4. GM Tikkanen (2559) – Alahakoon (2120) 1/2-1/2
This game is from the Sweden – Sri Lanka match that Sweden went on to win 3-1. Although both sides made a few inaccuracies I thought this game was fairly solid. I’m always impressed when a weaker player can find a lot of good moves in a row.
3. FM Al Badani (2180) – GM Hammer (2628) 1/2-1/2
Our first upset comes from one of the strongest players in Norway (the host nation). In the first round Norway was paired with Yemen, in what should have been a smooth and lopsided affair there was a small but memorable hiccup. I enjoyed this game because it seemed to me that Al Badani pretty much outplayed Hammer throughout most of the game and didn’t really give him any chances to get back into the game. Hammer was lucky to escape with the half point.