Wood Green Invitational 2025

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Looking good for Alexakis - 2/3 against Gasanov, Banerjee and Badacsonyi looks eminently doable.

Even more doable now. Needs 1/2 against the two players seeking IM norms: Badacsonyi and Banerjee. They both need 2/2 for IM norms, which seems unlikely (this also means a maximum of two norms are now possible).

[LawrenceCooper]

The afternoon blitz was won by Marcus Harvey with 8/9, ahead of Krzysztof Raczek on 7, Ameet Ghasi on 6.5 and Billy Fellowes on 6.
https://chess-results.com/tnr1132495.as ... =9&flag=30

[LawrenceCooper]

Looking good for Alexakis - 2/3 against Gasanov, Banerjee and Badacsonyi looks eminently doable.

Even more doable now. Needs 1/2 against the two players seeking IM norms: Badacsonyi and Banerjee. They both need 2/2 for IM norms, which seems unlikely (this also means a maximum of two norms are now possible).

Stanley has drawn in round 8. A good result but it means he can no longer make an IM norm.

[Jonathan Rogers]

See the usual comments about having groups of young talented players all seeking norms not being a norm friendly set up. Of course norms are not everything and there are doubtless all sort of other positives from such events in terms of improving one's game, etc. So I do find it a shame that each year people look at an event like this and still only seem to think about the norms!

[LawrenceCooper]

See the usual comments about having groups of young talented players all seeking norms not being a norm friendly set up. Of course norms are not everything and there are doubtless all sort of other positives from such events in terms of improving one's game, etc. So I do find it a shame that each year people look at an event like this and still only seem to think about the norms!

Norms are certainly the headline makers from events like this but I hope that the experience gained by Stanley & Supratit will be of great value.

[LawrenceCooper]

Another win for Dimitris leaves him on 6.5/8 and, provided his opponent in round 9 shows and the game is played, then he should have his second GM norm.

[LawrenceCooper]

Round 8 on 2025/03/09 at 1000
Bo. Rtg White Result Black Rtg PGN
1 2469 GM Gasanov, Eldar 1 - 0 GM Cornette, Matthieu 2527
2 2505 GM Ghasi, Ameet K ½ - ½ IM Raczek, Krzysztof 2428
3 2450 IM Willow, Jonah B 1 - 0 IM Harvey, Marcus R 2495
4 2468 IM Olsen, Filip Boe ½ - ½ FM Badacsonyi, Stanley 2334
5 2507 IM Alexakis, Dimitris 1 - 0 CM Banerjee, Supratit 2250

[LawrenceCooper]

Round 9 on 2025/03/09 at 1500
Bo. Rtg White Result Black Rtg PGN
1 2250 CM Banerjee, Supratit ½ - ½ GM Gasanov, Eldar 2469
2 2334 FM Badacsonyi, Stanley 0 - 1 IM Alexakis, Dimitris 2507
3 2495 IM Harvey, Marcus R 1 - 0 IM Olsen, Filip Boe 2468
4 2428 IM Raczek, Krzysztof ½ - ½ IM Willow, Jonah B 2450
5 2527 GM Cornette, Matthieu 0 - 1 GM Ghasi, Ameet K 2505

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Outstanding result from Dimitris Alexakis to finish with a GM norm and 2 points clear (helped by Ameet Ghasi beating Matthieu Cornette to finish in the tie for third). Filip Boe Olsen and Marcus Harvey lost most of the rating points, which were mostly redistributed to Alexakis and Supratit Banerjee.