Magnus Carlsen

Last Friday, after a very short night in Biel, Magnus arrived in Mainz just half an hour before the Grenkeleasing Rapid World Championship.
Not the best preparation but on Friday he surprised both himself and others by sharing the lead with Anand with 2/3.
He effortlessly held Anand to a draw with black. He pressed, then got into some trouble against Morozevich, but in the end the game was drawn. Lastly he won a beautiful Dragen against Polgar.

Magnus felt surprisingly fit also on Saturday and in the topical Queen Indian he was better against Anand in an interesting game until getting short on time. He finally decided to allow repetition of moves although he is probably better after Ne2 Kh1! leaving the perpetual.
Morozevich was better in the next game but missed some promising continuations and the position was defendable for black.
Magnus could even have won after 27.Ne7+? but in the time scramble he missed 29... Nd4! threatening both c6 and e3. (If white captures on d4, Qe1+ and Rxd4 pins the white rook.)
In the last round of the group play Magnus needed to draw to advance to the final and played it safe against Polgar.
Anand beat Morozevich again to qualify for the final with 4/6 followed by Magnus at 3,5, Morozevich at 3 and Polgar at 1,5. Magnus was of course very happy to reach the final. 

On Sunday Magnus had slept very well but he had a complete off-day chesswise. He had problems concentrating during the games and lost quite badly in the first Dragen.
In the second game Magnus was only equal after the opening, misplayed the middle game in an attempt of being creative, and Anand efficiently exploited his better position to win again.
Also in the third game Anand played very well and Magnus was clearly worse when Anand offered a draw a pawn up in the rook plus knight ending thereby securing the overall victory. (The 4^th game was a short draw.)
Hence Anand won convincingly 3-1 in the Mainz final to take his 11^th victory in this prestigious and well organised event. Congratulations!

Magnus ended 2^nd and Morozevich 3^rd. He beat Polgar in the 4^th and decisive game having escaped miraculously from the queen ending two pawns down in the 3^rd game.   
Magnus is staying at home this week and will join his family and his chess school mates here in Tromsø on Friday night. 

In the Arctic Chess Challenge everything is working out well.
We've seen many hard fought and interesting battles and the top seed GM Malakhatko (BEL 2612) is sole leader at 4/4 before round 5 today.  
Local hero and chess school student Espen Forsaa (2282) was close to beating his teacher Simen Agdestein in round 3 but the latter escaped with a draw in the end. 
Two of Magnus' sisters are participating in the ACC and Ellen started very well drawing FM Sowray (2327) in round 1.
Ingrid has fought well against several much higher rated young Norwegians and is obviously making good progress.  

We've had absolutely marvellous weather this week and the still somewhat cold and very crisp air highlights the clarity of the pure arctic scenery.
On Monday we hiked Storkjølen on the Kvaløya offering a magnificent view of the nearby Hollenderne peaks, the arctic sea as well as the inland mountains.
Yesterday we continued the annual tradition of climbing the 1200+ meter Tromsdalstind ( "tind" is a peak in English) offering a 360 panoramic view of the Troms and Lyngen mountains. 



To the west, the relatively minor 1100 meter mountain (dark, no snow) straight up from the end of the road is planned to stage the 2018 Winter Olympic down hill event! 



Behind Tromsø town the Hollenderne peaks decorate the skyline.  

The organisers headed by always pleasant Sigmund Berglund offer a varied program of excursions during the event, including a fishing trip, a mountain walk and a barbecue party next Saturday.

The organisers is quite happy that more than 90 participants have found their way to ACC 2008, although one might be surprised that not even more chess enthusiasts use this unique opportunity of combining chess with experiencing the unsurpassed arctic scenery! 

Henrik Carlsen,
Tromsoe, August 6th, 2008