The Oslo Chess International 2011 was held from 2nd to 9th October at the Thon Hotel Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway.
The tournament was played over 9 rounds of Swiss system and split in two events – the GM Group with 58 participants and Elo Group with 54 players.
English Grandmaster Matthew Sadler continued a dream run and won yet another tournament after returning to competitive chess this August. It was a convincing victory too, as he left the nearest follower, GM Sipke Ernst, full point and a half behind.
GM Matthew Sadler
Having already secured a clear first place with a round to go, on the last day Sadler defeated the winner of Livigno Open, GM Sergey Volkov. GM Jon Ludvig Hammer, who took third place on best tiebreak, wrote on Twitter: “In awe of Matthew Sadler – there’s simply no one who can stop him!”
Local chess fans are pleased that IM Frode Elsness finished 4th and claimed his second Grandmaster norm. Further, FM Geir Sune Tallaksen Østmoe, WGM Nazi Paikidze, WGM Nino Batsiashvili and Brede Alex. Kvisvik have all won IM norms.
Final standings:
1. GM Matthew Sadler ENG 2625 – 8,0
2. GM Sipke Ernst NED 2581 – 6,5
3-9. GM Jon Ludvig Hammer NOR 2614, IM Frode Elsness NOR 2481, GM Victor Mikhalevski ISR 2542, GM Sergei Tiviakov NED 2647, GM Eduardas Rozentalis LTU 2575, GM Vladimir Burmakin RUS 2588 and WGM Nazi Paikidze GEO 2412 – 6,0
10-15. GM Sergey Volkov RUS 2614, IM Danny Raznikov ISR 2433, FM Geir Sune Tallaksen Østmoe NOR 2443, IM Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal NOR 2432, WGM Nino Batsiashvili GEO 2413 and GM Rune Djurhuus NOR 2451 – 5,5 etc
Full crosstables on the official website
Top-3 in the GM-group: Jon Ludvig Hammer, Matthew Sadler and Sipke Ernst (Photos courtesy of Eirik T. Gullaksen)
Top-3 in the ELO-group: 2. Erlend Mikalsen, 1. Per Omtvedt and 3. Geir Moseng
