The Memorial Tournament is organized by The Reykjavík Chess Club (Taflfélag Reykjavíkur) and Hellir Chess Club (Taflfélagið Hellir), together with Jón Þorsteinsson’s family.

the tournament, which will be staged one week prior to the bi-annual 2004 Reykjavík Open is expected to attract Iceland’s strongest players as well as several international players.

The format of the tournament is highly innovative. The participants will begin each game from a position selected by a special tournament committee and disclosed at the beginning of each round.

There will be nine (9) rounds, Swiss System, in the tournament, each comprising of two 15-minute games where participants play each consisting of position with both white and black.

The positions will be selected to test the versatility and positional skills of the players rather than their knowledge of opening theory.

Icelandic players will be ranked according to Icelandic ELO ranking, but international players according to international ELO ranking or their local ranking, if not ranked internationally.

The tournament will be held at Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð. The first four rounds will be played on Saturday 28th, beginning at 2:00 PM. The final five rounds will be played on Sunday the 29th, beginning at 1:00 PM. Entrance fees are ISK1,000 (ISK500 for children 15 & under). Registration details will be here.