“Aker Chess Challenge” Super Rapid Tournament 02 January 2009
Strong rapid chess tournament will take part from January 2nd to 5th in Gjøvik, Norway. Challengers are: Magnus Carlsen (2776, Norway), Peter Svidler (2723. Russia), Hikaru Nakamura (2699, USA) and Kjetil A. Lie (2539. Norway). Average ELO: 2684. Time control: 25 min +5 sec/move. Tournament format: A preliminary double-rounded tournament is followed by a bronze final and a final, in all eight rounds, plus if necessary sudden death blitz games. Petr Svidler is the winner of the challenge. ChessOK will thoroughly analyze each game with Rybka 3 Aquarium. Analyzed games: All games [ PGN]

Final standings

[–table–]

Pairings and schedule are below:

2nd Jan – 1 Round

Peter Svidler – Hikaru Nakamura 1-0 Magnus Carlsen – Kjetil A. Lie 1-0

2nd Jan – 2 Round

Peter Svidler- Magnus Carlsen ½-½ Hikaru Nakamura – Kjetil A. Lie 1-0

3rd Jan – 3 Round

Magnus Carlsen – Hikaru Nakamura 0-1 Kjetil A. Lie – Petr Svidler 0-1

3rd Jan – 4 Round

Kjetil A. Lie – Magnus Carlsen 0-1 Hikaru Nakamura – Petr Svidler ½-½

4th Jan – 5 Round

Magnus Carlsen – Petr Svidler 1-0 Kjetil A. Lie – Hikaru Nakamura 0-1

4th Jan – 6 Round

Petr Svidler – Kjetil A. Lie 1-0 Hikaru Nakamura – Magnus Carlsen ½-½

4th Jan – Tie-Break

Magnus Carlsen – Petr Svidler 1-0 Hikaru Nakamura – Magnus Carlsen 0-1

5th Jan – Final

Magnus Carlsen – Petr Svidler

5th Jan – For 3rd place

Hikaru Nakamura – Kjetil A. Lie