GM Nils Grandelius, Sweden (ELO 2635)

Photo: David Llada

28-year-old chess grandmaster Nils Grandelius has been Sweden’s no. 1 for many years. He became a chess grandmaster in 2010 and has been a regular on the Swedish national team since then.

In 2015, he won the Under 18 European Championship and the Swedish Championship, as well as the Abu Dhabi Masters. He has also shared first place in the Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament three times (2013, 2017 and 2018). In the 2019 European Championship, he finished 2nd after Russian GM Vladislav Artemiev.

In 2021 and 2022, he participated In the Tata Steel Chess Masters tournament, facing the toughest opposition possible.

Nils is participating in the Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament for the 11th time.

 

 

10 quick questions:

1) How many years have you played chess professionally?
Since I finished high school, so approaching eight.
2) At what age did you learn how to play chess?
When I was six years old.
3) Who taught you how to play chess?
My granddad taught me at home. When I was seven I started playing in a club.
4) What was your first big tournament success (tournament win or similar)?
My first major tournament win was probably when I became European Under 18 Champion in 2011.
5) Do you sometimes also participate in other sports/games? If so, which and at what level?
I enjoy playing many sports for fun, especially table tennis and badminton, but I am not a member of any sports club.
6) Do you have any family members or relatives that also play chess? If so, who and at what level?
Most of my relatives know the rules, but none of them have ever played in a club.
7) What would you be doing today, if you did not play chess professionally?
I’d probably be at university, studying some sort of social science.
8) How many languages do you speak?
I speak Swedish and English. I have also studied German in school and understand a fair bit, but am very, very far from fluent.
9) Who, in your opinion, is the greatest chess player of all time? Why?
For me, it’s a split between Magnus Carlsen and Garri Kasparov. There is no doubt that Carlsen is playing much better chess than anybody ever did, but Kasparov dominated the world scene for much longer. If Carlsen keeps it up for a few more years he would be the clear #1, though.
10) What do you hope to achieve in the 2022 TePe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament?
To play some interesting games, and if possible, to win!