Steffers, voorzitter van het internationaal militair schaakcomité, heeft er behoorlijk de wind onder. "Toen ik deze functie accepteerde, is er direct een vijfjarenplan ingevoerd. We weten dus nu al waar we in 2008 terechtkomen met het toernooi. Hoewel we niet zijn aangesloten bij het Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) en ook, mogelijk tijdelijk, niet meer onder het Bureau Internationale Militaire Sport vallen, volgen we wel hun regels. Een van de verschillen is dat bij ons personeel uit de gehele Defensieorganisatie, dus ook burgers, mag meedoen."
Normaal gesproken heeft het toernooi plaats in oktober, maar het IDL was als aangewezen plaats alleen in augustus beschikbaar. "Er zijn dan geen cursussen, vandaar", legt Engelen uit. Het begint allemaal maandag met een ontvangst op het Haagse stadhuis, waarna de voormalig plaatsvervangend Chef Defensiestaf luitenant-generaal Jo Godderij ("zelf een schaker") de 15ste editie zal openen in het auditorium. Vervolgens beginnen de schakers aan de eerste ronde. Dinsdag en donderdag zijn er twee wedstrijden (8-13 uur en 14 tot 19 uur), op woensdag is er een ronde om een uitstapje naar het Vredespaleis mogelijk te maken. Op vrijdag is er een aanlokkelijk programma voor de deelnemers, maar zeker ook de toeschouwers. Na de laatste ronde in de ochtend, volgt een snelschaaktoemooi en een simultaanwedstrijd tegen een oud-winnaar van het NAVO-schaaktoernooi, grootmeester Harmen Jonkman.
Iedereen die in schaken is geïnteresseerd, kan een kijkje gaan nemen op het IDL, waar teamchef kapitein ter zee Harm Theo Wagenaar met zijn spelers zal proberen voor een stunt te zorgen tegen favorieten Duitsland en Italië. De selectie bestaat uit oude bekenden als Jan Peter van Zandwijk, Jan Cheung en veelvuldig militair kampioen wachtmeester 1 Marco de Waard. Sergeant Tonnie van den Heuvel, Rob van de Walle en de al gememoreerde eerste vrouw Rieke van der Run completeren de ploeg.
Het 15e NAVO Schaakkampioenschap op het Instituut Defensie Leergangen in Den Haag is geëindigd in een totale Duitse overwinning. Individueel kampioen werd de Duitse IM Lorenz Maximilian Drabke met 6,5 uit 7, nadat hij in een rechtstreeks duel de Slowaak Robert Csolto had verslagen. De Pool Rafal Przedmoiski werd 2e met 5,5 punt en 3e de Brit Andrew Hammond met eveneens 5,5 punt. De kersverse nieuwkomer van de opleiding tot marineofficieren (KIM) en eerste vrouwelijke deelneemster ooit Rieke van Run werd beste Nederlander met een gedeelde 10e plaats met 4,5 punt.
Het teamklassement (beste 4 spelers per land) werd gewonnen door Duitsland met 21 punten, gevolgd door Polen met 19 punten en Noorwegen met 18,5 punt. Nederland werd verdienstelijk 6e met 16 punten.
Het afsluitende blitztoernooi werd gewonnen door de Duitser Mark Helbig, gevolgd door Lorenz Drabke en de Fransman Thomas Kovarcik.
Voor de liefhebber speelde oud-toernooiwinnaar GM Harmen Jonkman op vrijdagmiddag een simultaan, voordat hij weer naar Vlissingen toog voor deelname aan zijn eigen toernooi. Hij verloor in de simultaan tegen de Belg Gunter Deleyn (2275)en de Noor Tommy Indbryn (2129), speelde remise tegen de Italiaan Giuseppe Crapulli (1970), de Canadees Paul Leblanc (1884), de Amerikaan James Adkins (1944) en de Nederlander Jan Cheung (2100). Hij won de overige 12 partijen.
Het toernooi verliep zonder enig probleem vanwege een zeer goede organisatie, en leverde weer vele nieuwe internationale contacten op. Op zaterdag 14 augustus vertrokken de deelnemers uit 13 landen daarom moe maar zeer voldaan naar hun thuis, in afwachting van de 16e editie van dit toernooi dat volgend jaar in het Poolse Kolobzeg zal plaatsvinden.
The Wall Street Journal Europe via Dow Jones
THE HAGUE -- The finest minds of the Western military world have struggled for years to defeat German soldiers on a treacherous battlefield: the chessboard.
For 26 years, member countries from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have competed in the ultimate game of strategy and tactics. And 22 times, the Germans triumphed. The Americans, who dominate the alliance in other ways, have mostly floundered.
"Germany always sends one or two boys who play like grandmasters," said Sandro Falbo of the Italian army. So when 82 soldiers and civilians gathered here last month for their annual battle, the usual question hung in the air: Could the German juggernaut be stopped?
The Germans had every reason to be confident. A short history of the NATO competition, written by British Sgt. Alec Toll, is replete with references to Germany's overwhelming force. 1979: "Germany once again crushed all resistance." 1988: A British player got "badly bruised, bouncing off the German wall." As NATO contestants surveyed the Berlin Wall a few weeks before the German reunification, Sgt. Toll recorded one overriding concern: "Now the German team would be even stronger!!" Chess players reserve the double exclamation point to annotate moves against which there is no defense.
But in recent years, former Soviet satellites, where the influence of the Russian chess superpower raised the level of the game, have been joining NATO, posing a new threat. This year, the Poles would gain an early advantage over the Germans, leading to a showdown on the final day.
The allied chess battles began in 1978 when a British officer stationed in Denmark invited fellow soldiers from the U.K. and Germany for a small tournament. The event has since grown into the only international military chess competition. Every year, enlisted men tussle with generals in a game filled with war symbolism. "You do battle, your men get killed, you shake hands and that's the end of that," Sgt. Toll says.
Chess has always captivated the military mind. Napoleon was a strong player. Prince Gregory Potemkin, whose conquests stretched the boundaries of the Russian empire in the 18th century, was so addicted to the game that he reportedly summoned underlings to play in the middle of the night. It is an addiction well understood by the modern-day players. "Chess is the most beautiful part of my life," said Mehmet Kilic, a 22-year-old Turkish officer trainee.
This year's NATO battle unfolded in a stuffy auditorium in the Netherlands Defense College, a collection of boxy buildings on the edge of The Hague. Forty tables with plastic chess pieces were crammed in around two tables with bigger wooden figures for the leading players. Little flags stuck out of bullet casings next to each board to mark the players' nationalities. During games, frazzled soldiers snuck out of the playing hall to the adjacent room, called the "nicotarium," where they pondered their next move amid tufts of cigarette smoke.
Players arrived at the tournament in a colorful array of ceremonial uniforms, including French Napoleonic hats and Turkish gilded ribbons, but quickly discarded them for shorts and T-shirts. Before each game, the players exchanged souvenirs. While the Belgians were giving out beer and the Italians came armed with calendars, the Germans handed out compact discs with German military marching songs. Players from Poland, which was occupied by Germany in World War II, couldn't help but laugh at the gift.
The key to Germany's success on the chessboard is universal conscription of 18-year-old males into the armed forces. That allows the German military to tap into a rich pool of talent unavailable to countries without the draft. "We definitely have an advantage," said German Sgt. Mark Helbig. That is how Germany got Lorenz Drabke, a 19-year-old conscript who is close to being awarded the coveted title of chess grandmaster, the highest ranking in the game. After doing two months of basic training, Cpl. Drabke, who wants to become an airline pilot, now plays chess full time for the military as part of its "sports promotion" group.
Quiet and mild-mannered, Cpl. Drabke started by beating a strong Turkish player, and then demonstrated his preparation in the postgame analysis. Describing to his opponent why he hadn't made a tempting move in the middle of the game, Cpl. Drabke said, "I read some research about this position, and I heard the Turkish players are well prepared."
The Americans have usually floundered on the chessboards, except for a surprise second-place finish two years ago. Chess isn't as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe, and Washington's real wars around the world keep soldiers away from the toy battles. "Two of our best players are in Iraq now," said Marine Master Sgt. James Adkins, a member of the U.S. team, who will likely deploy there in January. "It's difficult to put together the best team because somebody is always somewhere." With 14 teams participating this year, the U.S. finished only ahead of Canada and an international squad playing under the blue NATO flag.
Slovakia's four-man team endured a grueling 24-hour journey in a stifling hot train to come to their first tournament, after joining NATO last year. They scored some neat victories. After beating one of the strongest Germans in the tournament, Slovak Sgt. Peter Durik flashed a thumbs-up sign and said, "He's a strong player, but I'm a strong player, too."
But the real battle was between Germany and Poland. Early on, the Poles edged ahead. "We are leading now, but the Germans are in hot pursuit," said Rafal Przedmojski, a civilian working with the Polish military. He was the second-highest-rated player in the contest behind Cpl. Drabke, the German chess prodigy. Mr. Przedmojski had once played for the team that won the Polish junior championship and he meticulously prepared for each round by studying his next opponent's games on the Internet.
Midway through the tournament, the Polish lead widened to a convincing 2 1/2 points, with each win worth one point and a draw half a point. Poland had to hold on to its advantage for two more days to claim the silvery trophy. Cpl. Drabke and Mr. Przedmojski quickly reached a draw in their only match.
With one round of games remaining, Germany narrowed the Polish lead to half a point. Cpl. Drabke beat Polish Capt. Saturnin Skindzier with a brilliant combination of moves. "That was so beautiful to look at," crowed Capt. Karl Koopmeiners, the leader of the German team, and gave his charge a friendly punch in the shoulder.
