The Norwegian Chess Championship (NM i sjakk) is an annual tournament held in Norway during the month of July, in order to determine the national chess champion. The tournament is held at different venues each year as part of the Landsturnering (National tournament). Clubs may bid for this tournament, which is awarded by the Norwegian Chess Federation (Norges Sjakkforbund).

Past events and champions This table summarizes all past championship events. The tournament was not held in 1928 and 1939 due to the Nordic Championships being held in Oslo those years, nor was there any event between 1940 and 1944, when Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany. The 2020 tournament was scheduled to be in Stjørdal but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of participants is the number of players in the entire Landsturnering, not just the championship section. The champions are listed along with the club they represented when they won the championship. Titles decided by play-off matches due to equal scores in the main tournament are noted.The list of champions up to and including 2002 is available at the website for the 2003 event in Fredrikstad , the table for the 2003 event itself is here. See footnotes for information on later champions. The city and number of participants up to and including 2008 are obtained from the Norwegian Chess Federation archives (full list), for the 2009 event see the list of participants with 515 entries, although one player is included twice, and another (Ingen Spiller, or "No player") is a placeholder. YearCityChampion and clubParticipants1918Kristiania (Oslo)Josef Lilja, CS (Christiania Schakselskab) 301919Kristiania (Oslo)Jac. A. Brekke, CS 30 1920Kristiania (Oslo)Jac. A. Brekke, CS 32 1921BergenH. G. Hansen, CS (after play-offs)27 1922Kristiania (Oslo)A. M. Erichsen, CS 30 1923Kristiania (Oslo)Jac. A. Brekke, CS 301924Kristiania (Oslo)Leif F. D. Lund, CS 49 1925OsloJac. A. Brekke, SK Centrum, Oslo 661926BergenHans Christian Christoffersen, Drammens SK (after play-offs)501927TrondheimH. G. Hansen, OSS (Oslo Schakselskap) 401929DrammenHans Christian Christoffersen, Drammens SK 331930OsloOlaf M. Olsen (later Olaf Barda), SK Odin, Oslo (after play-offs) 451931StavangerAndreas Gulbrandsen, Moss SK 351932BergenEugen Johnsen, SK Odin581933FredrikstadTrygve Halvorsen, OSS (after play-offs)481934HamarTrygve Halvorsen, OSS421935SandefjordJørgen Saurén, OSS481936OsloHans Christian Christoffersen, Drammens SK 601937TrondheimArne S.B. Krogdahl, OSS 311938GrimstadOluf Kavlie-Jørgensen, Bergens SK 531945OsloErnst Rojahn, Tønsberg SK (after play-offs)1321946BergenErling Myhre, OSS (after play-offs)1091947KristiansandOlaf Barda, OSS791948FredrikstadOlaf Barda, OSS (after play-offs)961949OsloAage Vestøl, OSS 1251950TrondheimErling Myhre, OSS961951StavangerHarry Kongshavn, OSS1271952SkienOlaf Barda, OSS1651953FredrikstadOlaf Barda, OSS1601954DrammenEinar Haave, Stavanger SK1201955StabekkErling Myhre, OSS1131956SteinkjerOtto Birger Morcken, OSS941957LillehammerOlaf Barda, OSS1481958ÅlesundErnst Rojahn, Tønsberg SK1111959OsloSvein Johannessen, OSS1311960FredrikstadDaan de Lange, Hamar SS1081961SandefjordPer Ofstad, Bergens SK1451962HamarSvein Johannessen, OSS1741963MossRagnar Hoen, OSS1561964OsloArne Zwaig, OSS1431965MosjøenArne V. Gulbrandsen, OSS1121966BodøPaul