Dutch Championship 2010

This year's Dutch championship, taking place in Eindhoven from June 11 to June 20, 2010, promises to be an intriguing one to say the least, with several players vying for the claim to best Dutch player.

Three favourites: Jan Smeets, Loek van Wely and Anish Giri

At the top of the list is Jan Smeets, 2008 Dutch champion, and top-rated at 2659, followed very closely by six-time champion, Loek Van Wely, fresh off a win at the Chicago Open, ahead of 22 grandmasters, not two weeks ago, obviously good for it. Then, third on the list, but possibly even slight favorite, is the 16-year-old reigning Dutch champion, Anish Giri, whose recent results also suggest excellent form, and possibly the strongest Dutch player at the moment. That said, it is a nine-round event, and anything can happen.

1	Smeets, Jan	g	2659
2	Van Wely, Loek	g	2653
3	Giri, Anish	g	2642
4	L'Ami, Erwin	g	2620
5	Reinderman, Dimitri	g	2608
6	Spoelman, Wouter	g	2580
7	Ernst, Sipke	g	2572
8	Nijboer, Friso	g	2567
9	Van Kampen, Robin	m	2480
10	Bok, Benjamin	f	2659

After three rounds, the players who left the starting gates the quickest are Friso Nijboer and Jan Smeets, with 2.5/3, followed by Giri, Spoelman, and Ernst with 2.0/3. Here is a winning shot by Nijboer in the first round.

First-round win for GM Friso Nijboer

Nijboer,Friso (2567) - Van Kampen,Robin (2481) [C95]
2010 Dutch Championship Eindhoven NED (1), 11.06.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4 c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 h5 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Bh6 Bf8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Be3 Nfd7 24.Ng5 Bf6 25.Rf1 Qe7 26.Ne2 Nb6 27.Bxc5 dxc5 28.h4 Rf8 29.Qe3 Qc7 30.Rad1 Rae8 31.axb5 axb5 32.d6 Qc6 33.Rd2 Rd8 34.Rfd1 Bg7 35.f4 exf4 36.Qxf4 Nd7 37.Nf3 Rfe8 38.Rf1 Re6

39.Nfd4! cxd4 40.Qxf7+ Kh7 41.Nxd4! Qb6 42.Qxe6 Nc5 43.Qh3 Bxe4 44.Rf7 Bxc2 45.Rxc2 Nb3 46.Qe3 Nxd4 47.Rd2 1-0.

In the lead with 4.0/4: GM Peng Zhaoqin

The women's event is also underway, with six players playing in a double-round robin. Peng Zhaoqin, six-time women's Dutch champion, and top-rated player at 2397, is sole leader at 4.0/4.

Video imperssions from the 2010 Championships

Albert Silver

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009!