Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: N'afọ 1978, Olafsson nọchiri Max Euwe dị ka Onye isi oche nke FIDE na-achịkwa egwuregwu chess mba ụwa. N'oge ọ nọ n'ọchịchị, ọ bụ onyeisi oche nke
1981 Karpov  Korchnoi World Championship egwuregwu. Kemgbe Korchnoi si na Soviet Union gbapụ na 1976, ndị Soviet nọ na-ejide nwa Korchnoi, bụ́ Igor. Olafsson yigharịrị oge a na-eme atụmatụ na Septemba 19 nke mbido egwuregwu ahụ na mbọ iji mee ka ndị Soviet tọhapụ nwa Korchnoi. N'ihi nnwale a, Olafsson wetara iwe nke ndị Soviet, bụ ndị kwadoro osote onye isi oche FIDE, Florencio Campomanes maka Onye isi oche nke FIDE. Campomanes nọchiri Olafsson dịka onye isi FIDE na 1982.