Sandipan at the Netherlands Open

Of chess players and animals

The 2017 Netherlands Open in Dieren

Click or tap all photos to open at full-size | Photos: Alina l'Ami

Once upon a time...

…in the lower part of a lowland kingdom, there was a town, and in the town a palace, and in the palace, a king. I daresay you have heard of Max Euwe, the Dutch king of chess, haven't you?

Born a long time ago — and yet perhaps it wasn't such a long time ago — the former world champion galvanized his nation. The Max Euweplein, a square in Amsterdam, honors his name, while thousands of chess enthusiasts still day-dream of similar paths to fame.

But it all started in the olden times when wishing still helped. And believe it or not, it is absolutely true: the NK Open, which takes place in Dieren (which literally means "animals" in Dutch), at the end of July/beginning of August, and dates back more than 140 year. It has been 49 years since it was held in the current location.

(Above) Just the tip of the iceberg
(Below) The playing hall, hidden underneath the Cafe

It must be a cultural thing. I do dislike stereotyping, but a fact is a fact: the Dutch chess players, even though some might be under-rated, are very dangerous opponents, especially if you are facing young ones. They are ambitious, energetic, calculate very well and most annoyingly of all: they know their openings. You don't want to mess with them by entering war zones like the 6.Bg5 Najdorf. And even if the battle is not a theoretical one, very often one can witness the struggles the higher rated players must endure.

Forty-nine years of a revered chess tradition

Everyone knows that tradition is not to preserve the ashes but to pass on the flame

Every year in Dieren, a Brobdingnagian chess fire warms up the hearts of hundreds of people — 508 this time, to be exact.

“I played there as a kid”, says the Dutch GM Erwin l'Ami. “It feels great to be back and enjoy the game in the same gemoedelijk atmosphere”.

Chess in a convivial habitat does wonders but just when about to grab the 1st place, Erwin (below) fell off the ladder by losing the last game against Dimitri Reinderman

The top seed, Eduardo Iturrizaga (above), had to face a similar fate as he lost in Round 8 against IM Koen Leenhouts (below), who shared 1st with 7/9 along side Sandipan Chanda

GM Chanda Sandipan was crowned Dutch Open Champion for the second consecutive time | Sagar Shah, ChessBase India

The Modern Pirc

The Modern Pirc is actually a mixture of the Caro-Kann and the Pirc. In many lines Black combines the ideas of the classical Pirc in which the fianchettoed bishop is important with the Caro-Kann idea to fight for the center with c6-d5.

For as long as one can remember, countless players have been playing chess in the very same tournament hall. Many felt the wonder of a child returning now, back and back again, as adults. 

The trusted environment is propitious for the emotional memories to unfold, and for planning properly — one can block the dates way in advance for the next edition

But the tournament is not just a dinosaur which miraculously avoided extinction. It also gives impetus to the young talents and hardens them for when the time will come to be crowned as chess kings and queens.

Sometimes the chess world feels like a world in which one would move like a chess horse that would move like a rook that would move like a bishop. It can be quite puzzling and chaotic. But it is beautiful too.

The one and only Manuel Bosboom, IM and a legend in the Dutch chess scene, was the winner of the Blitz event in Dieren

For the chess fanatics, there are Rapid and Blitz events to attend, plus a wide range of additional activities, tailored to satisfy the special people that we are. There is also a popquiz, simul, football match etc. And if that's not onto your liking, just enjoying the sun and the typical Dutch scenery can't be wrong either.

Besides, the entire setting is so Dutch — you know:

Green grass, cows, flat land, strong winds, heavy rains

In this environment, playing chess feels most natural | Photo: Patrick Put

Because my tale started with Euwe, will round it up with his granddaughter, Esmee Lammers. She has written a children book called “Lang Leve de Koningin” (Long Live the Queen), which is popular with young people.

The princess and her queen

It is a tale about a young girl who learns to play chess, and I can only wonder why there are such few women chess players in the Netherlands? A Sherlock Holmes mystery which still needs solving...

Meanwhile, you can puzzle out the following examples:

Some people don't believe what they are told. They only believe what they see. Next year, will mark 50 years of chess history in Dieren. And the story can be yours in 2018.

All photos: Alina l'Ami

All games

Final standings

Correction: An earlier version of this article referred to the tournament as the "Dutch Championship", which is actually a separate event that was held in July and won by Loek van Wely, after a two-game tiebreak over Sipke Ernst.

Links

• Official site