Iceland sends chess teams to Uzbekistan Olympiad

The 2026 Chess Olympiad began in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday and will run until September 27, according to mbl.is. The tournament opened with a ceremony on Tuesday and will feature 11 rounds.

Iceland is sending teams in both the open and women’s sections.

The open team consists of Vignir Vatnar Stefánsson, Hilmir Freyr Heimisson, Jóhann Hjartarson, Hannes Hlífar Stefánsson and Guðmundur Kjartansson. Vignir Vatnar will play on the first board, while Helgi Ólafsson is the team captain.

Vignir Vatnar is the highest-rated Icelandic player. Jóhann and Hannes Hlífar are the most experienced, having both competed in several Olympiads. Hannes Hlífar has played at every Olympiad since 1992.

The women’s team consists of Lenka Ptácníková, Hallgerður Helga Þorsteinsdóttir, Guðrún Fanney Briem, Iðunn Helgadóttir and Hrund Hauksdóttir. Lenka will play on the first board, and Ingvar Þór Jóhannesson is the team captain. Lenka is the most experienced player on the Icelandic team.

The previous Olympiad was held in Budapest, Hungary, in September 2024. India won both the open and women’s sections.

Iceland’s open team finished 68th in Budapest after being seeded 46th at the start of the tournament. Hannes Hlífar recorded the team’s best result, scoring 6.5 points from nine games. The Icelandic women’s team finished 58th after being ranked 72nd by rating before the event. Hallgerður Helga Þorsteinsdóttir was the team’s top performer, scoring seven points from 10 games.