chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Fridrik Olafsson
F Olafsson 
 

Number of games in database: 1,079
Years covered: 1947 to 2015
Last FIDE rating: 2355 (2348 rapid, 2336 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2570
Overall record: +395 -214 =464 (58.4%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 6 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (86) 
    B93 B92 B27 B83 B43
 King's Indian (70) 
    E62 E60 E90 E63 E66
 English (60) 
    A15 A13 A17 A14 A10
 Nimzo Indian (31) 
    E41 E53 E46 E54 E21
 Sicilian Najdorf (29) 
    B93 B92 B90 B91 B96
 English, 1 c4 c5 (26) 
    A34 A30 A35 A32 A31
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (137) 
    B42 B40 B48 B47 B59
 King's Indian (53) 
    E62 E60 E70 E69 E80
 Nimzo Indian (44) 
    E54 E59 E42 E53 E41
 Ruy Lopez (42) 
    C92 C79 C84 C99 C72
 English (33) 
    A13 A15 A16 A14 A10
 Grunfeld (27) 
    D71 D75 D91 D80 D73
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   F Olafsson vs Fischer, 1958 1-0
   Tal vs F Olafsson, 1975 0-1
   J Bodvarsson vs F Olafsson, 1947 0-1
   O Rodriguez Vargas vs F Olafsson, 1978 0-1
   F Olafsson vs Tal, 1971 1-0
   F Olafsson vs Eliskases, 1960 1-0
   F Olafsson vs Unzicker, 1970 1-0
   B Larsen vs F Olafsson, 1959 0-1
   F Olafsson vs Quinteros, 1974 1-0
   V Rothuis vs F Olafsson, 2007 0-1

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Nordic Championship (1953)
   Marianske Lazne Zonal (1961)
   Reykjavik (1966)
   Reykjavik (1972)
   Reykjavik (1976)
   Wageningen Zonal (1957)
   Reykjavik (1964)
   Fiske Memorial, Reykjavik (1968)
   Las Palmas (1974)
   Mar del Plata (1960)
   Reykjavik Zonal (1975)
   Portoroz Interzonal (1958)
   Prague / Marianske Lazne Zonal (1954)
   Reykjavik (1970)
   Stockholm Interzonal (1962)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   IGM Friðrik Ólafsson by 64rutor
   Mar del Plata 1960 by Sergio X Garcia
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1969 by suenteus po 147
   Mar del Plata 1960 by suenteus po 147
   Zurich 1959 by suenteus po 147
   Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1971 by suenteus po 147

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 European Team Championship
   F Olafsson vs T Vedrickas (Nov-20-15) 0-1
   N Miezis vs F Olafsson (Nov-16-15) 1-0
   F Olafsson vs B Esen (Nov-15-15) 0-1
   F Olafsson vs B Sadiku (Nov-14-15) 1/2-1/2
   T Mamedjarova vs F Olafsson (Feb-27-13) 1/2-1/2

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Fridrik Olafsson
Search Google for Fridrik Olafsson
FIDE player card for Fridrik Olafsson

FRIDRIK OLAFSSON
(born Jan-26-1935, died Apr-04-2025, 90 years old) Iceland

[what is this?]

Friðrik Ólafsson was born in Reykjavik. In 1953, he took 3rd in the World Junior Championship. He tied for first with Korchnoi at Hastings (1955/56). A multiple-time Scandinavian champion, he became the first Icelandic grandmaster when he qualified in the Portoroz Interzonal (1958) for the Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959). After a number of years as one of the top non-Soviet players (he served as first reserve in the USSR vs. Rest of the World (1970) match, and shared first place at Wijk aan Zee (1976)), he retired from World Championship contests to devote himself to other things, including the FIDE presidency from 1978 to 1982. He was a lawyer by profession.

Ólafsson died on April 4, 2025 after a short illness.

Wikipedia article: Friðrik Ólafsson

Last updated: 2025-04-07 07:45:55

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 44; games 1-25 of 1,079  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J Bodvarsson vs F Olafsson 0-151947IcelandA02 Bird's Opening
2. Y Barda vs F Olafsson  0-1231950Birmingham U20 InternationalB11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4
3. F Olafsson vs B A Pritchard  1-0451950Birmingham U20 InternationalD19 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch
4. Walter Marshall vs F Olafsson  ½-½461950Birmingham U20 InternationalC71 Ruy Lopez
5. F Olafsson vs J L Alexander  ½-½421950Birmingham U20 InternationalD55 Queen's Gambit Declined
6. E Klaeger vs F Olafsson  ½-½241950Birmingham U20 InternationalC07 French, Tarrasch
7. F Olafsson vs J M Boey  1-0241950Birmingham U20 InternationalB67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
8. B Haggqvist vs F Olafsson  1-0471950Birmingham U20 InternationalD30 Queen's Gambit Declined
9. P Harris vs F Olafsson  ½-½341950Birmingham U20 InternationalC68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange
10. F Olafsson vs J A Way  1-0391950Birmingham U20 InternationalE72 King's Indian
11. T Grove vs F Olafsson  ½-½211950Birmingham U20 InternationalB13 Caro-Kann, Exchange
12. F Olafsson vs H Oosterhuis  1-0201950Birmingham U20 InternationalC25 Vienna
13. Hugo Nihlen vs F Olafsson  0-1141950Nordic Congress MastersC30 King's Gambit Declined
14. F Olafsson vs B Moller  ½-½211951ReykjavikD30 Queen's Gambit Declined
15. Steingrimur Gudmundsson vs F Olafsson  0-1201951ReykjavikA06 Reti Opening
16. F Olafsson vs A Asgeirsson  1-0711951ReykjavikE17 Queen's Indian
17. F Olafsson vs A Snaevarr  ½-½401951ReykjavikE68 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4
18. S Petursson vs F Olafsson  0-1271951ReykjavikB84 Sicilian, Scheveningen
19. F Olafsson vs Rossolimo  0-1361951ReykjavikA91 Dutch Defense
20. G Gudmundsson vs F Olafsson  0-1521951ReykjavikD19 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch
21. F Olafsson vs E Gilfer  ½-½581951ReykjavikC79 Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred
22. G Sigurdsson vs F Olafsson  ½-½511951ReykjavikC48 Four Knights
23. L Joyner vs F Olafsson  0-1421951World Junior ChampionshipA13 English
24. F Olafsson vs Ivkov 0-1451951World Junior ChampionshipA91 Dutch Defense
25. P Harris vs F Olafsson  1-0361951World Junior ChampionshipC42 Petrov Defense
 page 1 of 44; games 1-25 of 1,079  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Olafsson wins | Olafsson loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-26-15  Caissanist: Or one for each square of a Capablanca chess board: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capabl....
Nov-07-15  Mr. V: It's never too late to run again for the FIDE presidency . . .
Jan-26-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, FIDE President and GM Fridrik Olafsson!!
May-10-16  diagonal: A new website in honor of grandmaster Olafsson opened: http://skaksogufelagid.is/, owned by the Icelandic Chess Heritage Society.

