First Icelandic Chess Day Celebrated
January 28th, 2012
First Icelandic Chess Day Celebrated
The first annual Icelandic Chess Day was celebrated around the country for the first time on Thursday. It is held in honor of Iceland’s first grand master Fri?rik ?lafsson, who celebrated his 77th birthday on January 26.
Fri?rik is considered to have furthered the sport and boasted magnificent success in his career, including beating four world champions, Morgunbla?i? reports.
A reception was held at the presidential residence Bessasta?ir to mark the occasion. Among visitors were children who will play for Iceland at the Nordic Championship in Chess.
Fri?rik played against ten-year-old Nans? Dav??sd?ttir, the Icelandic Children’s Champion in Chess, who is the first girl to earn the title. The game ended with an honorary draw.
Other events included multiple games of chess played simultaneously in the Laugardalslaug swimming pool in Reykjav?k and the inauguration of a swimming pool chess board in the Akureyri pool.
Gunnar Bj?rnsson, president of the Icelandic Chess Federation, said the sport is growing in popularity in Iceland. “It is inexpensive and easy to practice chess. […] And chess is incredibly fun and rewarding.”
Chess Day is organized by various chess associations, sports associations and others.
Source: http://www.icelandreview.com/
Source: Susan Polgar Chess Daily News and Information
More chess:
- The Inaugural Chess Day in Iceland
- The Inaugural Chess Day in Iceland
- GM Steingrimsson Captures Icelandic Champion Title – Ten-player round robin in Eidar, near the town of Egilsstadir
- Icelandic Chess Championship – Halftime report by Gunnar Bj?rnsson and videos by GM Henrik Danielsen
- Icelandic chess hopeful scores major win
Category: Chess