Harpa - Probably the best playing venue in an open tournament ever!
We can however give you some fantastic news. Since last Friday, there are no, i.e. ZERO, Covid restrictions in Iceland. Everything is open “as normal” and there are no longer any restrictions on the border.
Now already there are 242 players registrated.
Many world-class players have taken part in the Kvika Reykjavik Open in recent years, including Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Anish Giri, Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport, Pavel Eljanov, Wesley So, Alexei Shirov, the Indian prodigies Nihal Sarin and Praggananandhaa and their fellow countryman Baskaran Adihiban, who was the winner of the 2018 event and Constantin Lupulescu winner of 2019 edition, and the current world no. 2 Alireza Firouzja which ended in 2nd place!
The total prize-fund in the 2022 edition will be €16.250, including many special prizes for various age and rating categories, in addition to the traditional top women’s prize.
The Reykjavik Open has in recent years always been voted one of the best open tournaments in the world by ACP. FIDE is among the sponsors with its FIDE Aid Package.
The schedule can be found here.
The new April schedule is aimed at giving the players an even better chance of enjoying Iceland, with warmer temperatures when the island bursts into spring colours, allowing our guests to soak up the bright spring light and hopefully have that bit of extra energy to spend on the 64 squares.
Special deals for accommodation
On our website you can find special deals for all kinds of different accommodation! See here.
Covid-19
Up to date information about Covid-rules can always be found here:
https://www.covid.is/sub-categories/travel-to-and-within-iceland.
Current rules:
No restrictions!!
Much more than a chess tournament
As in earlier years, several chess-themed events will take place at the same time as the tournament, including the now famous Reykjavík Open Chess Pub Quiz and the Golden Circle sightseeing tour that includes stops at Geysir and Bobby Fischer’s final resting place in the southern part of Iceland. Iceland is one of the most attractive places in the world to visit and play in chess tournaments. The full 2022 side-event calendar will also include a Fischer random tournament (Chess960), Iceland vs. Rest-of-the-World Football Match, a backgammon tournament, the popular opening party and more.
Side event calendar can be found at the website.
Join the legends and be part of chess history
Through its history the Reykjavik Open has featured many of the strongest chess players in the world at the time. These include the current world champion, Magnus Carlsen as well the challenger for the title Fabiano Caruana, the 8th world champion Mikhail Tal, who won the first tournament in 1964 with a record 12½ points out of 13, as well as the 7th world champion Vasili Smyslov. It has also featured the strongest women in the world, including, Judit Polgar and world champions Hou Yifan and Nona Gaprindashvili, as well as challengers for the world title like Victor Korchnoi, David Bronstein, Nigel Short, and Jan Timman.
In recent years, the tournament has featured world class players – in addition to those mentioned earlier – like Ding Liren, Alexander Grischuk, Alexei Shirov, Hikaru Nakamura, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Wesley So, while earlier editions featured legends like Friðrik Ólafsson, Anthony Miles, Bent Larsen, Lev Polugaevsky, Mark Taimanov and Samuel Reshevsky.
As in previous years, the goal of organizers to is invite many of the youngest and most promising chess players in the world, as well as the strong women players.
Why not join? You can register!
Reykjavik Open – SO much more than just a chess tournament!
Harpa - the playing hall!
Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer. From the match of the century 50 years ago!
Alireza Firouzja ended in 2nd place in Reykjavik Open 2019.
Fabian Caruana was the winner of Reykjavik Open 2012. He made a draw with Hou Yifan in the final round to secure his victory.
Tania Sadchev thinking about her next move in Harpa.