On the last day of the tournament, the German machine surged two points ahead of Poland for the victory. Cpl. Drabke, with six wins and one draw, won the individual prize. The Poles, who were so close to a historic upset, still were coming to grips with the loss at the awards ceremony. "It's like soccer," Capt. Skindzier said to teammates during a candlelit dinner afterward. "You play for 90 minutes, and the other side wins."
While the Poles hoped for better results next year, Cpl. Drabke joked that the game should be redefined: "64 squares, 32 pieces, and the Germans win."
Landenklassement | ||||||
Nr. | Team | Best 4 | Bucholz | MBucholz | Best 5 | Best 6 |
1. | Germany | 21 | 109.5 | 80.5 | 25 | 28.5 |
2. | Poland | 19 | 125.5 | 88.5 | 23.5 | 26 |
3. | Norway | 18.5 | 106.5 | 76 | 21.5 | 21.5 |
4. | France | 17.5 | 109 | 76.5 | 20.5 | 22.5 |
5. | United Kingdom | 16.5 | 114.5 | 84.5 | 18.5 | 20.5 |
6. | The Netherlands | 16 | 107 | 76.5 | 19.5 | 22.5 |
7. | Belgium | 15.5 | 105.5 | 77.5 | 18.5 | 20 |
8. | Italy | 15.5 | 104.5 | 75 | 18 | 18 |
9. | Denmark | 15.5 | 99 | 71.5 | 18 | 19.5 |
10. | Slovakia | 14.5 | 104 | 74 | 14.5 | 14.5 |
11. | Turkey | 14.5 | 101.5 | 73.5 | 17.5 | 20 |
12. | USA | 14 | 96 | 68 | 17 | 20 |
13. | NATO | 11.5 | 88 | 63 | 14 | 16.5 |
14. | Canada | 10.5 | 80.5 | 55.5 | 10.5 | 10.5 |
Eindstand Individueel | |||||||||
Nr. | Naam | Rating | Team | Land | Ptn | TPR | Buch | MB | Lot |
1 | Drabke Lorenz Maximilian | 2428 | Germany | GER | 6.5 | 2646 | 31.5 | 23.5 | 625 |
2 | Przedmojski Rafal | 2370 | Poland | POL | 5.5 | 2463 | 33 | 23.5 | 372 |
3 | HammondAndrew | 2210 | United King | ENG | 5.5 | 2309 | 30.5 | 22 | 488 |
4 | Kraft Matthias | 2100 | Germany | GER | 5.5 | 2339 | 28.5 | 21.5 | 285 |
5 | Cooper Lawrence | 2315 | United King | ENG | 5 | 2318 | 32 | 23 | 391 |
6 | Bon Michael | 2163 | France | FRA | 5 | 2295 | 32 | 22 | 632 |
7 | Csolto Robert | 2348 | Slovakia | SVK | 5 | 2401 | 31.5 | 22.5 | 464 |
8 | Hole Oystein | 2332 | Norway | NOR | 5 | 2318 | 26.5 | 18.5 | 297 |
9 | Nielsen Rene Ole | 2202 | Denmark | DEN | 5 | 2265 | 23.5 | 16 | 184 |
10 | Skindzier Saturnin | 2247 | Poland | POL | 4.5 | 2258 | 31.5 | 22 | 384 |
11 | Karbowiak Adam | 2256 | Poland | POL | 4.5 | 2282 | 31 | 21.5 | 277 |
12 | Durik Peter | 2127 | Slovakia | SVK | 4.5 | 2213 | 30.5 | 22 | 25 |
13 | L'Henoret Thierry | 2094 | France | FRA | 4.5 | 2204 | 30 | 22.5 | 981 |
14 | Benedetti Fabrizio | 2199 | Italy | ITA | 4.5 | 2142 | 30 | 21.5 | 861 |
15 | Marek Mariusz | 2155 | Poland | POL | 4.5 | 2199 | 30 | 21.5 | 323 |
16 | Lillevold Frode | 2097 | Norway | NOR | 4.5 | 2192 | 27.5 | 21 | 657 |
17 | Indbryn Tommy | 2129 | Norway | NOR | 4.5 | 2210 | 26.5 | 19 | 662 |
18 | Helbig Mark | 2305 | Germany | GER | 4.5 | 2176 | 26 | 19 | 429 |
19 | Moen Steinar | 2181 | Norway | NOR | 4.5 | 2155 | 26 | 17.5 | 40 |
20 | Alaslar Devrim | 2051 | Turkey | TUR | 4.5 | 2145 | 25.5 | 18.5 | 549 |
