Hjartarson Jóhann Bjarni (08.02.1963)

Icelandic Grandmaster (1985) and lawyer who was five times Icelandic Chess Champion 1980, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2016 and who played on 11 Olympiads between 1980 and 2016. Candidate Jurist degree from the University of Iceland 1992. Licensed to practice before district courts in Iceland 1998 and the European Patent Office in 2006 (European Patent Attorney).

Best results: winner of a few Category VIII tournaments (Reykjavik, London 1984 and Gjovik 1985) and then in 1987 he became a Candidate by coming equal 1st at Szirak Interzonal (XII). Qualified for the 1988-1991 PCA World Cup, five times German Team Champion with the chess club of F.C. Bayern Munich between 1989-1995, once European Champion with the same club, Nordic Champion 1997. Finished or shared first at Gausdal 1983, Reykjavik 1984 & 1992, Commonwealth Championship London 1986, München 1988, Akureyri 1988, World Open Philadelphia 1991, Linares Open 1995, Wintherthur 1996, Stockholm 1996-7, Copenhagen 1997. He had victories in strong tournaments at Akureyri, and Munich, both 1988. Also winner at Philadelphia World Open 1991, Reykjavik 1992, Zonal 1995, Stockholm, Bermuda open, Copenhagen Reykjavik GP 1997.

He surprised everyone by winning his first Candidate match (+3=3-2) over Viktor Korchnoi in 1988. In the quarter-finals a year after, he lost (+0=3-2) to Anatoly Karpov. Retired from international chess since 1998 he works as a professional lawyer. Candidate Jurist degree from the University of Iceland 1992. Licensed to practice before district courts in Iceland 1998 and the European Patent Office in 2006 (European Patent Attorney). Best ELO: 2640 in 2003.

He surprised everyone by winning his first Candidate match (+3=3-2) over Viktor Korchnoi in 1988. In the quarter-finals a year after, he lost (+0=3-2) to Anatoly Karpov. Retired from international chess since 1998 he works as a professional lawyer.

Retired from international chess in 1998, he works as a professional lawyer before to come back front of the board in 2014. Since then, he won the Icelandic Championship in 2016 and the Nordic Zonal Championship in 2017.

Peak rating: 2640 in 2003.