In the last list of the top Chess players we published, we ranked the ten best Belgian Chess players. Now in this article, we’re ranking the best Icelandic, or Icelander, Chess players from Iceland, starting with the number ten spot in FIDE. Most of these players are Grandmasters with an Elo rating over 2500. For more information on ratings, see the guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
10. Gudmundur Kjartansson
Full Name: Gudmundur Kjartansson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 1, 1988
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 1197
Rapid: 2333
Blitz: 2344
Classical: 2448
Profiles
Kjartansson was granted the title of Grandmaster in 2021, the International Master title in 2009, and the FIDE Master in 2007. From 1997 to 2022, he has played 838 games, winning 305, drawing 235, and losing 298, equating to 50.42 percent. The last tournaments he played include; TCh-ISL Premier 2021, Cattolica Chess Open A 2022, ch-ISL 2022, and 22nd ch-EUR Ind 2022.
9. Margeir Petursson
Full Name: Margeir Petursson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 15, 1960
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 1176
Rapid: 2325
Blitz: 2242
Classical: 2450
Profiles
In 1986, Petursson was accorded the title of Grandmaster and the International Master title in 1978. He received the recognition of a FIDE Trainer in 2018. In 1986, he clinched the Hastings Premier with impressive results and triumphed in the 1986 & 1987 Icelandic chess tournaments. In addition, he was victorious in the 1987 Nordic Chess tournament. He has played a total of 1570 games from 1975 to 2022. In those games, he won 628, lost 325, and drew 617, thus equaling a winning score of 59.65 percent. Among the notable tournaments he played include; TCh-ISL Premier 2021, 36th ECC Open 2021, Icelandic Cup,2021, and ch-ISL 2020.
8. Vignir Vatnar Stefansson
Full Name: Vignir Vatnar Stefansson
Title: International Master
Born: January 1, 2003
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 1067
Rapid: 2291
Blitz: 2472
Classical: 2472
Profiles
Stefansson was accorded the International Master title in 2021 and the FIDE Master title in 2016. From 2001 to 2022, Stefansson has played 207 games; 71 wins, 75 draws, and 61losses. He has competed in the following tournaments TCh-ISL Premier 2021, Copenhagen CC GM 2022, ch-ISL 2022, and GM ASK 9 2022.
7. Johann Hjartarson
Full Name: Johann Hjartarson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 8, 1963
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 976
Rapid: 2441
Blitz: 2458
Classical: 2468
Profiles
Johann Hjartarson was granted the title of Grandmaster in 1985 and the International Master title in 1984 by FIDE. He has a FIDE rating of 2468 and a Peak rating of 2460. Johann trounced the Icelandic chess championship on six occasions and the Nordic chess championship twice. Furthermore, he has represented Iceland in various tournaments like the world team chess championship and Telechess olympiad, among other events.
6. Helgi Ass Gretarsson
Full Name: Helgi Ass Gretarsson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: February 18, 1977
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 944
Rapid: 2365
Blitz: 2396
Classical: 2472
Profiles
Helgi Ass Gretarsson was crowned the title of Grandmaster in 1994 and has a FIDE rating of 2472 and a Peak rating of 2563. Helgi was victorious at the World junior chess tournament in 1994 and the Icelandic Open in 2018. He competed for Iceland at the chess olympiad on four occasions, his last being in 2002. He also participated in the 2003 FIDE World chess tournament, where he sailed through in the first round but was knocked out in the second round.
5. Helgi Olafsson
Full Name: Helgi Olafsson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: August 15, 1956
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 768
Rapid: 2509
Blitz: 2463
Classical: 2491
Profiles
Helgi Olafsson was conferred with the title of Grandmaster in 1985 and the International Master title in 1978. He received licensing to be a FIDE Trainer in 2020. Helgi clinched the Iceland chess championship on six occasions. He has competed in tournaments such as; TCh-ISL 2013, Iceland-China Friendly Match, 41st Olympiad 2014, world rapid 2015, and world blitz 2015.
4. Hedinn Steingrimsson
Full Name: Hedinn Steingrimsson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 11, 1975
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 600
Rapid: 2559
Blitz: 2590
Classical: 2513
Profiles
Steingrimsson was granted the grandmaster title in 2007 and the International Master title in 1994. He became a licensed FIDE senior trainer in 2012, whereas he has a FIDE rating of 2513 and a Peak rating of 2583. He clinched the Iceland chess championship thrice and the Under12 World chess championship in 1987. He clinched the Reykjavik Open in 2009 and competed at the chess olympiad more than twice.
3. Henrik Danielsen
Full Name: Henrik Danielsen
Title: Grandmaster
Born: January 23, 1966
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 555
Rapid: 2528
Blitz: 2473
Classical: 2521
Profiles
Henrik Danielsen was accorded the title of Grandmaster in 1996 and has a FIDE rating of 2521 and 2545 Peak rating. He emerged victorious in the Iceland chess championship in 2009 and represented Denmark and Iceland thrice in the chess olympiads. From 1980 to 2022, Henrik has played 1025 games; 447 wins, 334 draws, and 244 losses resulting in an average score of 59.9 percent. He has competed in the following tournaments; 59th TCh-DEN Ex 2021, SonFlow Cup A 2022, 36th ECC Open 2021, and Aarrhus Chess House GM.
2. Hannes Stefansson
Full Name: Hannes Stefansson
Title: Grandmaster
Born: July 18, 1972
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 431
Rapid: 2472
Blitz: 2460
Classical: 2541
Profiles
Hannes Stefansson was accorded the title of Grandmaster in 1993 and the International Master title in 1988, whereas he has a FIDE rating of 2541 and a Peak rating of 2604. He is three times the victor of the Iceland Chess championship putting him ahead in terms of the number of Icelandic tournaments won. In 1987, Stefansson clinched the Under-16 chess championship and the Acropolis International in 1993.
1. Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson
Full Name: Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson
Title: Grandmaster
Birth: May 29, 1993
Federation: Iceland
Ratings
World ranking: 341
Rapid: 2535
Blitz: 2581
Classical: 2563
Profiles
Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson earned the title of Grandmaster in 2013, the International Master title in 2012, and the FIDE Master title in 2011. He has a FIDE rating of 2563 and a Peak rating of 2603; he got licensed of being a FIDE trainer in 2015. He has represented Iceland in the 39th, 40th, and 42nd chess olympiad. Between 2003 and 2022, he has played 417 games in which he has won 163, drawn 145, and lost 109, hence giving him a winning score of 56.47 percent. The most recent tournaments he participated in include; Rig 4 Nations Cup 2022, ch- ISL 2022, TCh-ISL Premier 2021, and 23rd European Teams.
That concludes the list of the best Icelandic Chess players. If you want to read more list posts like this, check out the list of the best Swiss Chess players or the best Spanish Chess players.
Sources
- Staff writer(s) (October 2019). “Federations Ranking – Iceland”. FIDE. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- 39th Chess Olympiad: Khanty-Mansiysk 2010
- “Winner GM Hannes Stefansson”. International chess tournament Open Teplice. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03.
- Staff writer(s) (October 2017). “Federations Ranking – Iceland”. FIDE. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- “Reykjavik Open 2009 – chess in geothermal splendor”. ChessBase. 2009-04-13. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- “The Complete Polar Bear System: Strong & potent!”. New In Chess. 2016.
- Vasudevan, R R (9 January 2012). “Interview with GM Henrik Danielsen”. Chessdom.
- Staff writer(s) (October 2017). “Federations Ranking – Iceland”. FIDE. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
- “Guðni Kjartansson, international footballer”.