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Press release
7 January 2008
World première at opening of new office DGT
On Wednesday 9 January we celebrate the opening of the new multifunctional facility of DGT on the Hengelosestraat 66 in Enschede. DGT stands for Digital Game Technology; the company is producer of digital chess clocks and electronic chess boards which are sold all over the world. At the opening the municipal authorities of Enschede are represented by Mr Roelof Bleker, alderman of urban development and culture.
World première
The biggest surprise during the opening will be the world première of Foidos;
a new system to follow chess games, developed by Chess Dimension, a joint
venture of DGT and Share Dimension. With Foidos chess lovers can watch live
chess game coverage on the internet from multiple angles. One can simultaneously
follow the game on the board, walk through the moves, and access video streams
of the players from several angles at the same time. Concurrently he can hear
the comment of a Grand master on the game.
World champion Kramnik
Special guest of honour at the opening is Mr Vladimir Kramnik. He is the 14th
world champion in chess and is available for the press. Kramnik became world
champion in a match against Kasparov in the year 2000. He defended his title
several times but had to give it up during the World Championship tournament
in Mexico in 2007. Kramnik is number 1 on the latest rating list of the Fide
(World chess federation) with 2799 rating points, as many as Anand against
whom he will play a match for the title in October 2008.
New developments
At the upcoming International Toy Fair in Nürnberg DGT will present a new
chess box under the motto : “The new way to play” this box holds a brilliant
foldable chess clock.
Multipurpose building
In the new building the Chess Lab is situated on the ground floor. Several
test set-ups have been placed here. You can also find a vast international
chess library and a permanent exhibition of chess clocks that have been categorised.
In a few months a chess training and education centre will be started. The
warehouse and forwarding are also located on the ground floor. The offices
are positioned on the first floor as is the multifunctional room where in
the near future top chess players can play their games closely followed by
the public without being bothered.
Simul
Some of the guests can play a chess game during the opening party. Grand master
Tea Lanchava, one of the strongest lady chess players of our country, will
play a simul against them in the Chess Lab. In this demonstration room the
games are played on electronic chess boards so that they can be followed “live”
via the internet site www.dgtprojects.com/opening/tfd.htm from 17.30 hours
on.
Art
At the opening there is an exhibition of paintings from Bianca Leusink. She
is a former employee of DGT and now a professional artist. She has developed
her own style, as a result of which her colourful modern artwork and paintings
are very recognizable.
History
DGT was founded by Ben Bulsink, Albert Vasse and Paul Arentz in 1992. They
started with the production of digital chess clocks, which got official approval
of the World Chess Federation FIDE. It proved to be a revolutionary step in
the world of chess. Initially they worked from home. After several smaller
locations the company moved to a 400m2 office at Hengelosestraat 298 in Enschede.
The assortment rapidly extended with digital chess-boards, accessories and
software. In 2007 the office became too small and DGT had to look for a new
suitable location that was found at Hengelosestraat 66, at walking distance
of the central bus and railway station.
Worldwide
DGT, based in Enschede The Netherlands has more than 300 agents worldwide.
At nearly all chess tournaments in the world, from Mexico to Australia DGT
clocks keep track of game time. Since 1994 the assortment has been considerably
extended, and now consists of 4 digital clock models, complete chess boxes,
digital chess boards, tournament software, chess sets and accessories.
DGT– Digital Game
Technology
Hengelosestraat 66
7514 AJ Enschede, Holland
Phone: +31(0)53-4305195
E-mail: info@dgtprojects.com
Ben Bulsink and Albert Vasse, who founded DGT in 1992
Showing new products – here the folding chess clock
– at the press conference
The DGT laboratory with new chess piece sensor technology
Inside the DGT board: this is the most widely used chessboard sensor technology
A chess computer project which DGT is involved with
The chess computer will have its own playing program and use DGT sensor technology
Special guest: IM (and WGM) Tea Bosboom-Lanchava
Another special guest who is a commercial partner of DGT
Vladimir Kramnik at the presentation of the new DGT products
For the opening a deputee from the city of Enschede and Vladimir Kramnik smashed
a white king against one of the new walls of the building
Vladimir Kramnik talks to the press
Kramnik said that he was very motivated to win the Wijk aan Zee chess tournament, but that it was more important to him to play the World Championship match against Anand later this year. Asked about Kasparov he said he had no contact with him, and that he didn't agree with the former World Champion's political ideas. He said he would not vote for Kasparov, if he did vote. Kramnik definitely believes in the freedom of press, but he said he believes this only exists in a few countries.
Kramnik was asked about the great interest chess players are showing for the game of Poker. He admitted that he played poker for fun, sometimes during the nights in a chess tournament. "It is fun to chat and joke with friends during the games," he said, "but I cannot imaging playing the game professionally."
Kramnik with his manager Carsten Hensel
Kramnik revealed that as a child he was interested in checkers (draughts). He believes that grandmasters could become very strong checkers players, and do so very quickly, if they just applied themselves to the game.
Photos by Jeroen van den Belt
