♟️ About the Organizer

Goðinn Chess Club, also known as Skákfélagið Goðinn, is an active Icelandic chess club based in Húsavík and Þingeyjarsveit. The club serves players across a large part of North East Iceland, while some members also live in Reykjavík. It welcomes new players and gives the region a strong local chess base outside the capital area.

The club was founded on March 15, 2005, by twelve chess players. Since then, it has grown into one of Iceland’s largest chess clubs outside the Reykjavík area. Goðinn runs regular activity through the chess season, with weekly chess practice usually taking place on Monday evenings from September until early May. This steady rhythm helps local players stay active and gives newcomers a simple way to join the chess community.

🏆 Chess Events and Activities

Goðinn Chess Club organizes regular FIDE-rated tournaments and internal competitions. Its main club championship usually takes place in January or February. In addition, the club runs rapid and blitz events during the season. The club also travels to Reykjavík twice a year to compete in the Icelandic Chess Team Championship, which gives members team experience at national level.

The club has also developed destination-style chess events in the Mývatn area. Its 20th anniversary tournament in 2025 marked an important milestone for the organization. Moreover, the Sel Hotel Mývatn Open continues that wider tournament direction and brings players to one of Iceland’s most distinctive regions. These events combine competitive chess with the landscape, hospitality, and travel appeal of northern Iceland.

🌍 Player Experience and Community

Players who join Goðinn Chess Club can expect a friendly chess environment with regular practice, rated competition, and a strong local identity. The club’s activity takes place in several venues, including Húsavík, the Mývatn area, Laugar, and Fnjóskadalur. Therefore, Goðinn supports chess across a wider rural region, not only one town.

The club also contributes to school chess and youth development. In 2025, it started using its Tún venue in Húsavík and supported chess teaching in schools in Norðurþing. This gives the club an important community role beyond tournament play. As a result, Goðinn Chess Club suits adult competitors, improving juniors, local club players, and visitors who want chess in North East Iceland.