Baldur Møller — Nordic Chess Champion 1948

The Nordic Chess Championship for 1948 was held from 17 to 29 August in Örebro, Sweden. There were 12 participants in the national-team class. Iceland had one representative, the Icelandic champion Baldur Møller, who did not disappoint expectations. After a hard-fought competition he achieved the splendid result of finishing first with eight points from eleven games and thereby became Nordic Chess Champion for 1948. As a prize he received the Danish royal cup. This is undoubtedly the greatest chess success ever achieved by an Icelander in an international tournament.

In the first round Baldur played the Danish chess master Chr. Poulsen, who was considered one of the favourites for victory. Baldur had Black and chose the French Defence. White entered complications in an attempt to win back a pawn, but instead lost his queen. This was a major blow for the “Position” school of chess.

In the second round Baldur played the Swede Kust, again with Black, and chose the Dutch Defence. He won the queen’s rook and later obtained a powerful kingside attack; White resigned when he was two exchanges down.

In the third round Baldur played the Swede Sköld and had White. Black chose the Two Knights Defence. Baldur departed from established theory by playing 2.a4 in one of the lines of the Max Lange Attack. He quickly obtained the superior position, exchanged queens and won the ending.

After three rounds Baldur therefore led with three wins. His nearest rival was Niemelä of Finland with two wins.

In the fourth round Baldur played the Swede Hjorth and chose the King’s Indian Defence. White began playing recklessly, leading to the loss of a pawn and then another. This was Baldur’s only defeat in the tournament.

After four rounds the Swede Karlin was first with 3½ points, while Baldur and Niemelä were level with three points.

In the fifth round Baldur played the Finn Salo, who then shared the lead. Baldur had White and played the Queen’s Indian Defence. Black chose the sharp Dutch-style setup. The game soon became equal and a draw was agreed after 26 moves.

In the sixth round Baldur played the Finn Vesterinen and had Black. Baldur played the French Defence and obtained an attack that led to a decisive advantage, but White offered a draw on move 30, which Baldur accepted.

In the seventh round Baldur played the Norwegian Vestøl and opened with 1.f2–f4. He obtained a winning position, which proved difficult to exploit because of Black’s active counterplay, and therefore accepted a draw on move 30, although he still had the better game.

After seven rounds Niemelä led with 5½ points, Karlin was second with five, and Baldur and Salo shared third and fourth with 4½.

In the eighth round Baldur played Karlin with Black. He reached a winning position, but neither player was satisfied with a draw.

In the ninth round Baldur played Niemelä and had White. He played the Queen’s Gambit and obtained a superior position, which he followed up forcefully, while Black resigned because mate was unavoidable. After nine rounds Karlin led with six points, while Baldur and Niemelä followed with 5½ each.

In the tenth round Baldur played the Finn Rantanen and chose the Caro–Kann Defence. Baldur reached a winning position in the middlegame, doubled his rooks on the d-file and then sacrificed a rook with 26...c6–c5. White had to give back the rook to avoid being trapped, but that was insufficient to save the game, and White resigned after several more moves.

After ten rounds Baldur and Karlin led with seven points. Next came Vestøl and Niemelä with 6½.

In the eleventh and final round Baldur played the Swede Pettersson with White and opened with 1.c2–c4. He obtained the upper hand in the middlegame, and Black was forced to sacrifice a pawn to ease his position. White then exchanged queens and won the ending.

Karlin played Salo in the same round, but managed only a draw and therefore had to settle for second place.

At the end of the competition, the participants were given a banquet and presented with awards.

Baldur Møller plays against Åge Vestøl.