Frode Urkedal

What is your favorite chess book?
- I  wouldn't say I have a favorite book, but I enjoy strategic chess and a bit of chess history. The Kasparov series My Greatest Predecessors is a good example of both.  Another good read is Mastering Chess Strategy by the Swedish Grandmaster Johan Hellsten, which I read earlier this year.

Do you have a role model in chess? If so, who?
- No, I think it is better to learn from everybody why only have one,  When you can learn from Fischer, Karpov, Anand, Kasparov, Tal, Carlsen and many more?

GM Frode Urkedal
Norway

What is your best chess experience so far?
- I became the Junior Norwegian Champion when I was 13, after winning a 4 player tiebreak. In my final game I sacrificed the queen to get a windmill combination! 

What are your expectations for the tournament?
- I expect to play good chess, and hopefully it will be enough to win the tournament. If not I am still happy to have played some good chess.

What do you enjoy most about chess?
- Chess is a battle of consepts, at least for us mortals. So when you have this eureka moment and understand how a new concept impacts the coordination of your pieces, you feel the beauty of the game and that you are no longer fumbling in the dark. Well you still are, there are unlimited concepts to learn in chess, it can not be mastered!