Fridrik Olafsson (1935 – 2025): Iceland’s Chess Legend
Fridrik Olafsson, Iceland’s first Grandmaster and the fourth President of FIDE, has passed away at the age of 90.
He was a six-time national champion and two-time Nordic Chess Champion. Olafsson led the world chess organization, FIDE, from 1978 to 1982.
A Brilliant Beginning
Fridrik was born on January 26, 1935, in Reykjavik, Iceland.
His father taught him chess when he was just eight years old.
By the age of 17, he won the Icelandic Chess Championship in 1952.
He went on to win this title five more times—in 1953, 1957, 1961, 1962, and 1969.
In 1953, he also became the Scandinavian Champion and earned a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship.
Rising to the Top
Olafsson became an international star at the 1955–56 Hastings Chess Congress.
He shared first place with the great Viktor Korchnoi.
Funny enough, he arrived late and without a hotel booking—so he spent the first night in a police station cell!
In 1958, Olafsson qualified for the World Championship cycle.
He finished 5th at the Portorož Interzonal and earned the Grandmaster title.
He became the first-ever Grandmaster from Iceland.
He also earned a spot in the 1959 Candidates Tournament—the final step before the World Championship match.
Facing the Giants
At the peak of his career, Olafsson defeated legendary players like Bobby Fischer, Tigran Petrosian, and Mikhail Tal—twice each!
One of his most memorable wins was against Petrosian at the 1959 Candidates Tournament in Yugoslavia.
Over 5,000 fans cheered him on, and after the game, they lifted him on their shoulders.
In 1976, he tied for first at the famous Wijk aan Zee tournament.
He also had a strong showing in 1971, sharing second place with several top players.
From 1952 to 1980, Olafsson proudly represented Iceland in eight Chess Olympiads.
The FIDE President Who Beat a World Champion
In 1980, while serving as FIDE President, Olafsson defeated reigning World Champion Anatoly Karpov in Buenos Aires.
This win earned him a spot in the “Mikhail Chigorin Club”—a group of players who beat a World Champion but never held the title themselves.
Though he never became World Champion, Olafsson led the chess world from the top.
In 1978, he was elected President of FIDE, defeating Narciso Rabell Mendez and Svetozar Gligorić.
Leading FIDE Through Change
As President, Olafsson focused on two key goals:
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Bringing in more commercial sponsorship
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Improving East-West relations during the Cold War
He was also in charge during the 1981 World Championship match between Karpov and Korchnoi, which was surrounded by controversy.
In 1982, he lost the FIDE election to Florencio Campomanes.
A Life Beyond the Board
Outside of chess, Olafsson had a legal background.
He worked at the Icelandic Ministry of Justice, and later became Secretary-General of the Icelandic Parliament.
He remained connected to the chess world throughout his life.
In January 2025, he celebrated his 90th birthday, joined by current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
A Lasting Legacy
Fridrik Olafsson will be remembered as the man who put Iceland on the global chess map—long before the famous 1972 Fischer–Spassky match.
He inspired generations of players and helped chess grow worldwide during a key era.
Rest in peace, Grandmaster Olafsson. Your moves will echo through time.
Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
