Today, Iceland’s first and oldest Grandmaster announced his participation in the Reykjavik Open. Yes, the legendary Fridrik Olafsson will play!

Olafsson shouldn’t need to be introduced, especially not to local fans. He became Iceland’s first Grandmaster in 1958. He participated in the first edition of Reykjavik Open back in 1964 and he is a three time winner of this tournament. According to our “human database” GM Helgi Olafsson, Fridrik last played the Reykjavik Open in 1984!

Fridrik Olafsson was among the world elite at the peek of his playing career. He has victories on his resumé against some of the greatest players ever such as Fischer, Tal and Karpov. Olafsson gradually stopped playing and even was president of FIDE 1978-1982 before moving his career entirely to working at the Icelandic Parliament.

After his job retirement he has played the occasional tournament but his presence in the Reykjavik Open will surely attract many fans of the older generation to come to Harpan too see one of the national icons at play!

Fridrik Olafsson
1958.08.22
Robert James Fischer
Portoroz SVN
1-0
Portoroz Interzonal (11)
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Rc1 c4 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nd2 Be7 13. b3 g5 14. Bg3 Ba3 15. Rc2 Nb4 16. bxc4 Nxc2 17. Qxc2 dxc4 18. Nb5 Bb4 19. Nc7 Bxd2 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Bxc4 Qe8 22. Qxd2 Ne4 23. Qd3 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Rf6 25. Qe4 Rc8 26. Bb3 Qd7 27. Rd1 Re8 28. f4 Qh7 29. Qe5 Qf5 30. g4 Qxe5 31. dxe5 Rf7 32. f5 Rc7 33. Rd6 Rc5 34. Bxe6 Kf8 35. Bb3 Rcxe5 36. Rxh6 Rxe3 37. Rg6 R8e4 38. Rxg5 Rg3 39. Rg8 Ke7 40. g5 Re2 41. Bd5 Kd6 42. Bf3 Rxa2 43. f6 Ke6 44. Re8

Official website: http://www.reykjavikopen.com

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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