Sweden, Stockholm, March 2008 (03-26 - 03-30), RIF rule
STEFAN KARLSSON IS THE SWEDISH CHAMPION IN RENJU 2008
This year it was Stockholm's turn to host the annual Swedish Championship in renju. The tourament started on Wednesday the 26th and ended on Sunday the 30th of March at YMCA Central. There are ten participants in the Swedish Championship final according to the present system. Each player had 2 h and 15 min + 30 seconds per move for their game. For one player, Petter Lindholm, it was the first time ever to play SC final.
Before the start of the games it seemed that this year's tournament would become one of the most even. This proved to be true because before the last 9th round there were three players with the chance to become the champion - Bj�rn Wallgren, Martin Carlsson and Stefan Karlsson. The latter two played against each other in the final match and Bj�rn Wallgren had Fredrik Ternerot as his last opponent. Both of these matches went on for almost five hours and proved to be successful for Fredrik and Stefan. Those results meant that Stefan defended his title from the last year. For this to happen Stefan owes a big thanks to Fredrik. He surpassed himself and won a long and exciting game against Bj�rn who played his best championship and was closer to victory than ever before. Only 2.5 points separated the 8th place from the first. This shows how even was the struggle for becoming the champion.
The final standings:
1. Stefan Karlsson Stockholm 6.5
2. Martin Carlsson Jonkoping 6
3. Bjorn Wallgren Harnosand 5.5
4. Tord Andersson Uppsala 5
5. Bjorn Lind Stockholm 4.5
6. Kristian Lindberg Varberg 4.5
7. Richard Sandstrom Jonkoping 4
8. Fredrik Ternerot Lund 4
9. Petter Lindholm Lund 2.5
10. Peter Jonsson Jonkoping 2.5
During the two last days of the final was played the open tournament called Lilla SM of which the two best qualify to the final next year. Totally nine players took part. According to predictions it was Bengt Asplund and Marcus Eriksson who got the most points and qualified to the next year's final. Both of them gathered eight points.
The final standings of the open tournament:
1. Bengt Asplund Ostra Ryd 8
2. Marcus Eriksson Linkoping 8
3. Bengt Nyberg Linkoping 7
4. Torbjorn Blomstedt Stockholm 6
5. Linnea Widman Arjeplog 5
6. Daniel Nygards Stockholm 3
7. Joachim Theimer Stockhom 3
8. Martin Karlsson Jonkoping 3
9. Emma Warner Stockholm 2
Thanks to everyone for interesting games and see you in the coming tournaments!