GM Nils Grandelius (2623) will surely be Sweden’s big hope in Hasselbacken Chess Open 2016. Grandelius has steadily improved his world ranking, and shown in the large open tournaments that no 2700 players go safe.
Tournament website/ Registration/ LIVE games with analysis/ Alexei Shirov first 2700+ player in Hasselbacken Chess Open 2016
Here is an interview with Nils Grandelius before Hasselbacken Chess Open:
With your high rating, you look to become the big Swedish hope in Hasselbacken Chess Open. What are you expectations?
NG: The most important thing for me is to just play good chess at a level I am pleased with, so I have seldom performance-related goals. If I play good however, I do not know why any of the other players would have more chances than me to win the tournament.
You have steadily moved closer up the world elite in the last year with fine performances in the strong open tournaments. What have you improved most?
NG: It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what I have improved. The more you learn the more you realize that you do not know everything. But I’ll try to see it from outside, I guess I especially say that I have become a much more consistent player, with the ability to play well in many more types of positions than before.
Alexei Shirov is so far the highest ranked player who signed up to Hasselbacken Chess Open. What have you to say about Shirov? And do you know him personally?
NG: Shirov’s one of the truly great players over the past 20 years. As a child, I studied his game collections with great interest, and lately I have had the chance to play against him in Sigeman tournament. A great personality and very nice person, but above all a great player!
300 days remain until Hasselbacken Chess Open, what do you hope then be on the rating list?
NG: Hard to say, it depends on so many things. But having established me just over 2650 limit sounds reasonable.
Finally, this week awaits swedish championships in chess in Sunne. Is it time to finally bring home that title?
NG: Again, I come up with that boring answer that I go there to play good chess, so we’ll see how far it is enough …
