In brief
Fridrik Olafsson, who played an instrumental role in Iceland's rise as a chess nation and defeated four world champions, including Bobby Fischer, has died at the age of 90.
Fridrik Olafsson, the renowned grandmaster who significantly contributed to Iceland's reputation in the chess world, passed away in Reykjavík on Friday at the age of 90. His death was confirmed by the International Chess Federation, where he served as president from 1978 to 1982. Olafsson's unexpected rise in chess came during a time when Iceland was not recognized as a major player in the game. However, by the 1980s, his influence helped Iceland become a chess powerhouse, boasting more grandmasters per capita than any other nation. Self-educated in chess, Olafsson learned the game by observing his father play. In a memorable childhood moment, he noted to his father the shortcomings of his play during a game against a relative. This led to a challenge where Olafsson took his father's place on the board and emerged victorious. He participated in his first tournament at the youthful age of 11 and quickly established himself as a master, ranking among the top 15 players in Iceland by the age of 13. His accolades include winning six national championships and triumphing in the 1953 Scandinavian championship. Olafsson also shared first place with Viktor Korchnoi, one of the greatest players of the 20th century, during the prestigious 1955-56 Hastings International Chess Congress in England. His legacy lives on, inspiring generations of players in Iceland and beyond.
