Vignir Vatnar, Icelandic Chess Champion 2023

Came out on top after a thrilling final round

Vignir Vatnar Stefánsson secured his first Icelandic Championship title after a truly magnificent final day at the Icelandic Chess Championship at Ásvallir in Hafnarfjörður, which has been running for the last 10 days. After a hard-fought and dramatic final day, three players finished level on top and had to play an extra game to decide the title.

Before the final round, the situation was as follows:

• 1st-2nd Hannes Hlífar Stefánsson and Vignir Vatnar Stefánsson 8 pts.
• 3. Gudmundur Kjartansson 7½ pts.
• 4. Hilmir Freyr Heimisson 7 pts.
• 5. Jóhann Hjartarson 5½ pts.
• 6th-7th Aleksandr Domalchuk-Jonasson and Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson 5 pts.
• 8. Henrik Danielsen 3½ pts,
• 9-10, Lenka Ptácníková and Dagur Ragnarsson 3-0.
• 11, Bragi Þorfinnsson 2½ pts.
• 12. Johann Ingvason 2nd.

Icelandic champion at only twenty years of age

Vignir met Hannesi in the final round, and it became clear that the winner of that game would claim the title. A draw, however, meant that Guðmundur Kjartansson could sneak into the final match. The final result was incredible: a three-way tie with 8.5 points and a grandmaster norm. Hilmir was just half a point behind. A play-off was then held for the title, a double round-robin. Vignir Vatnar emerged as the winner and became the Icelandic champion for the first time, at just twenty years of age. The Healthy Town of Hafnarfjörður thanks the Chess Federation of Iceland for a magnificent chess festival at Ásvellir. A fun tournament and a great day of chess. The tournament's sponsors were the City of Hafnarfjörður, Algalíf, Teva, Lengjan, Guðmundur Arason and MótX.

Detailed information about the games, recordings and more can be found on the website of the Icelandic Chess Federation.