Sven-Olof Rydqvist

SWE Sweden · Unified specialist · Active 1939–1953

2World titles

5Finals

5Medals

1642Indoor Eloinactive

—Best PRL

Won the first post-war championships in 1947 and defended the title in 1949.

The story

From Stockholm, Sweden · Era Unified era · Style Long-range calling

Lost years

Sven-Olof Rydqvist reached his first final in 1939 and finished second to Valkhof. The next championship came eight years later.

Champion

When championships resumed, Rydqvist won the first two (1947 and 1949). His calls were famous for their range: he would start a chukka calling at full volume from the centre of the pool and pull evaders' answers toward him like a net.

Helsinki

Rydqvist was in the 1951 final at Helsinki when a rival climbed onto the pool deck for 41 seconds. In the re-swum final he finished second to Ottavio Marzanello. He retired after the 1953 championship.

“Eight years is a long time to wait for a final. I didn't intend to wait for another one.”Sven-Olof Rydqvist

Rivals

Ottavio Marzanello ITA: Helsinki. Head-to-head over 4 shared championships: Rydqvist 2, Marzanello 2. Rivalries →

Elo rating history

Profile

Hawk-Ear profile data is available from 2011 onwards.

World Championship results

Year	Disc.	Round	Place	Tags	Calls	CPT	Evasion s	PRL ms	BE °	Splash	FOW
1939	Unified	Final	2	13	—	—	132.0	—	—	—	1
1947	Unified	Final	1st	16	—	—	147.1	—	—	—	3
1949	Unified	Final	1st	16	—	—	116.2	—	—	—	4
1951	Unified	Final	2	16	—	—	136.0	—	—	—	1
1953	Unified	Final	2	12	—	—	135.1	—	—	—	1

Statistics are shown from the year each measurement began: calls 1974, PRL 2003, Bearing Error and Splash Entropy 2011. See the glossary.