Female chess players from Iceland triumph at the Nordic Chess Championship
Rewritten Article:
Icelandic Chess Whizzes Slay Nordic Championship
The Icelandic national chess duo of Iðunn Helgadóttir and Guðrún Fanney Briem claimed the Nordic chess championship titles on the weekend in Fredericia, Denmark, putting their toughest competitors to the test.
Helgadóttir and Briem, both rising stars from the Icelandic Chess School, snatched up victories in the under-20 and under-16 categories respectively, showcasing their unyielding passion for the game and spectacular preparation.
Preparation is Key to Domination
Björn Ívar Karlsson, principal of the Icelandic Chess School and the girls' coach, lauded their determination and superlative preparation, indicating that the girls had meticulously outmaneuvered each and every competitor and opponent throughout the tournament.
Entering the tournament ranked seventh and third respectively in their categories, Helgadóttir and Briem delivered mind-blowing performances, giving fans quite the show.
Their secret? Well, they don't call them rising stars for nothing! Helgadóttir revealed, "Many of our victories came from targeted preparation against specific opponents." Briem added, "We've been competing a lot recently and are in good form," making an allusion to their recent participation in the Reykjavík Open.
Veteran Players with a Bright Future
However, the young prodigies aren't new to the game. Helgadóttir and Briem have already represented Iceland in the Women's A-team at the Chess Olympiad. Karlsson shared his admiration for the duo, commenting on their extraordinary talents that stand out among other young players in the world.
Post-tournament, Karlsson was found celebrating their success with ice cream while the victorious girls couldn't help but get back to the board, proving that their love for the game is unparalleled. He explained that this triumph is a testament to the remarkable growth of girls' and women's chess in Iceland over the past few years.
Starting Small to Grow Strong
Briem made her debut in Morgunblaðið news in 2019 at just nine years old during the infancy of efforts to elevate girls' chess in Iceland. Former members of the national women's team, Jóhanna Björg Jóhannsdóttir and Veronika Steinunn Magnúsdóttir, collaborated to initiate weekly training sessions for girls to create a sense of camaraderie and support in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
Legendary Role Models
The Icelandic team at the Nordic Championship consisted of nine players in three different age categories. Despite missing out on medals in the youngest division, Karlsson shared his belief that the younger players have now been gifted exceptional role models.
A victory, indeed, for the future of Icelandic chess!
- The youngest chess player in the Icelandic team, Iðunn Helgadóttir, highlighted her targeted preparation against specific opponents as a key factor in their dominance, especially in the Nordic Championship where she snatched up victory in the under-20 category.
- The young Icelandic chess prodigies, including Guðrún Fanney Briem who won in the under-16 category, agreed that their remarkable performances and unyielding passion for the game were major highlights in the sports world, especially during the Nordic tournament.
- Björn Ívar Karlsson, the principal of the Icelandic Chess School and coach of the winning duo, announced that the girls' success in the Nordic tournament was a special news worthy highlight, emphasizing their exceptional talent and the significant growth of girls' and women's chess in Iceland over the past few years, with Iðunn Helgadóttir and Guðrún Fanney Briem serving as excellent role models for young players.
