First prize to Abdisalimov

GM Abdimalik Abdisalimov of Uzbekistan took clear first prize in the GM-group. The 23-year-old won his first seven games before slowing down with two draws. With 8 points from 9 rounds Abdisalimov was 1½ points ahead of Norwegian GM Frode Urkedal and Uzbek GM Ortik Nigmatov who both made 6½ points and were number two and three respectively. 

Next in the standings were GM Adhiban Baskaran (India), GM Karthik Venkataraman (India), IM Aksel Bu Kvaløy (Norway), IM G B Harshavardhan (India) and GM Elham Amar (Norway), all with 6 points. See the full results here.

Nigmatov, Abdisalimov and Urkedal
(Photo: Anniken Vestby)

FM Stanislav Hohelj of Ukraine won the Open, despite arriving delayed at Fagernes and only playing from round 4. Hohelj made 6½ points, while long-time leader Ole Smeby of Norway was second with 6 points. Steinar Dieseth Skogholt (Norway) also with 6 points took third place, followed by Vidar Aleksander Kopperud (Norway), Terje Kevin G. Lysen (Norway) and Hafsteinn Agustsson (Iceland) with 5½.

Smeby, Hohelj and Skogholt
(Foto: Anniken Vestby)

Amar won Fagernes Blitz II NGP

Norwegian GM Elham Amar took first place in Fagernes Autumn Blitz II 2025 NGP, making 8.5 points from 9 rounds. Swedish/Ukrainan GM Platon Galperin only dropped a point against Amar, and was second with 8 points. Third place went to IM Aksel Bu Kvaløy from Norway with 6.5 points.

Manir Taneja from India made 4.5 points and was the best player rated under 2000.

Taneja, Galperin, Amar and Kvaløy
(Photo: Anniken Vestby)

 

Galperin won Fagernes Autumn Slow Blitz NGP

Fagernes Autumn Slow Blitz NGP was won by Swedish/Ukrainian GM Platon Galperin with 6½ points from 7 rounds.

Norwegian IM Aksel Bu Kvaløy took second place with 5 points, while Mahir Taneja from India, FM Ward Al-Tarboush from Norway and CM Aidan Odenthal from Australia all made 4½ points.
Rune Kleiven Rynning on 3 points was the best player ratet below 1800.

The tournament had 17 participants and was played Friday 10th of October 2025 after round 7 of the main tournament.

Rynning, Taneja, Kvalvåg and Galperin
(Photo: Anniken Vestby)

Fagernes International Autumn starts today

The first round of Fagernes International Autumn 2025 is played today at 17.30 CET. When registration has finished at 16.00 CET you will find the pairings here.

All games will be sent live with a 15-minute delay at Lichess, ChessBase and Chess.com.

The playing venue
(Photo: Tom Eriksen)

Welcome to 
Fagernes International Autumn!

The tournament is played at the major Norwegian Chess Hotel Scandic Valdres

at Fagernes, 187 km north of Oslo.

Main organizer is Hans Olav Lahlum in cooperation with Sotra Sjakklubb.

Hans Olav Lahlum

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Hans Olav Lahlum (born 1973) is a well known Norwegian chess player, chess organizer and chess TV commentator, having the titles of International Organizer (IO) and International Arbiter (IA) from the World Chess Federation FIDE. 

Lahlum organized numerous international tournaments at Gausdal 1999-2008, Oslo 2011-2014 and Fagernes 2014-2025. 

He has also been chief arbiter in many other large tournaments including the Norwegian championships 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019.