The Norway Chess 2016, sponsored by Altibox, is scheduled to take place in Stavanger from April 18-30. It is going to be a ten player single round robin event. Six of the players have been announced and they include the World Champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway), the ex world champions Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France).
Like in the previous editions, the Norwegian Chess Federation will hold a qualifier event to appoint one player in the super-tournament.
The qualifier will take place from 23-26th March during Easter Chess Festival in Fagernes.
Participants:
Jon Ludvig Hammer, Norway 2705
Hou Yifan, China 2673
Nils Grandelius, Sweden 2637
Aryan Tari, Norway 2537
The tournament format is double round robin, with the first leg being played on classical time control (point system 3-1-0), and the second leg on rapid time control (point system (2-1-0).
Last year Norway Chess was part of the Grand Chess Tour. This year the organizers from Norway have parted ways with the tour.
Like I said before, even if events clash for whatever reasons, we have enough world class players to sustain them. I Hope Hou Yifan makes it. It would be good to have a woman in the mix.