Hansen has won the Danish Chess Championship multiple times (in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2013), giving him a prominent position in the country's chess scene. He earned the international master title in 1990, and in 1995, he obtained the grandmaster title. Moreover, he participated in the FIDE World Chess Championships in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2017.
At the team level, Hansen has represented Denmark in different international competitions, including the Chess Olympiad, the European Team Chess Championship, and the Nordic Chess Cup.
Outside his chess career, Hansen is also an economist. He graduated from the University of Copenhagen with a degree in economics, specializing in economic models for decision-making processes under uncertainty. He works in the financial sector, using his economic and chess skills in combination. His unique perspective has led to the publication of a number of articles in Danish financial magazines.
Hansen is an active blogger, using his platform to discuss chess, economics, and the intersections between the two. He is known for his outspoken criticism of the governing body of world chess (FIDE), particularly concerning its actions in the 2014 World Chess Championship.