Puffin player intros - IM Bjorn Thorfinnsson
IM Bjorn Thorfinnsson is a Reykjavik Puffin and a manager of the team alongside FM Ingvar Thor Johannesson. It is safe to say that Bjorn is a very emotional person and the video, were he is tying the 1st round match against Hamburg Swashbucklers in the final match was considered by many as the highlight of round.
Unlike most other members of the Puffins Bjorn was not a very talented junior player and was firmly in the shadow of his younger brother Bragi Thorfinnsson (who is also a member of the Puffins – (Bragi's intro)). While Bragi was crushing senior players at a very young age Bjorn was at the bottom of the tournament tables, being outsmarted by local dimwits. Many thought he was intellectually challenged. He never represented Iceland in any Nordic, European or World Championships at individual level.
Why didnt he quit people might ask? That's a good question.
Despite disgracing the art of chess regularly and experiencing humiliating defeats Bjorn just loved the game. Finally in his teenage years something clicked and progress started. His absolute highlight on youth level was when he managed to get into the u-16 Icelandic national team that won the World Youth Olympiad in the Canary Islands in 1995. Bjorn scored 5½ out of 7 on board 4 and was instrumental in winning the gold ahead of Hungary with Peter Leko as board 1. His ambition was just to become an IM and that he managed at the tender age of......thirty! When goals are fulfilled it is important to set new ones to keep one motivated. Bjorn set himself the goal of becoming a GM before the age of eighty and so far so good. He has two GM-norms to his name and is currently aiming for the third and final one despite hectic job as a journalist in Iceland and raising up two young children with his wife.
Many Icelandic players have experienced this Bjorn Thorfinnsson trademark look. When you see this look, the good news is you probably have a winning position. The bad news however is that you are minutes away from falling for some devilish trick somewhere somehow!
In Iceland Bjorn is known for his highly aggressive and often "incorrect" attacking style. His opening repertoire is absolutely terrible but he makes up for it with original play and a keen eye for tactics. He can beat anybody on a good day but also loose against just about anyone! Bjorn is so well known for his trickery that we didn't want to introduce him before the 1st round against Hamburg because then they would have known. Turns out this was a correct strategy as in the 2nd round they never saw the stalemate trick coming. Now the secret is out however....Bjorn scored 2,5 out 4 against a very strong Hamburg Swashbucklers team in round 1 and must perform strongly if the Reykjavik Puffins (...the puffins, the puffins) are going to get something out of the match against the Stockholm Snowballs (not to be confused with Swedish Meatballs....you get those at IKEA!). Will Stockholm avoid the trickery now that they know of it???
Some of his best performances include 2nd place in Icelandic Championship, a playoff loss to GM Stefansson but a GM norm for his efforts. In 2015 he won a very strong closed tournament in Bunratty securing his 2nd GM norm. Bjorn is a multiple Icelandic Team Championship winner and became Icelandic rapid champion in 2008.
As evidence of his creative thinking, have a look and see if you can see which move he uncorcked against fellow Puffin Ingvar Johannesson in this position after white's 20.d4
Bjorn plays on Chess.com under the handle Hunninn which in English means "the Cub". He is generally referred to by that name in Icelandic chess circles ;-)