Svedenborg, Narvik SK1601967BergenPaul Svedenborg, Narvik SK1301968OsloArne V. Gulbrandsen, OSS2021969HamarArne Zwaig, OSS1781970KristiansundSvein Johannessen, OSS1561971SkienTerje Wibe, OSS (after play-offs)2141972RørosErling Kristiansen2701973SandnesSvein Johannessen, SK Fischer3261974SandefjordLeif Øgaard, OSS3781975OsloLeif Øgaard, OSS3271976HarstadKnut J. Helmers, SK Stjernen2151977BergenKnut J. Helmers, SK Stjernen3301978RisørRagnar Hoen, OSS3751979MoldeLeif Øgaard, OSS4191980OsloSverre Heim, Akademisk SK5461981KirkenesRagnar Hoen, OSS2261982LillehammerSimen Agdestein, Asker SK (after play-offs)4171983TrondheimBjørn Tiller, OSS3771984OsloBerge Østenstad, Asker SK4271985GausdalLeif Øgaard, Brugata SK2991986SteinkjerSimen Agdestein, OSS2971987KristiansandJonathan Tisdall, Brugata SK (after play-offs)4371988AskerSimen Agdestein, OSS5641989RandabergSimen Agdestein, OSS4461990BrønnøysundBerge Østenstad, Asker SK3341991GjøvikJonathan Tisdall, Brugata SK5871992KristiansundEinar Gausel, OSS4631993OsloLeif Øgaard, OSS5881994DrammenBerge Østenstad, Asker SK5191995NamsosJonathan Tisdall, Nordstrand SK4331996AltaEinar Gausel, OSS2991997StavangerBerge Østenstad, Asker SK4861998OsloRoy H. Fyllingen, Bergens SK5371999GausdalBerge Østenstad, Asker SK (after play-offs)4142000AskerSimen Agdestein, NTG (after play-offs)4272001KristiansundEinar Gausel, OSS4202002RørosSimen Agdestein, NTG5492003FredrikstadBerge Østenstad, Asker SK6232004MoldeBerge Østenstad, Asker SKNM-gullet røk for Magnus (Norwegian Championship gold slipped for Magnus), Nettavisen, 5 September 2004 (after play-offs)5202005SandnesSimen Agdestein, NTGDeilig å vinne (Great to win) Nettavisen, 11 September 2005 (after play-offs)5832006Moss (Mossehallen)Official page for the 2006 championship (Web Archive)Magnus Carlsen, NTGMagnus knuste Simen (Magnus crushed Simen), Nettavisen, 21 September 2006 (after play-offs)5332007Hamar (Scandic Hotel)Venue information from the official page for the 2007 championshipEspen Lie, PorsgrunnNy norgesmester i sjakk ("New Norwegian chess champion") Nettavisen, 23 September 2007. (after play-offs)5012008Tønsberg (Slagenhallen)Tønsberg Chess Club's current page for the 2008 championship Frode Elsness, Moss35-åring vant sitt første sjakk-NM Nettavisen (after play-offs)4712009Bergen (Haukelandshallen)Venue information 2009 event websiteKjetil Aleksander Lie, Porsgrunn5132010FredrikstadKjetil Aleksander Lie, Porsgrunn (after play-offs)4852011OsloEvent awarded to SK 1911 of Oslo in the 2009 congress. See minutes, pt. 9 (Njårdhallen)Berge Østenstad, Asker SK (after play-offs)4962012SandefjordFrode Olav Olsen Urkedal, SK 1911 (after play-offs)4372013LillehammerJon Ludvig Hammer, OSS4902014TrondheimFrode Olav Olsen Urkedal, SK 19115032015Oslo (Oppsal Arena) Aryan Tari, Vålerenga SK6712016TromsøJohan Salomon, Nordstrand3782017StavangerJon Ludvig Hammer, OSS6062018SarpsborgJon Ludvig Hammer5442019LarvikAryan Tari5262021OsloKristian Stuvik Holm, Vålerenga SKResults Norgesmesterskapet i sjakk 2021 – Eliteklassen Turneringsservice262022KongsvingerKindred-avtalen falt på NSFs kongressSimen Agdestein, OSS3842023OsloSimen Agdestein, OSS6862024Gol (Storesund Resort Hotel)Aksel Bu Kvaløy, Stavanger5142025BergenJon Ludvig Hammer5922026KristiansundLitt fra NSFs kongress 2023Elham Amar, OSS5122027HamarLitt fra NSFs kongress 2025

