Ralf Ã…kesson

Ralf Åkesson ( born February 8, 1961 in Oxelösund ) is a Swedish chess player. In 1981 he received the title of International Master in 1995 and the Grandmaster title. In correspondence chess, he bears the title Senior International Master.

In 1980 he was awarded the Schack Gideon, a once a year Prize awarded by the Swedish Chess Federation, which is named after Gideon Ståhlberg.

1980/1981 was Youth U20 European champion Ralf Åkesson in Groningen. In 1982/83 he won the Rilton Cup in Stockholm. 1985 in Uppsala and 1999 in Lidköping he won the Swedish Individual Championship. In 1997, he won the Baltic Grand Prix. In April 2001 he won in Gausdal the GM group of Gausdal Classics. At the turn of 2003/ 04 he was able to repeat his victory in the Rilton Cup in Stockholm after 21 years. In April 2005 he won the Gausdal Classics tournament, the GM B group, in June 2005, the Marx Gyorgy Memorial Open in Paks.

With the Swedish national team, he participated in three Chess Olympiads, in 1996, 1998 and 2000, with an individual total score of 15 points from 28 games ( 9, = 12, -7 ) and at two European Team Championships, 1997 and 1999, with a total individual earnings of 9 points from 16 matches ( 5, = 8, -3). Chess club he played in Sweden for many years, until the 2005/06 season, for SK SASS, later under the name Södra SASS. After a year break, he plays since the 2007 /08 season for Västerås SK. In the Belgian Inter - League clubs he plays for the LV lions.

In January 1997, he was behind Ulf Andersson in second place of the Swedish Elo ranking. His previous highest Elo rating was 2535 in July 1999, his current Elo rating is 2423 (as of January 2011).