Norwegian Chess Scene

[Warren Kingston]

One of Lowestoft CC members is playing an Norwegian player today and this got me thinking, what effect has Magnus Carlsen had on the Norwegian chess scene?

[Matthew Turner]

They have a very successful chess school in Norway and a very strong crop of junior players. I would say this owes a lot to Magnus leading the way, but of at least equal importance is the role that Simen Agdestein has played as a coach/mentor to most of the junior talents.

[Warren Kingston]

Thanks for that Matthew, shall watch the Norwegians results at Hastings with interest.

[Matthew Turner]

It is odds on that any Norwegian at Hasting will be under 25 and 100-200 points under-rated.

[John Hickman]

There was always a large contingent of young Norweigians when I played at Gibraltar, but I think that was more due to the influence of Simen Agdestein, however I'm sure Magnus must have had a big influence on their enthusiasm.

I found them all very tough opponents!

[Andrew Stone]

I suspect the Norwegian exchange rate is also a large factor. It has been super strong over the last 10 years so playing chess abroad is not very expensive. Unlike other countries (us included) their (past) Government decided not to bring them to the brink of bankruptcy. Having lots of valuable black sticky stuff has been a great help for them also. One of their juniors told me they get subsidised trips abroad- I think they have to pay about 50% of the costs. I played a couple of Norwegians last year in the London Classic open (including one on my birthday which I won). I should have played a third but the wrong pairing was published at the venue and so they stuck with this and not what they had published online.
A couple of us partnered a couple of their juniors (including the one I beat on my birthday) in the Gibraltar blitz team event this year under the name Nordic Lions.

[Kevin Thurlow]

I played at Gausdal a couple of times and there were hordes of enthusiastic juniors, courtesy of the Agdestein chess school, and Hans Olav Lahlum inviting them. I managed to beat one and we were analysing, when a hand appeared over my shoulder to make a move. "That's a good move", I said, and turned round to find the hand belonged to Magnus... This was 3 or 4 years ago, and he was still happily socialising with the other young players. I'm sure his success has helped.

[Warren Kingston]

Mark (Lowestoft member) is playing Havard Ramstad, graded 2071. Think he will be having a tough time today.

[Arshad Ali]

One of Lowestoft CC members is playing an Norwegian player today and this got me thinking, what effect has Magnus Carlsen had on the Norwegian chess scene?

No discernible influence. The Norwegians are averse to charisma and hero-worship. For a country their size they already have a strong contingent of GMs and IMs. In particular the Oslo chess club attracts strong players every evening.

[Stewart Reuben]

Norway is hosting the Chess Olympiads in Tromso in 2014. It is inconceivable that would have been possible without the explosion in interest caused by Magnus. Simen's school has had a tremendous influence as well. I invited Simen to the first Gibraltar in 2003, knowing he might bring a large contingent of Norwegian juniors.
Magnus popped into Gibraltar a couple of years ago. He played exchange and partnership chess with his friends. I missed a trick in not inviting him to play before he started having his regular invitation to Wijk an Zee.

[Warren Kingston]

One of Lowestoft CC members is playing an Norwegian player today and this got me thinking, what effect has Magnus Carlsen had on the Norwegian chess scene?

No discernible influence. The Norwegians are averse to charisma and hero-worship. For a country their size they already have a strong contingent of GMs and IMs. In particular the Oslo chess club attracts strong players every evening.

Has Oslo got only the one chess club?

On a side note, wife and I are looking at going to Iceland for a holiday, any good clubs to visit there?

[Arshad Ali]

Has Oslo got only the one chess club?

On a side note, wife and I are looking at going to Iceland for a holiday, any good clubs to visit there?

About Iceland I don't know. The main chess club in Oslo is on the 7th floor of an apartment building in the centre of Oslo. The club also owns five apartments in the building, the rent from which allows the club to be free of financial worries. There was (is?) one other place that functioned both as chess shop and as a venue for instruction and tournaments, and this was based in an office park a little outside the centre. It had been set up be a small group of strong players, including at least one IM. I used to drift there to browse and buy the books they had for sale.

[Warren Kingston]

Seems a bit strange that a capital city only has one club? What league are they in London would have quite a strong club wouldn't it?

[Stewart Reuben]

Warren Kingston >On a side note, wife and I are looking at going to Iceland for a holiday, any good clubs to visit there?<

Send me your email address [email protected] and I'll pass on the query. There are 3 Icelandic players here. You could also ask the Icealndic CF via the FIDE website fide.com, go to federations to Iceland.

I have often thought London has too many chess clubs.

[Arshad Ali]

Seems a bit strange that a capital city only has one club? What league are they in London would have quite a strong club wouldn't it?

Population of Oslo is a shade under 0.5m. London has a population of 8m+ (I think). No comparison.