Pictures from Amsterdam

The Lost Boys tournament A picture report by Anna Dergatscheva-Daus

The well-known Lost Boys chess tournament was held for the tenth time from July 24 to August 4 in the Sportcentrum De Pijp in Amsterdam. Rumor has it that this year will be the last time, and for this reason I decided to visit it one more time before it became history. So I packed up my digital camera and drove the 250 km in my old car, just to experience the atmosphere and get a picture of the tournament activities. I was greatly supported by my friend WGM Natalia Kiseleva.

WIM Isabel Werner and WGM Natalia Kiseleva

The weather was not exactly friendly, so we left out the normally beautiful walk through the streets along the canals of the city. Instead we concentrated wholly on chess, and it was certainly worth while! 

Tournament director Peter Vorstermans with his girlfriend

While Natalia studied the positions with the computer in the main hall, and discussed them with WIM Isabel Werner, I made my way to the press center to get to know the organizers. The directors of the tournament, Peter Vorstermans and press officer Jeroen van de Berg confirmed what I had heard: the chances for a Lost Boys tournament in the coming year are very doubtful. But they are going to work on other options that will get chess players to Amsterdam in 2003.

Press officer Jeroen van de Berg

Why was the Lost Boys tournament so special? First of all it always had a very good organization, pleasant conditions (ten days, nine rounds – a free day in our hectic times where opens often have two games per day) and also good prizes. Also there are a number of opens: A, B, C and D. Amateurs can not only play their own games, they can also watch the A-Open moves on the many TV monitors, not just in the playing hall but also in the foyer or in the café. They can also listen to the analysis of the grandmasters.

The top event is of course the A-Open in which strong GMs and IMs traditionally take part. It is a fantastic opportunity for young players to make norms. This year eight players succeeded: Bezemer, Dambacher, Erwich, Odendahl, Pedersen, Peek, Smeets and Vidarsson each achieved an IM norm. 

New German GM: Florian Handke

One GM norm went to the 20-year-old German Florian Handke, who shared second place with F. Nijboer and I. Sokolov. His 7/9 result brought him his third and final GM norm.

Tournament winner with 8.5/9: Loek van Wely

Loek van Wely won the tournament, as in the last year. His result of 8.5 points from 9 games speaks for itself. Loek was in superb form and has found his ideal playing style. He won the Dutch championship a month ago and worked very successfully with Veselin Topalov at the Dortmund classical chess qualifier. The next successes are bound to follow.

The proud parents of the winner

Games, results and reports are to be found here.

More pictures

Lost in thought: Ivan Sokolov

Most colorful player: GM Dimitri Reinderman

Veteran GM Jan Timman

GMs Eric Lobron and John van der Wiel

GM Friso Nijboer with wife