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The annual Dutch Championship runs from 16-28 June, in the city of Hilversum. In addition to the championship proper, the event also includes the Dutch Ladies Championship, a strong Open, and several other amateur events.
The Dutch Championship itself has suffered this year from a number of absences. Van Wely is playing at Foros and Timman at the King's tournament in Rumania, whilst several other players declined invitations. The field is headed by defending championship Sergey Tiviakov, with Ivan Sokolov as the other favourite. They are faced by many of the leading members of the new generation of Dutch grandmasters, including Stellwagen, L'Ami and Smeets, whilst veteran John van der Wiel is making his 28th appearance in the national championship.
In the men's section, after five rounds, 20-year-old grandmaster Daniel Stellwagen is in the lead, with 4.0 points and a 2820 performance so far. He is followed by 22-year-old GM Erwin L'Ami, with the veteran naturalised Dutch GMs Tiviakov and Sokolov trailing half a point behind. Here is the current table:
GM Daniel Stellwagen, leading after five rounds
Erwin L'Ami, in second place
International Master Manuel Bosboom, one of Holland's most creative and entertaining
players. Make sure you check his games out.
Erwin L'Ami and Ivan Sokolov, pictured at the opening ceremony.
Sokolov and Smeets analyse their round three draw.
The Dutch Ladies' Championship includes the twin sisters, Marlies (left)
and Laura Bensdorp. It was Marlies who won their first round encounter.
Among the various amateur events, being held alongside the championship, the most remarkable is surely the Dutch Championship for the over-90s! This three-player event, featured Andries de Koning (92), Dirk Appel (91),and Prof. Johan van Hulst (96). Once again, the result was the inevitable triumph of youth, as the youngest player in the field, 91 year-old Dirk Appel, scored 2.5 out of 3 to take outright first.
Dirk Appel (right) vs Johan van Hulst in the over-90 championship
Dutch over 90 champion Dirk Appel
