on Carlsen vs the field?

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05-07-2015 , 09:41 AM

TexAg06

veteran

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,475

Very tough question. Honestly, probably not, even after his performance at Shamkir. It's close, though.

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05-07-2015 , 10:12 AM

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

My instincts (without having run any numbers yet) are that Carlsen is probably about 40% to 50% to win this, but at even odds I think I'd take the field (without expecting much edge).

At some point before it begins (probably after the wild card is announced) I'll actually run numbers and see if my gut steered me in a +ev or -ev direction.

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05-07-2015 , 09:39 PM

feedmykids2

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4,527

I would def take the field without running any numbers

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05-13-2015 , 11:25 AM

ScottTK

journeyman

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 355

I had been wondering why Karjakin was not in the field.

"Many people have asked me why I am not playing in Stavanger. The truth is that the organizers invited me personally, but then changed their mind, referring to the fact that they have changed the rules, and now it is not a separate super-tournament but part of a tournament series. Then they probably felt uncomfortable about what they had done, so they nominated me for the qualifying event! Quite apart from the fact that it overlaps with the Grand Prix in Khanty-Mansiysk, I think that, to put it mildly, it is rather strange to be invited to qualify for a tournament, which I have won twice in a row. So I would not have played in the qualifier anyway. There is no moral to this story, let everyone draw their own conclusions. But having been asked why I am not playing, that is my answer."
(source)

And so the tenth player is going to be the winner of this qualifying event.

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05-13-2015 , 07:19 PM

RoundTower

ɹǝʍoʇpunoɹ

Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14,563

Not very classy, wonder if there's more to it

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06-15-2015 , 11:07 AM

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

Blitz tournament to determine pairings starts in 20 minutes.

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06-15-2015 , 11:18 AM

TexAg06

veteran

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,475

Crap, thanks for the heads up. I forgot about it until your reminder. Here we go.

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06-15-2015 , 11:25 AM

#10

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

And by the way, the betting markets DO have Carlsen favored over the field.

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06-15-2015 , 02:40 PM

#11

TexAg06

veteran

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,475

And just like everyone predicted, MVL won the blitz tournament.

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06-15-2015 , 03:03 PM

#12

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexAg06

And just like everyone predicted, MVL won the blitz tournament.

In retrospect it wasn't that far out of left field: he was still rated #6 in the world in blitz despite his fallen classical rating. Nevertheless, there was also major fatigue in play for him, and I definitely don't recall anyone picking him to win the blitz before it started

Ranked #3 in blitz now, though, good for him!

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06-15-2015 , 04:38 PM

#13

Velocity

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Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 6,026

Wijk aan Zee, this, Sinquefeld, candidates, WC match. Any other notable events that a casual chess fan should be following?

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06-15-2015 , 04:44 PM

#14

Rei Ayanami

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Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 11,685

Anything Wei Yi plays in.

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06-15-2015 , 05:25 PM

#15

The Yugoslavian

STTF HUC II Winner

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 25,040

I'm pretty sure those are all of the notable events the hardcore chess fan should be following...

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06-15-2015 , 06:55 PM

#16

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velocity

Wijk aan Zee, this, Sinquefeld, candidates, WC match. Any other notable events that a casual chess fan should be following?

Best way to keep apprised of worthwhile events is 2700chess.com

They maintain a comprehensive list of upcoming events with any 2700+ rated participants, complete with dates and lists of exactly which super GMs are playing. Anything with more than one top-ten player in the field or with any particular personal favorite you may have (agreed that Wei Yi is a good one to follow) is probably worth looking at.

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06-15-2015 , 07:07 PM

#17

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

As for specific events not on your list:
London Chess Classic, December 2015 (now that the Grand Chess Tour is a thing it'd be silly to follow Norway and Sinquefield but then skip the final leg).
World Cup, September 2015 (determines two qualifiers for next year's Candidates Tournament)

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06-15-2015 , 09:40 PM

#18

ff2017

centurion

Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 199

Dortumund with Hou Yifan.... and some other top players.

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06-16-2015 , 06:52 AM

#19

Shandrax

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,818

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottTK

I am sure that Jon Ludvig Hammer draws more spectators. Who knows, maybe he doesn't only draw spectators, but gets really lucky and also draws a game.

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06-16-2015 , 10:02 AM

#20

BobJoeJim

Tournament Director

Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,200

Carlsen's odds in this event: 34% outright win, 17% shared first, 49% fails to win!

In the overall Grand Chess Tour: 68% to win.

https://chessnumbers.wordpress.com/2...-tour-preview/

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06-16-2015 , 11:21 AM

#21

Rei Ayanami

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Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 11,685

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06-16-2015 , 11:24 AM

#22

JSLigon

journeyman

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 388

Sorry to hear about Kramnik.

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06-16-2015 , 12:10 PM

#23

A-Rod's Cousin

banned

Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 37,130

RIP Kramnik
RIP Doyle

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06-16-2015 , 12:24 PM

#24

YouKnowWho

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Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6,985

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shandrax

I am sure that Jon Ludvig Hammer draws more spectators. Who knows, maybe he doesn't only draw spectators, but gets really lucky and also draws a game.

I'd be super surprised if he doesn't score at least 2.5.