Press release by Tata Steel Chess

The 89^th edition in 2027 will be Van den Berg's final tournament as tournament director.

Jeroen van den Berg (64) will step down as tournament director following the 89th edition of the upcoming Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2027. From the 2028 edition onwards, he will hand over the reins to Erwin l'Ami (41), the well-known Dutch chess grandmaster. During the upcoming edition, Van den Berg and l'Ami will jointly shape the tournament, ensuring a careful and gradual transition.

The Benko Gambit Explained

In this DVD, Erwin l'Ami guides you through the fascinating Benko Gambit. As early as move three Black starts a fight for the initiative, a strategy that has proved to be successful in countless amateur and master level games.

Van den Berg has long been the driving force behind the international chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, known as the 'Wimbledon of chess'. Under his leadership, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament developed further into one of the world's most prominent and prestigious chess events. Van den Berg has held the position since 1999 and, by the time he steps down, will have served as tournament director for almost three decades.

The appointment of l'Ami brings in a successor who knows the international chess scene inside out and has deep ties to the tournament. The Dutch grandmaster has been part of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament since 2003, back when it was still called the Corus Tournament. He has competed in nearly every edition since and made a first step up to the prestigious A Group (Masters) in 2011.

Jeroen van den Berg:

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament holds a special place in my life. I look back with great pride and gratitude on the years in which I have had the privilege of contributing to the development of this wonderful event as tournament director. The 2027 edition will be a very special farewell for me. At the same time, I have every confidence that, from 2028 onwards, Erwin will take the tournament forward with extensive knowledge, energy and a deep understanding of the chess world. Over the coming year, we will work side by side to ensure a smooth transition.

Erwin l'Ami is looking forward to his new role:

It is a great honour to succeed Jeroen as tournament director of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. I know the tournament well and understand how much it means to players, chess enthusiasts and the region. I have great appreciation for what Jeroen has built. During the upcoming edition, my main aim is to learn from him and the organising team. After that, I look forward to working with everyone involved to build on the tournament's unique tradition and international standing.

In the run-up to the 89^th edition, which will take place in Wijk aan Zee from 15 to 31 January 2027, Van den Berg and l'Ami will work closely together on the preparations and organisation. This will safeguard continuity and give l'Ami the opportunity to familiarise himself with every aspect of the tournament director's role. Following the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2027, he will assume full responsibility for the 2028 edition. Van den Berg will remain involved in the organisation as an adviser for a further three years after the 2027 tournament, before stepping down permanently in January 2030.

Interview with Jeroen van den Berg (January 2026)

The Aggressive Classical Dutch for Black

The Dutch (1.d4 f5) is known as a very aggressive and unbalanced opening, resulting in the lowest percentage of draws among the most common replies to 1.d4 . The opening became popular during the 1951 World Championship match, where both players tried it successfully. Today, players known for spectacular attacking chess are using the opening as a dangerous, surprise weapon.

About the Tata Steel Chess Tournament

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has a long tradition. The first tournament was held 88 years ago as an employee event on the grounds of Koninklijke Hoogovens (predecessor of Tata Steel Nederland) in Wijk aan Zee. It later evolved from a regional to a national tournament, and eventually into an international event of global stature, where both grandmasters and amateurs clear their schedules to participate.

Tata Steel chose chess because it embodies strategic thinking and the pursuit of creative solutions to complex challenges - a focus shared by the company. Steelmaking is a high-tech process where innovation plays a crucial role. Tata Steel employees continuously work on smart solutions to improve processes and products. This enables Tata Steel to deliver top-quality products that help customers stand out in their markets. At the same time, Tata Steel contributes to building a sustainable society through its product and process innovations.

Master Class Vol. 18: Max Euwe

Experts examine the games of Max Euwe. Let them show you which openings Euwe chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were, which tactical abilities he had or how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame.
Max Euwe became the fifth World Chess Champion after beating Alexander Alekhine in the 1935 World Championship match. A maths teacher by profession, Euwe remained an amateur throughout his life, but was still the best chess player in the Netherlands, and one of the world's best players. Euwe holds the record for the most Dutch national championships, with twelve. After winning the World Championship, Euwe was also the world's best player for a while. He lost the title again in 1937 in the rematch against Alexander Alekhine.
Free video sample: Openings