Oslo Chess International 2012 was organized as a cooperation between IA IO Hans Olav Lahlum and the Akademisk chess club from the Oslo University during the Norwegian autumn holiday 30 September – 7 October at Thon Hotel Ullevaal Stadion.
The tournament system was same as in 2011, meaning a GM-group for players above 2150 and an ELO-group for players below 2150.
The GM-group saw several leaders throughout the competition, but ultimately Grandmasters Rainer Buhmann and Eduardas Rozentalis shared the first place with 7/9 points each after winning their last round games against GM Salvador Del Rio De Angelis and IM Frode Urkedal respectively.
Rainer Buhmann takes the winner’s trophy on better additional criteria.
Noregian GM Rune Djurhuus was in good position to claim the tournament, but the last round defeat against GM Marci Narciso Dublan of Spain pushed him down to the shared 3rd place.
GM Stephen Gordon had a flying start with 5,5/6 points but then he suffered a pair of losses and finally completed the event with 6/9 points.
The only norm in the tournament was won by FM Jan Lundin (SWE 2245), a career Swedish diplomat who was very active in Belgrade tournaments during his service, who earned his 4th(!) IM norm.
The ELO-group had 73 players. Svein Rishovd (NOR 1996) took a clear first place with 7,5/9 points.
Final standings GM-group (40 participants):
1-2. GM Rainer Buhmann GER 2578 and GM Eduardas Rozentalis LTU 2570 – 7,0
3-4. GM Rune Djurhuus NOR 2436 and GM Marc Narciso Dublan ESP 2523 – 6,5
5-6. GM Stephen J Gordon ENG 2556 and IM Atle Grønn NOR 2364 – 6,0
7-9. IM Axel Rombaldoni ITA 2458, IM Jovanka Houska ENG 2398 and IM Øystein Hole NOR 2366 – 5,5 etc
Report based on the article at BergenSjakk. Photos courtesy of the official website.
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