The second Norsk Sjakkfestival (Norwegian Chess Festival) is taking place from 28th of April to 5th of May at Norway’s new “chess hotel” Quality Hotel & Resort Fagernes, with a central placement in Southern Norway, 2½ hours from Oslo airport.
The Festival includes the Norwegian Open Championship of 2012 and several other events for all friends of chess, irrespective of their level, from beginner to Grandmaster. It is a truly multinational event, there are a lot of Norwegian players participating in the festival, but at the same time you can find players from Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain and other countries.
After 5 rounds in the A group GM Ramil Hasangatin of Russia is leading with 4.5 points, seven players are following him with 4 out of 5.
Here is part 1 of the large photo report by WFM Maria Bolshakova (Emelianova) from http://www.photochess.com/ , expect part 2 soon!
Click on each photo to expand. Enjoy!
The central game of the round in tornament A: GM Vladimir Georgiev of Macedonia against GM Ramil Hasangatin of Russia.
The chief organiser Øystein Brekke takes photos of the players
A multinational event in action
As a part of the festival players can try a modern chess game for 4 players, invented by the Norwegian Rolf Westrum. This very social chess game reminds about the “father” of today classic game – Indian Chaturanga. Above on the wall you can see the Norwegian name of this game – RoyalSjakk (“Royal Chess”)
Behind the kids you can find Rolf Westrum himself.
Raising Norwegian star Aryan Tari (2216) who shared 3-7th in the world Youth championship under 12 and a young Ukrainian player Mykhalo Galinskyi.
This room is specially given for a chess store. Book in orange color is an English version of a famous “Fighting Chess with Magnus Carlsen” written by Adrian Mikhalchishin and Oleg Stetsko
Really fascinating weather in Fagernes
Norway is amazing country: drinking coffee on the hotel terrace you can both enjoy the view of the calm lake with sun reflections and see the snow on the mountains.
Or you can take a piece of bread, which I have to notice is very fresh and tasty here, and go to feed the ducks
As a part of the festival there is a FIDE arbiters’ seminar organized by Norwegian Chess Federation with cooperation of Tromso 2014. Honored guests and experts are International Chess Arbiters Ignatius Leong and Almog Burstein
All the nuances of tie-breaks system by Almog Burstein
Would you like to know the secret of a famous longevity of Norwegian nation? Then look at this brave girl: water here is really cold
Stay tuned for the second part of the Norsk Sjakkfestival later today!
