Author: Shubham Kumthekar

With an early repetition against Vishy Anand, Bulgarian Super GM Veselin Topalov clinched the 3rd edition of the Norway Chess Super-Tournament, half a point clear of Anand and Nakamura. Anand, meanwhile, secured the second place, thanks to his better tie-break score.

However, the news of the day was Jon Ludvig Hammer’s surprisingly resounding victory over compatriot and World Champion – Magnus Carlsen. The latter, playing black, adopted a highly unusual approach in the Queen’s Gambit which allowed Hammer a nice edge out of the opening. The matters never really improved for Carlsen and he blundered big time on move 32, followed by resignation on move 34. Interestingly, this was Hammer’s lone win of the event.

Round 9 Results:

Topalov	½ : ½	Anand
Hammer	1 : 0	Carlsen
Aronian	0 : 1	Nakamura
Caruana	½ : ½	Giri
Vachier-Lagrave	½ : ½	Grischuk

Final Standings:

Rank	Name	Points
1	Topalov	6.5
2	Anand	6
3	Nakamura	6
4	Giri	5.5
5	Caruana	4
6	Vachier-Lagrave	4
7	Carlsen	3.5
8	Grischuk	3.5
9	Aronian	3
10	Hammer	3

With a lucky victory over Hammer in the fifth round of the Norway Chess 2015, Topalov moved on to 4.5/5 to take up a commanding 1 point lead over his nearest rivals. In a drawn position, Hammer blundered horribly to grant Topalov a full point.

Amongst the other decisive results, Aronian overcame Caruana whereas Carlsen finally scored his first win by beating Grischuk.

Meanwhile, Nakamura drew Anand and now, is on the second spot with 3.5/5.

Round 5 Results:

Name	Rtg	Res.	Name	Rtg
Carlsen	2876	1-0	Grischuk	2781
Nakamura	2802	½-½	Anand	2804
Vachier-Lagrave	2723	½-½	Giri	2773
Aronian	2780	1-0	Caruana	2805
Hammer	2677	0-1	Topalov	2798

A nightmare tournament for the World Champion Magnus Carlsen continued as he lost his 4th round game to arch-rival Viswananthan Anand. Anand, playing with the White pieces, swiftly outplayed the World Numero Uno in a Ruy lopez middlegame. The exchange-up ending was more than easy for someone of Anand’s calibre, and as such, Carlsen resigned on move 47.

There were a couple more decisive games, both won by White. Grischuk punished Hammer’s over-ambitious opening play and duly won the game while Topalov convincingly overcame Levon Aronian. The remaining games – Caruana vs MVL & Giri vs Nakamura – resulted in draws.

After 4 rounds, Topalov leads the pack with 3.5/4, closely followed by Nakamura on 3/4. Meanwhile Carlsen has only managed a draw from the four games played so far.

Although the 3rd round of the Norway Chess Super-Tournament 2015 witnessed only a couple of decisive results, it was by and large an exciting round. Only Aronian and Hammer played out a sedate draw while the rest of the games generated a lot of interest.

First and foremost, it was Carlsen’s draw against Giri that kept the audience right on their toes. Carlsen had slowly built up the pressure in the early part of the middlegame to obtain a convincing position. But when the crucial moment arrived, Carlsen failed to find the beautiful sacrifice 38.Bf7!! The game later petered out into an ending with 3 pawns vs 1 Knight which was easily held by the young Dutch GM.

Meanwhile, Anand played out another draw, this time against Grischuk. But in hindsight, it was quite an interesting and well-played game. Amongst the decisive results, Nakamura and Topalov won their respective games against Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave relatively easily.

After 3 rounds, Nakamura and Topalov lead the pack with 2.5/3. Meanwhile, the World Champion is still on the last spot with only half a point against his name.

Round 3 Results:

Name	Rtg.	Res.	Name	Rtg.
Anand	2804	½-½	Grischuk	2781
Carlsen	2876	½-½	Giri	2773
Nakamura	2802	1-0	Caruana	2805
Vachier-Lagrave	2723	0-1	Topalov	2798
Aronian	2780	½-½	Hammer	2677

The second round of the Norway Chess Super-Tournament 2015 produced a solitary decisive result as Fabiano Caruana overcame the defenses of World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the latter’s favorite Berlin Ruy Lopez. This puts the World Champion in the last place with no points from the first two rounds of this 9-round event.

The rest of the games ended in draws, although they weren’t short of excitement.

After 2 rounds, as many as 5 (!) players lead the table with 1.5 points each. Indian hope Vishy Anand is on the sole second spot with 2 draws in as many games.

Round 2 Results:

Name	Rtg	Res.	Name	Rtg
Grischuk	2781	½-½	Aronian	2780
Hammer	2677	½-½	Vachier-Lagrave	2723
Topalov	2798	½-½	Nakamura	2802
Caruana	2805	1-0	Carlsen	2876
Giri	2773	½-½	Anand	2804