Here are the Top 3 in Stockholm Chess Challenge together with Åsa Grübb-Weinberg from the tournament’s main sponsor Data Respons. Shared first: GM Ori Kobo, Israel (left) and GM Toms Kantans, Latvia (middle). 3rd place GM Erik Blomqvist, Sweden (right). Final standings.

Are you interested in the tournament or want to give feedback, please email info@stockholmchess.se

Thank you, Data Respons!

The organizers Stockholm’s Chess Society and Stockholm’s Chess Federation want to thank the main sponsor Data Respons for its engagement and support through out the tournament and for the gifts and flowers to the players.

Ted Gemzell, President for Stockholm’s Chess Society, Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, CEO at Data Respons, Åsa Grübb-Weinberg, Sales & Marketing at Data Respons and Tony Apéria, Sponsor manager at Swedish Chess Academy. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Great fighting spirit – 72 % decisive games

The organizers also want to thank the players for great fighting spirit. 64 (!) of the 89 games in the tournament was decisive. The draw percentage was only 28 %. Not many international tournaments can show these figures. With these figures we also believe that the chess players enjoyed the chess atmosphere in the new playing venue for Stockholm Chess Challenge, Stockholm’s chess salons at Södermalm in the middle of Stockholm.

Anna Kantane & Toms Kantans in the café at Stockholm’s chess salons. All the players could enjoy free coffee and tea during the tournament. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Congrats, FIDE-master Pranav Anand

12 year old Pranav Anand crossed the 2300 barrier during the tournament, which gives him the right to claim the FIDE Master title. Congratulations. It was a well deserved achievement.

12 year old Pranav Anand from India climbed over 2300 in ELO rating. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

We also want to thank…

…our partner Swedish Chess Academy who also organised the chess event ”Business Enterprise for integration” during Stockholm Chess Challenge. We also want to thank the arbiter team and the officials for making Stockholm Chess Challenge a fair and enjoyable tournament. And of course the TV producer Madeleie Hanström-Dock and the commentator IM Martin Lokander. Here is Lokader together with WCM Ellen Kakulidis who joined the TV-studio the first two days. Here you can relive the broadcasts.

Ellen Kakulidis and Martin Lokander in the TV studio. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

All the photos

Photographer Lars OA Hedlund has frequently visited the tournament with his camera. Here are his great pictures from the tournament.

Finally…

… don’t miss this interview with the CEO at Data Respons, Kenneth Ragnvaldsen. Thank you all, and it would be great to meet you all again next year! Are you interested in the tournament or want to give feedback, please email info@stockholmchess.se

Shared winners: GM Toms Kantans and GM Ori Kobo. Photo Lars OA Hedlund

GM Kantans hold the lead in Stockholm Chess Challenge, but in the end he was catched by GM Ori Kobo, Israel. The shared winners of Stockhom Chess Challenge are GM Ori Kobo and GM Toms Kantans. Congratulations to them!

The 9th and decisive in Stockholm Chess Challenge will be played 4:00 PM CET. GM Kantans has the lead with 6.5 points and the only one to be able to catch him is GM Kobo who has 6.0 points. Follow the action here:

GM Maiorov (left) chases the leader GM Kantans (right) in Stockholm Chess Challenge. Photo: Lars OA Hedlund

Latvian grandmaster Toms Kantans is still in the lead with two rounds to go. Eight round starts already at 9:00 AM CET. Toms’ margin to the chasing group has closed to half a point since GM Kobo and GM Maiorov won their games in round 7. Kantans has 5,5 points, Kobo and Maiorov 5,0 points. India’s chess prodigy Sankalp Gupta has had a strong tournament. He is in reach of taking an IM norm. That would be his second IM-norm on swedish soil, the first came in Rilton Cup 2016-2017..

Round 8 starts at 9:00 AM. Follow the action here on TV or on our Live & Chat page. Here are the standings after seven rounds. Here you find all games so far – provided by Chessbase.

Photos by Lars OA Hedlund.

The photographer Lars OA Hedlund will cover Stockholm Chess Challenge every day with his camera. You can watch his pictures HERE.