Helgi Ólafsson is an Icelandic chess Grandmaster. His chess career began in earnest in the 1976 Reykjavík Open, which he won. He went on to gain the International Master title in 1978, followed by the prestigious Grandmaster title in 1985. Ólafsson excelled in various local and international chess tournaments, notably when he represented Iceland in nine Chess Olympiads, and was among the top 100 players in the world at his peak.
Ólafsson was highly active in the Icelandic Chess Championships, securing the national champion title seven times. His first win was in 1978, and the most recent in 2011. He exhibited impressive performances in several international tournaments, including the Porto Carras tournament in Greece, where he secured first place in 1980, among others. He continued his competitive chess career well into the 21st century, including tying for first place in the 2008 Reykjavik Open.
Apart from competing as a chess player, Ólafsson also developed a career as a chess coach and author. He wrote several chess books, including 'Bobby Fischer Comes Home: The Final Years in Iceland, a Saga of Friendship and Lost Illusions'. This book particularly explores his personal friendship with Bobby Fischer, the famous American chess Grandmaster who lived in Iceland during his later years. This book offered a personal account of Fischer's life, personality, and chess games during his time in Iceland.