The winner of the tournament will play in the World Cup later this year. Most nations with a spot designate their players but in Iceland they will fight for the spot!
The players
GM Hjorvar Gretarsson (2578) – 1st seed
The top seed, simple as that. Hjorvar is the highest-rated Icelandic player and has been winning almost everything on offer during the pandemic when events moved online. He missed out on the Icelandic championship though and the Reykjavik City Championship and will be looking to secure the World Cup spot to make amends for that. If tiebreaks are needed, Hjorvar will most likely flex his peak 2700+ blitz rating. Hjorvar meets Vignir in the 1st round.
GM Hannes Stefansson (2536) – 2nd seed
A 13-time Icelandic champion (you read that right!). Hannes has been the top Icelandic player for most of the 2000s. Capable of beating anybody on his best days and has previous World Cup experience. Would love to make it back there! He’ll play against Bragi in the first round.
GM Johann Hjartarson (2525) – 3rd seed
The only player in the field with experience from Candidates matches. Johann famously played against and defeated the great Victor Korchnoi in a 1988 Candidates match. Johann played in the top tournaments in the world at his peak and has the highest peak rating of any Icelander ever. He is usually considered along with Fridrik Olafsson the top Icelandic chess player of all time. Johann will have an interesting matchup in the first round vs the fierce competitor Helgi Gretarsson.
IM Gudmundur Kjartansson (2483) – 4th seed
The current and three time Icelandic champion. Gudmundur has a chance to finally secure his Grandmaster title with a good showing in this tournament. Gudmundur has all the required norms but just needs to get his rating north of 2500 and he is currently very close! He faces the veteran Margeir Petursson in the first round.
GM Margeir Petursson (2450) – 5th seed
The veteran GM Margeir Petursson is back again. Margeir was retired for most of the 2000s but has played some tournaments in recent years and kept busy in the lively chess city of Lviv despite his many business ventures. Can he upset the current Icelandic champion in the first round?
GM Helgi Gretarsson (2440) – 6th seed
Helgi is one of the fiercest competitors you’ll find. The 1994 World Junior Champion has a very interesting first-round matchup vs. Johann Hjartarson. The fight in Helgi’s games usually revolves around the middlegame and Helgi is also very capable when it comes to the faster time controls. Will be a very interesting matchup to follow!
GM Bragi Thorfinnsson (2439) – 7th seed
Bragi is the last player to reach the GM title in Iceland. He likes to mix positional and dynamic chess and might need more of the latter against the 13-time champion Hannes Stefansson in the first round. Bragi is more than capable of pulling that upset.
FM Vignir Vatnar Stefansson (2330) – 8th seed
The youngest player in the field and the lowest rated but a very dangerous opponent. Vignir is fresh off a win at the Reykjavik City Congress where he defeated both the current Icelandic champion, Gudmundur Kjartansson, and his first round opponent here, Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson. Vignir waited a long time for that first win vs. Hjorvar, but can he follow it up and pull the massive upset?
First Round
Gretarsson, Hjorvar – Stefansson, Vignir
Stefansson, Hannes – Thorfinnsson, Bragi
Hjartarson, Johann – Gretarsson, Helgi
Kjartansson, Gudmundur – Petursson, Margeir
Tournament schedule:
| Date | Time (GMT) | Day | Part | Skák |
| 06-Mar | 14:00 | Saturday | Quarter Finals | Game 1 |
| 07-Mar | 14:00 | Sunday | Quarter Finals | Game 2 |
| 08-Mar | 17:00 | Monday | Quarter Finals | Tie-break |
| 09-Mar | 17:00 | Tuesday | Semi Finals | Game 1 |
| 10-Mar | 17:00 | Wednesday | Semi Finals | Game 2 |
| 11-Mar | 17:00 | Thursday | Semi Finals | Tie-break |
| 12-Mar | 17:00 | Friday | Final | Game 1 |
| 13-Mar | 14:00 | Saturday | Final | Game 2 |
| 14-Mar | 14:00 | Sunday | Final | Tie-break |
The games will be located at: http://live.chess.is/icelandiccup/