Kammala jumla mai zuwa: A cikin 1978, Olafsson ya gaji Max Euwe a matsayin Shugaban hukumar kula da wasan chess ta duniya FIDE. A lokacin da yake shugabancin majalisar dattijai,
1981 Karpov  Korchnoi wasan Gasar Cin Kofin Duniya. Tun lokacin da Korchnoi ya tsere daga Tarayyar Soviet a shekara ta 1976, Soviets suna riƙe da ɗan Korchnoi, Igor. Olafsson ya jinkirta ranar 19 ga Satumba da aka shirya don fara wasan a yunƙurin samun Soviets don sakin ɗan Korchnoi. Don wannan yunƙurin, Olafsson ya jawo fushin Soviets, wanda daga baya ya goyi bayan Mataimakin Shugaban FIDE, Florencio Campomanes don Shugabancin FIDE. Campomanes ya gaji Olafsson a matsayin shugaban FIDE a shekarar 1982.