Excellent and extensive work, about his career with description of all his games, tournament, matches and team events. Listing of his worthy opponents and results are included.

Fantastic archival footage. Watch out!

Jun-27-16  diagonal: Fridrik Olafsson participates at the current World Team Chess Championship 50+ and 65+ (2016) in Radebeul near Dresden, he is playing in the section 50+ !!

Iceland (with Hjartarson, Helgi Olafsson, Petursson, Arnason, and Fridrik Olafsson) is the top-seeded team, narrowly ahead of England 1 (Nunn on board one, Speelman on board two), followed by Armenia (Vaganian on board one): http://www.schachfestival.de/world-...

In the section age of 65+, Russia with Sveshnikov, Balashov, etc. is clearly the highest ELO rated team.

Jun-27-16  Mr. V: Congratulations on your win against England!
Jun-27-16  diagonal: <Mr. V> lol, England kicked out by Iceland in soccer (1/8-finals, k.o.-stages at the UEFA European Championship 2016), unbelievable! Well, a consequent Brexit continuation....

Twitter erupted with Brexit jokes after England is out, what about another timely chessgames pun, ie. this game can be suitable: F Olafsson vs C H Alexander, 1957 English Opening, Icelandic Mating = Brexit II

Jan-26-17  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Fridrik Olafsson.
Jan-26-17  diagonal: Legend! Happiness, health, and some inspirational games to come.

Portrait photograph of Friðrik Ólafsson, (rounded) 70 years ago: http://skaksogufelagid.is/wp-conten...

May-23-21  Agferna: Glad Chessgames showed today one of Olaf’s brilliant games. Met him once, while FIDE president. Displayed a calm, quiet, listening, sympathizing, trustworthy intelligence. An extraordinary human being. Long live!!!
Sep-07-21  Albertan: The Chess saga of Fridrik Olafsson:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-c...

Jan-06-25  Nosnibor: Fridrik will be 90 years old in 3 weeks time! The last surviving player from the 1959 Candidates Tournament. An amazing man.
Jan-26-25  I Lost On Time 00: Happy birthday Olaffson
Apr-04-25  Ifanivan: May you live long, Mr. Olafsson
Apr-07-25  avenant69: Friðrik Ólafsson passed away on Aprill 4th 2025. (source: mbl.is)
Apr-07-25  Damenlaeuferbauer: Islandic media confirm, that GM Fridrik Olafsson, the last integer president of FIDE, died 3 days ago in his home country. May your eternal soul rest in peace!
Apr-07-25  stone free or die: The <CB> article ref'ed by <Albertan> is a good read, but the photo of Fischer--Olafsson shown there doesn't match the annotated game they include.

Instead, the photo comes from this game:

Fischer vs F Olafsson, 1961 (kibitz #31)

.

Apr-07-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  alexmagnus: He was the oldest living Candidate.

The new top 3 is Panno, Portisch, Hort.

Apr-07-25  stone free or die: Panno (90), Portisch (88) and Hort (81).

Hort is the baby in that crowd.

Apr-08-25  Obvious Troll: I've been stalking Olafsson very closely for the last 51 years, and I didn't see him do anything to deserve to die like this. Someone resurrect him. I can't do it myself. I failed to complete the 32 year long training required to learn how to resurrect someone. Too excruciating and grueling.
Apr-08-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  Troller: <Obvious Troll: I've been stalking Olafsson very closely for the last 51 years, and I didn't see him do anything to deserve to die like this. Someone resurrect him.>

I am at it, as we chat. My condition for Hr. Olafsson is that he runs for FIDE president if I succeed.

RIP Fridrik...

Apr-08-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: RIP Grandmaster...
Apr-12-25  Nosnibor: RIP Grandmaster Olafsson. The strongest player ever from Iceland.
Apr-16-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: The Reykjavik Open 2025 was dedicated to Fridrik Olafsson

https://chess-results.com/tnr981120...

Apr-22-25
Premium Chessgames Member
  alexmagnus: <Panno (90), Portisch (88) and Hort (81). Hort is the baby in that crowd.>

The "Fischer gap" - lack of strong players born during WW2 (other than Fischer himself) which IMO was a major factor contributing to Fischer's dominance.

The next after Hort is Karpov btw.

Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 3)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC