Podium finish at Nordic Championship

Rimaskóli's chess team earned third place at the Nordic School Team Championship in Helsinki, Finland, Sept. 12-14. The award was especially welcome since the team had been working toward this goal from the beginning.

Norway's Slemdal School dominated the tournament, while schools placing 2nd through 5th battled for the remaining two podium spots.

Rimaskóli's chess team members at the tournament were Tristan Fannar Jónsson, Emilía Embla B. Berglindardóttir, Sigrún Tara Ingadóttir, Emilía Sigurðardóttir, and Tara Líf Ingadóttir. The students' coach is Björn Ívar Karlsson, who teaches chess at Rimaskóli. The trip to Finland turned out to be really fun and very successful. "Everything went absolutely brilliantly and the kids came well prepared to compete, showing fight and patience, thoughtful chess skills and careful technique," says Helgi Árnason, team manager for Rimaskóli's chess team. The tournament was held at the Finnish Chess Federation building and the team stayed at the brand-new Hotel Sokos - Tripla, which is part of one of the largest shopping and dining complex in the Nordic countries.

This is the 17th time Rimaskóli has qualified for the Nordic School Team Championship. The school has won first place six times, finished second twice and earned bronze medals five times.

Reykjavík City's Department of Education & Youth provided the chess team with a generous grant for participation, and Rimaskóli along with several other sponsors helped cover the trip's expenses. Congratulations to Rimaskóli's chess champions.