Hvaleyrarskóli competed in the Nordic Chess Championship

Great enthusiasm for chess at Hvaleyrarskóli

„Instructive,“ says Kristinn Guðlaugsson, head teacher of Hvaleyrarskóli, about the experience of the school's team which competed in the Nordic Primary School Championship, from 12th to 15th September. The competition was held in Helsinki, Finland. There were two categories, and Hvaleyrarskóli represented Iceland in the senior category, for pupils in years 8 to 10. Rimaskóli competed in the junior category, for pupils in years 5 to 7.

The Hvaleyrarskóli team was thus composed:

1. Table: Tristan Nash Openia
2. Table: Milosz Úlfur Olszewski
3. Table: Kristófer Árni Egilsson
4. Table: Katrín Ósk Tómasdóttir

Deputy Emilía Klara Tómasdóttir

The team captain was Ægir Magnússon, and he was accompanied by Björn Ívar Karlsson, the headmaster of the Icelandic Chess School. He was largely responsible for the team's chess preparation.

„The Hvaleyrarskóli team had the youngest average age in their category and it was a known fact that we would have our work cut out for us in our matches against the other Nordic countries. As it turned out, Sweden, Denmark and Norway took the top places, while Iceland and Finland were more or less level with each other just behind them,“ says Kristinn.

The Hvaleyrarskóli players often achieved good positions, but promising positions fell victim to haste. The promising chess players of Hvaleyrarskóli will learn from the tournament.

„Björn Ívar, the tournament director, went over each match with the kids, what was good and what could be improved. The tournament was therefore very instructive, but it was also great fun to have the chance to test ourselves against children from the other Nordic countries,“ he says.

Rimaskóli finished in 3rd place in their category. Their team manager was Helgi Árnason, who has done a fantastic job with his kids at Rimaskóli. „The facilities at the venue were first-class, and all the children from both schools thoroughly enjoyed themselves.“