Goðinn Chess Club

♟️ About Goðinn Chess Club

Goðinn Chess Club (Skákfélagið Goðinn) is an Icelandic chess club centered in Húsavík and Þingeyjarsveit in North East Iceland. The club serves a geographically large rural area and welcomes players regardless of where they live. Regular chess activity normally runs from September through early summer, with weekly club evenings, internal competitions, rapid and blitz tournaments, and participation in Icelandic team chess. The club’s roots date to February 2004, when a small group of local players began meeting for organized chess evenings. A formal chess club was established in early 2005, and the name Skákfélagið Goðinn was adopted on March 29, 2005. Twelve players joined as founding members. Hermann Aðalsteinsson became the club’s first President and continues to lead Goðinn today. Goðinn combines local club chess with ambitious tournament organization. In recent years, it has expanded its activities around Húsavík and Lake Mývatn, including international FIDE-rated events. Its principal 2026 project is the Sel Hotel Mývatn / Mývatn Öl Open, while the club also organizes seasonal tournaments, memorial events, its annual championship, and regular training activity.

📜 History and Development

Organized chess activity began in the area in 2004, initially with only a handful of players meeting at Fosshóll and Stórutjarnir. The group became a formal club the following year and subsequently joined the Icelandic Chess Federation. Since then, Goðinn has maintained regular competitive activity despite serving a relatively sparsely populated part of Iceland. The club travels to Reykjavík for the Icelandic Chess Team Championship and also runs its own annual championship, normally during January and February. Rapid and blitz tournaments complement the classical program.

🏠 Tún Chess Club Venue

A major step in the club’s development came in summer 2025, when Goðinn reached an agreement with the municipality of Norðurþing for a permanent chess venue in Húsavík. The facility is called Tún and is located at Miðgarður 4. It now provides a dedicated base for club evenings, tournaments, training, and other chess activities. As part of the cooperation with Norðurþing, Goðinn also provides chess instruction in local schools, including Borgarhólsskóli, Öxarfjarðarskóli, and Raufarhöfn.

🏆 Tournaments and Club Activity

Goðinn maintains an active tournament calendar throughout the year. In June 2026, the club organized its Sumarskákmót Goðans, followed in July by a memorial tournament for Sigurður Daníelsson in Raufarhöfn. Regular club evenings and smaller rapid and blitz events provide additional competitive opportunities for members. Most Goðinn competitions are FIDE-rated, making the club an important source of rated tournament chess in North East Iceland.

🌍 Sel Hotel Mývatn / Mývatn Öl Open 2026

The club’s principal international event in 2026 is the Sel Hotel Mývatn / Mývatn Öl Open, organized together with local partners. The tournament takes place from November 19–22, 2026 at Skjólbrekka in Mývatnssveit. It consists of six FIDE-rated classical rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The event follows the successful format of Goðinn’s 20th-anniversary tournament held in 2025. The organizers have developed it as an international tournament capable of attracting titled Icelandic and overseas players while showcasing the Mývatn region as a chess destination.

🏛️ Organization and Leadership

Hermann Aðalsteinsson is the current President of Goðinn Chess Club and its principal public contact. The current board also includes Rúnar Ísleifsson as Treasurer and Sigurbjörn Ásmundsson as Secretary, with Ingi Hafliði Guðjónsson serving as deputy board member. Hermann is directly involved in the club’s day-to-day activities and serves as Tournament Director for major events including the 2026 Sel Hotel Mývatn / Mývatn Öl Open.