CHESS – Where normally politicians in stately suits run the Hoogeveen town hall, from Saturday kings, queens and knights will be in charge there. Not because Hoogeveen is returning to the Middle Ages, but because the 28th edition of the Hoogeveen Chess Tournament will start.
And that is not just any chess tournament, says tournament director Jeroen Bottema. “We are an eight-day tournament with international allure. Every year more nationalities participate. This year there are participants from sixteen countries and that is a record,” he beams.
The tournament has four categories. The crown group attracts the most attention. 19-year-old Eline Roebers surprisingly outpaced all kinds of grandmasters last year and is trying to defend her title this year.
“It’s fantastic that Eline is coming back,” Bottema looks ahead. “But she’s going to have a hard time. I’m putting my money on the Latvian Alexei Shirov, who has participated before. That’s ultimately what we do it for: world-class players who enjoy it here so much that they come back.”
The presence of international top players does not mean that the tournament is only for the global chess elite. “In contrast,” Bottema responds. “Every chess enthusiast is welcome, we have a tournament for every level.”
“We organize a tournament for strong amateurs and professionals under the crown group. The amateurs play their matches in the morning and afternoon.”
In the normally quiet chess world, the World Chess Federation FIDE caused a stir this week by betting on short games. The reason? Young chess fans are increasingly reluctant to accept traditional games that often last hours.
Bottema sees it differently. “I like classical chess, nice long games. Moreover, most people at our tournament think so too. In Hoogeveen this weekend we are simply playing classical chess, as it was once intended.”
The tournament does go along with another trend: the growing online popularity of chess. “All parties from the crown group and the professional group can be followed online,” says Bottema. “The eyes of the whole world will be slightly focused on Hoogeveen next week.”
The Hoogeveen Chess Tournament starts next Saturday and lasts until Saturday October 25.