Welcome to Good Knight: Oslo’s Premier Chess Pub and Venue for the Norway Chess Open

Good Knight: Oslo’s Unique Chess Pub Hosts Norway Chess Open

Oslo, Norway – Nestled in the heart of Oslo, the Good Knight chess pub is a haven for chess enthusiasts and casual players alike. With its rook and knight-shaped kegs, built-in chess boards, and walls adorned with chess books and memorabilia, the pub perfectly embodies the spirit of the game. As an added bonus, the venue occasionally welcomes the reigning world champion, Magnus Carlsen, who drops by for trivia nights with friends.

Over the next two weeks, Good Knight will serve as the vibrant venue for the Norway Chess Open, running alongside the main tournament. Notable participants include Indian grandmaster siblings Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, as well as Gukesh, the reigning world champion. Krisotoffer Gressli, co-owner of Good Knight and chief arbiter of the Open, decided to host the tournament in his pub after struggling to find suitable venues in the capital. To accommodate the demand, the Open is split into two tournaments of seven rounds each.

Gressli’s journey to opening Good Knight began during a challenging period of unemployment. Initially, he envisioned a store selling chess books and sets, but the high rents in Oslo and the limited hours of such shops made the idea impractical. “Why don’t we open a chess pub? Then we can be open twice as long,” suggested his friend and Grandmaster Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen. “It was a brilliant idea,” Gressli recalls. Just five months later, Good Knight opened its doors, with Carlsen making a surprise appearance on the inaugural night.

The pub’s atmosphere reached a fever pitch when Carlsen clinched the world title in London in 2018, drawing a crowd of chess fans who celebrated like sports enthusiasts. “Fifteen years ago, we were told we couldn’t bring our chess sets to pubs. But then Magnus became a world champion, and chess became cool,” Gressli noted.

Good Knight’s concept resonates particularly well with Norwegians, who are often seen as introverted. The pub provides a social space where activities like chess can ease the pressure of conversation. “After a couple of beers, we aren’t that introverted anymore,” Gressli said, highlighting the pub’s capacity to host 100 players.

The Good Knight is one of the few places in Norway where Carlsen can enjoy a low-key atmosphere without being mobbed by fans. “Here, he can be himself with his friends,” Gressli explained. Trivia nights often feature topics like countries and capitals, tapping into Carlsen’s childhood interests. “When he doesn’t win, everyone loves to say, ‘I’ve been at the Good Knight and I beat Magnus!’”

The pub’s name, Good Knight, was chosen after Gressli and Hansen abandoned their initial idea of “Bad Bishop,” which could have been misinterpreted. “I’m comfortable calling this the world’s first chess pub,” Gressli stated, noting the rise of similar establishments in cities like Paris and Bali.

As for any dramatic moments involving Carlsen, Gressli chuckled, “In a place like this, where the shoulders are a little bit lower, it can happen. So maybe, maybe not. I never tell the stories that happen after dark.”

With its unique blend of chess culture and social atmosphere, Good Knight is not just a pub; it’s a community hub where chess lovers can gather, compete, and celebrate the game they adore.