While the National Drafts Championships in Drachten once again seems to end in a pas-de-deux between Jan Groenendijk and Alexander Baljakin, the very young Matheo Boxum from Emmeloord plays uninhibitedly in the middle bracket in his first National Championship.
For his teammate at Hijken Wouter Sipma, only the podium counts, but after a false start plus a painful defeat against Groenendijk, that is far out of the picture for the number four of the last World Cup.
Very busy
Saturday, December 16 around 2 p.m. It is very busy at Van der Valk in Drachten. The fourth round of the National Championships is coming to an end. In an adjacent room, about twenty foursomes play animatedly for the Frisian rapid checkers title.
Another room further on, the audience receives an explanation from former world champion Harm Wiersma, who also serves viewers on the internet. Director of top sports of NOC*NSF André Cats also comes to take a look. He is a guest of the drafts association, which has a good reputation at the sports umbrella organization in terms of top sports policy and talent development. Top talent and three-time world champion among aspirants Matheo Boxum is having a difficult time against middle-ranking Wouter Ludwig.
Spectacular victory for top talent
He has already completed three exciting games. After a spectacular combination victory over Anton van Berkel, he lost in a complex middle game against his clubmate at Hijken Wouter Sipma, but moved smoothly to a draw in a nice position game with the global number three Martijn van IJzendoorn.
But now he is in serious trouble with his king, which with two checkers as a second has to stop six advancing brigs in scarce thinking time. In the demonstration room, the Kingsrow computer graph shoots out dangerously several times, indicating that Ludwig can win, but does not. Wiersma explains why this is so. “In this variant, Black must play the only good move from about eight options twice in succession to achieve a winning play. That is hardly possible behind the board, even for top players.”
Experience richer
Another draw and an experience richer for Boxum, who immediately took action against fellow debutant Jan van der Star and triumphantly reached the only rest day of the grueling tournament from a hanging position. “I am very satisfied with how things are going,” he said on Sunday. “I always feel some tension beforehand, but once I play it quickly disappears. I go into the games openly and without any special expectations. Of course there is a difference in strength, but they are all good drafts players. I’m trying to find a game type that suits me a bit. Furthermore, it doesn’t really matter whether I play against Groenendijk or Terweijden, because you will get a tough match anyway.”
Boxum will therefore start the second half of the tournament on Monday in good spirits with a double round for the third time, in which he will immediately meet Jan Groenendijk, who is in top form. Boxum afterwards: “I’m not very satisfied with how it went. I just couldn’t get into my game.” Nevertheless, Boxum manages to extend the battle deep into the endgame, but then has to capitulate against the razor-sharp vice world champion from start to finish.
However, the youngest debutant since 13-year-old Harm Wiersma in 1967 does not give up and moves without fail to a draw against sub-topper Ben Provoost. On to the next learning moment.
Wouter Sipma
In the meantime, this National Championship seems to be turning into a fiasco for Wouter Sipma after a great year with top rankings in the WorldCup, the World Cup and the European Championships. It immediately starts for the 30-year-old Groninger with a miscue in an intriguing duel with Martijn van IJzendoorn. “The sharpness is not there and I needed that to find the draw.” After a nicely enforced win from a complex position against clubmate Matheo Boxum and a nice example of improvisation against debutant Luuk Terweijden, the counter for Sipma is already plus 1. “The challenge is to become a bit sharper,” the grandmaster put the finger on Sunday. on the sensitive spot. Only to come to the painful conclusion on Monday that the right form has hidden in a far corner of his creative brain. The third debutant Jan van der Star is not fooled by Sipma’s provocations.
The division of points was still up for grabs, but in the afternoon round Jan Groenendijk marks the current balance of power in a powerful attack. Top sport is hard.
STAND NK DAMMEN
1. Jan Groenendijk 7-12, 2. Alexander Balakin 7-11, 3. Martijn van IJzendoorn 7-9, 4. Ben Provoost and Jitse Slump 7-8, 6. Matheo Boxum, Wouter Sipma and Wouter Ludwig 7-7, 9. Gabriël Heerema and Heijn Meijer 7-6, 1 1. Anton van Berkel 7-5, 1 2 to 14: Jan van der Star, Luuk Terweijden and Gerlof Kolk 7-4.