Vignir Vatnar Stefánsson won Landsbankinn’s Friðriksmót – the Icelandic rapid chess tournament - held on Saturday, 9 December 2023, by an unprecedented margin. Vignir secured the title of Icelandic Rapid Chess Champion, adding to his accolades as Icelandic Chess Champion.
Vignir won with a score of 12½ out of 13 - a record. The tournament has never been won by such a large margin and so confidently. Only Björn Thorfinnsson managed a draw with the champion.
Jón Viktor Gunnarsson won 10 rounds and came in second. The aforementioned Björn shared 3-4th place with Hilmir Freyr Heimisson, with a score of 9½. Helgi Ólafsson and Helgi Áss Grétarsson were in 5-6th place, each winning 9 rounds.
This was the 20th Friðriksmót. Previously held in the atrium of Landsbankinn’s Austurstræti 11 branch, the tournament was now held at the Bank’s new headquarters in Reykjastræti 6 for the first time. The tournament was very strong. Participants numbered 90, six of which were grand masters.