Rules for participation and other classes The rules for participation are governed by the Norwegian Chess Federation (NSF).Landsturneringen Official policy page of Norges Sjakkforbund (Norwegian Chess Federation) for the Landsturnering

The championship ("Elite") section is restricted to the top-rated players. In order to play for the most prestigious title of national chess champion, a player must meet at least one of the following criteria : Won the Norwegian Championship in one of the three preceding years. Finished third or better in last year's championship. Won the national championship in the Junior section the previous year. Finished first or second in the Candidate Elite section (the second highest section, immediately below Elite) the previous year. Have a sufficiently high Elo rating (as of 2025 the lower limit is 2400). Been deemed otherwise eligible for participation by the Elite Committee of the Norwegian Chess Federation. In general, an even number of participants is sought in the championship section to prevent byes from occurring.

However, the Landsturnering has several sections for lower-rated players, as well as sections for different age groups. In general, players must be members of the Norwegian Chess Federation, or a club affiliated with the federation, although exceptions may be made if the person is a member of another national chess federation. To be eligible for a championship title, a player must either be a Norwegian citizen or have been a resident of Norway for the past year.

The current regulations provide for the following sections below the Elite section : Candidate Elite (rating 2200 - 2399) Master (rating 2000 - 2199) Class 1 (rating 1800 - 1999) Class 2 (rating 1600 - 1799) Class 3 (rating under 1600) Senior 50 (over 50) Senior 65 (over 65) Senior B (over 50, rating under 1600) Junior A (age under 20) Junior B (age under 20, rating under 1800) Cadet A (age under 16) Cadet B (age under 16, rating under 1800) Lilleputt (age under 13) Miniputt (age under 11) The Senior, Junior and Cadet categories are split into an "A" and "B" group by rating, but are combined if either of the groups has fewer than 10 participants. Qualification for the classes with a lower age limit ("Senior") require that the player reach that age before 31 December of that year, while the classes with an upper age limit require that the player be under the age limit on 1 January of that year.

A player cannot be required to play in a higher class than what the last rating list indicates; however, a player may elect to play up if a sufficiently high rating was obtained on any of the monthly official rating lists during the year. In addition, players may elect to play in a higher section if they scored at least 60% in that same class the previous year, if they were in the top 7% of the class below the previous year, or if they won the Norwegian Grand Prix tournament series for the rating class below in the previous year. In addition, winners of the individual circuit championships and the champion of Northern Norway are automatically qualified for play in the Master class, regardless of rating. The top two finishers of the Candidate Elite class qualify for next year's Elite section.

Arrangement Since 1997,Norsk Sjakkblad, issues no.5 1997, no.5 1998, no.5 1999, no.4 2000, no.4 2001, no.4 2002, no.4 2003, no.4 2004, no.4 2005, no.4 2006 . the championship section has had approximately 20 players. If there are at least 16 players, it is arranged as a nine-round Monrad tournament, a system similar to the Swiss system tournament. The official Norwegian Chess Federation policies also allow the tournament to be arranged as a round-robin with 10 or 12 players. From 2013 the regular Swiss system has been used in the Championship section, and is an alternative to the Monrad in the other sections.

If two or more players are tied for points at the end of the tournament, the tiebreak rules depend on the system used. In 2007, when the tournament was arranged as a Monrad, a modified Buchholz system was used, where the first tiebreak is the sum of a player's opponents' scores, except the two weakest. If still tied, the second weakest and then the weakest scores were added to the tiebreak points. If still tied, the Neustadtl score, that is the sum of defeated opponents' scores plus half of drawn opponents' scores, were used.Norwegian Chess Federation regulations for the Monrad system NSF's website In 2015, when the Swiss System was used in all sections, the tiebreaks, in order, were median Buchholz (strongest and weakest opponents discounted), Buchholz -1 (weakest opponent discounted), regular Buchholz, and finally the average rating of opponents.

Prior to 2014 the Championship, Junior, Cadet and Senior sections, a tied score resulted in a play-off for the title within 60 days after the end of the main tournament. The rules of the play-off changed several times. A rule change in 2013 abolished the play-off entirely effective from the 2014 tournament.

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References