Elsness' return to organized chess came in 2004, where he finished fourth in the Norwegian championship.

Elsness and Jon Ludvig Hammer both finished with 6.5/9 points in the main event in Tønsberg in July.

Elsness won the first game with White, and held the draw with Black, securing a 1.5-0.5 victory, and his first championship trophy.

The arbiter Hans Olav Lahlum postponed the decision and watched the game's progress before granting Trygstad's claim when his time expired.

Elsness played round 6, but dropped out of the tournament in protest against the decision in the Trygstad game.