On Thursday, Norway’s great star Magnus Carlsen (18) convincingly won all 20 games in a simultaneous display in Oslo. Among his opponents were several celebrities, such as the Norwegian Minister of Education Bård Vegar Solhjell, and rappers Magdi Abdelmaguid (Karpe Diem) and Apollo.

- Chess is an amazing game, which I really love. Magnus is one of the greatest athletes in Norway. He is one of my idols, and it is an honour losing to him, Solhjell said after the game.

The media showed great interest in the event

The Minister of Education was not the only politician who challenged Magnus. The simul became a duel between Solhjell (The Socialist Left Party) and Abid Raja (The Liberal Party). Both played very impressively, but in the end Raja had to resign first, and Solhjell won the duel. - I think it is easier to win the upcoming election than to beat Magnus Carlsen, Raja said after the game.

Among Carlsen’s other opponents were famous artist Ida Lorentzen and the Russian Ambassador to Norway, Mr Sergey Andreev. Carlsen also faced some really strong players, such as WIM Sheila Sahl, who plays on the Norwegian women’s team. Her game against Magnus was very exciting.

Magnus Carlsen – Sheila Sahl
Simul, 27 August 2009, Oslo

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be6 8.Ng5 Qc8 9.Nxe6 fxe6 10.g4! Be7 11.g5 Nfd7 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qg4 Nc5 14.Bxc5 Qxc5 15.Qxe6 Rf8 16.Nd5 An interesting move – Carlsen allows Sahl to take the pawn at f2, and that even in a simul! But 16.0-0-0 was actually much better, with a large advantage to white. 16...Qxf2+ 17.Kd1 Nc6 18.Bh3 Qd4+ 19.Kc1 Rf2 The decisive mistake. After 19…Rf7 the game would have remained unclear.

20.Qg8+! Magnus has everything calculated. Black cannot play 20…Bf8 because of 21.Nc7-e6, winning the queen. Sahl therefore has to play Rf8, but the knight manoeuvre still wins. 20...Rf8 21.Nc7+! Kd8 22.Ne6+ Ke8 23.Nxf8 Qe3+ 23...Bxf8 24.Rf1 was equally hopeless. 24.Kb1 Qxh3 25.Nxg6+ 1-0

More on the simul (including video) at Susan Polgars blog.