GM Bjorn Moller Ochsner is the newly crowned Danish chess champion. The 31-year-old native of Aarhus claimed his second national crown after edging out IM Filip Boe Olsen in a rapid tiebreaker for the title.
The Danish Championship 2026 took place from March 28 to April 6 in Svendborg, a small town that has hosted the last ten editions. The event was held in eight different sections, with the national title at stake in the Landskampklasse, a 10-player round-robin with classical time control.
Although several top Danish players (including the 2025 champion Jesper Thybo) opted not to participate, it was a fiercely contested tournament with the champion decided only on tiebreak. Ochsner seized an early lead but suffered two defeats and was overtaken by IM Filip Boe Olsen, who headed into the final round a half-point ahead of IM Viktor Haarmark Nielsen and a full point in front of Ochsner.
As tournament fate would have it, Ochsner and Olsen faced each other in the final showdown, while Nielsen took on FM Casper Liu. In a dramatic turn of events, Ochsner scored a crucial victory over Olsen to catch up with him on points, while Nielsen lost his game and finished joint third with GM Boris Chatalbashev.
To determine the champion, a two-game rapid tiebreaker was played. After winning the first game with Black, Ochsner achieved an overwhelming position in the second but let his opponent off the hook, allowing a draw that secured him the title.
Photos: Thomas Vestergård
Official website: https://nyheder.skak.dk/