DAMMEN – Dammer Roel Boomstra (28) was honored tonight at his club Hijken DTC for his third world title. The International Grandmaster won that title on January 20 in Eindhoven in a duel against the Russian Alexander Schwarzman.
Sponsors, representatives of the drafts association, club members and sports councilor Erjen Derks of Midden-Drenthe were present at the ceremony in De Dorpshoeve in Hijken. Besides the fact that Boomstra was given a lot of praise, he received a stately checkerboard on a wooden base from the club.
Boomstra gets stately checkerboard
“When the media came by after his world title, Roel didn’t have a decent board in his house,” says Wouter Sipma, chairman of drafts club Hijken DTC. “We found these on Marktplaats and picked them up in The Hague.” But does the three-time world champion really not have a decent plate at home? “I do have a lot of them, but all standard boards. That doesn’t matter to me. I just want to play drafts,” says Boomstra.
Sporting wishes
Despite his three world titles, Boomstra still has a lot to be desired from a sporting point of view. He won the world title three times in the form of a duel. But every other year there is also a world title fight in the form of a tournament. He also wants to win that title one more time. And furthermore, he aspires to the top position in the world ranking. A place that is now occupied by the Russian Alexander Georgiev.
In principle, he would already play against him last January. But despite Boomstra’s six months of preparation, the Russian canceled just before the battle. “As long as corona is not out of the world, I do not want to play,” he said. The big question remains whether Boomstra will ever be able to take revenge.
Knight
On Friday, Boomstra was already appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau by Mayor Koen Schuiling of Groningen. “That was a very pleasant surprise. I am now in the list of the Olympic gold medal winners, so that is also a nice recognition for the drafts sport”, says Boomstra.
Dutch world champions
Boomstra previously became world champion in 2016 and 2018. He now needs one more title to equalize with Piet Roozenburg. Record holder Harm Wiersma has six world titles to his name. Boomstra’s hunger has not been satisfied for the time being, in any case. If he retains the support of the NOC*NSF, he will continue to play drafts for years to come.