Fridrik Olafsson Memorial 

An Unforgettable Chess Adventure in Iceland

November 24th-29th 2026
 

In November Iceland is staging the Friðrik Ólafsson Memorial 2026 – a special tournament organised in honour of Iceland's first Grandmaster and former FIDE President.

Fritz 21

YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.

Tournament details

• 9-round Swiss system
• Played over 6 days (24–29 November 2026)
• Venue: Reykjavík Chess Club, Faxafen 12, 108 Reykjavik
• Open to players with a FIDE rating of 2000 or higher (current or achieved earlier in 2026)
• Total prize fund: €10,000
• ​Tournament website
• Full schedule
• Registration by email

You can also combine this event with the Sel Hotel Mývatn / Mývatn Öl Tournament (19–22 November) in northern Iceland for a unique "Town and Country" chess adventure. 

Friðrik Ólafsson, 1935 – 2025

Friðrik Ólafsson, the former president of FIDE, was Iceland's very first chess grandmaster, a six-time Icelandic Chess Champion, winning his first title at age 17, and a two-time Nordic Chess Champion. He earned his grandmaster title in 1958 after an impressive joint 5th finish at the Portorož Interzonal, which also qualified him for the 1959 Candidates Tournament.

Olafsson was known as a giant slayer. Playing at the highest level, he defeated legendary World Champions including Bobby Fischer, Mikhail Tal, and Tigran Petrosian, winning against each of them on two occasions. In 1980, he defeated the reigning World Champion Anatoly Karpov at the Clarin Tournament in Buenos Aires. This victory earned him a spot in the unofficial "Mikhail Chigorin Club", reserved for players who defeated a reigning world champion without ever winning the crown themselves.

From 1978 to 1982, Olafsson served as the fourth President of FIDE, succeeding Max Euwe. During his tenure, he focused on securing commercial sponsorships for the organization and improving relations between Soviet chess players and the rest of the world. Though he achieved international fame at the chessboard, Ólafsson was a lawyer by profession. He worked at the Icelandic Ministry of Justice and later held the prestigious position of Secretary-General of the Icelandic Parliament.  In recognition of his enormous contributions to Icelandic culture and education, he was awarded the Grand Knight's Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon and was named an Honorary Citizen of Reykjavík.

Friðrik Ólafsson passed away in April 2025 at the age of 90.

Master Class Vol.1: Bobby Fischer

No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.

Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischer’s openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Müller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.