21 | Wantiez Fabrice | 2207 | Belgium | BEL | 4.5 | 2158 | 25.5 | 18.5 | 488 |
22 | Deleyn Gunter | 2275 | Belgium | BEL | 4.5 | 2117 | 25.5 | 18.5 | 27 |
23 | Bieluszewski Piotr | 2169 | Poland | POL | 4.5 | 2082 | 25 | 17.5 | 821 |
24 | Schott Guido | 2195 | Germany | GER | 4.5 | 2133 | 23.5 | 16.5 | 974 |
25 | van Run Rieke | 2133 | The Netherl | NED | 4.5 | 2139 | 23 | 16.5 | 14 |
26 | de Waard Marco | 1977 | The Netherl | NED | 4 | 2267 | 30 | 21.5 | 400 |
27 | Cheung Jan | 2100 | The Netherl | NED | 4 | 2174 | 27 | 19.5 | 211 |
28 | Falbo Sandro | 2204 | Italy | ITA | 4 | 2055 | 26.5 | 19 | 775 |
29 | Nill Oliver | 2212 | Germany | GER | 4 | 2142 | 26.5 | 19 | 20 |
30 | Nilsson Erik | 2175 | Denmark | DEN | 4 | 2106 | 26 | 19 | 398 |
31 | Olesen Michael Jacob | 1845 | Denmark | DEN | 4 | 2204 | 25.5 | 19 | 27 |
32 | Victoria Narciso | 2192 | United Stat | USA | 4 | 2073 | 24.5 | 17 | 304 |
33 | Kovarcik Thomas | 2222 | France | FRA | 4 | 2139 | 24.5 | 16.5 | 650 |
34 | Leblanc Paul | 1884 | Canada | CAN | 4 | 2155 | 23.5 | 16 | 843 |
35 | Mottais François | 2062 | France | FRA | 4 | 1942 | 22.5 | 15.5 | 453 |
36 | Gooris Jan | 2113 | Belgium | BEL | 3.5 | 2112 | 28.5 | 22 | 163 |
37 | Sari Serdar | 1906 | Turkey | TUR | 3.5 | 2147 | 28 | 20 | 58 |
38 | van Zandwijk Jan Peter | 2256 | The Netherl | NED | 3.5 | 2071 | 27 | 19 | 540 |
39 | Toll Alec | 2091 | United King | ENG | 3.5 | 2034 | 26.5 | 21.5 | 397 |
40 | Donati Roberto | 2166 | Italy | ITA | 3.5 | 2045 | 26 | 19 | 236 |
41 | Ranario Dan | 2004 | United Stat | USA | 3.5 | 1981 | 24.5 | 17.5 | 855 |
42 | Kiliç Mehmet | 1799 | Turkey | TUR | 3.5 | 2178 | 24.5 | 17.5 | 554 |
43 | Horvath Milos | 1735 | Slovakia | SVK | 3.5 | 2082 | 24 | 17 | 190 |
44 | Pröstler Andre | 1953 | Germany | GER | 3.5 | 2152 | 23 | 15.5 | 210 |
45 | Lebrun Roger | 1938 | Canada | CAN | 3.5 | 2055 | 22.5 | 15.5 | 945 |
46 | Hater David | 2012 | United Stat | USA | 3.5 | 2057 | 22 | 16 | 685 |
47 | Capezza Marco | 2121 | Italy | ITA | 3.5 | 1928 | 22 | 15.5 | 586 |
48 | van de Walle Rob | 1935 | The Netherl | NED | 3.5 | 2078 | 21 | 15 | 817 |
49 | De Cat Ben | 1988 | Belgium | BEL | 3 | 1922 | 26 | 18.5 | 457 |
50 | Bruns Michael | 2071M | United Stat | USA | 3 | 1909 | 25 | 17.5 | 282 |
51 | Keough Robert | 2080 | United Stat | USA | 3 | 1890 | 24.5 | 18 | 518 |
52 | Kocur Marc | 2013 | Belgium | BEL | 3 | 1946 | 24 | 17.5 | 350 |
53 | Celen Gazi | 2119 | Turkey | TUR | 3 | 1872 | 23.5 | 17.5 | 326 |
54 | Vea Odin Blikra | 2057 | Norway | NOR | 3 | 1921 | 22.5 | 17 | 288 |
55 | Daler Neset | 2068 | Turkey | TUR | 3 | 1972 | 22.5 | 16 | 820 |
56 | Lebel Patrick | 2151 | France | FRA | 3 | 1852 | 22 | 16 | 166 |
57 | Wagenaar Harm-Theo | 2130 | The Netherl | NED | 3 | 1739 | 21.5 | 16 | 391 |
58 | Vercauteren Daniël - NATO | 1669 | NATO | BEL | 3 | 1904 | 21.5 | 15.5 | 621 |
59 | van den Heuvel Tonnie - NATO | 1962 | NATO | NED | 3 | 1959 | 21 | 15 | 666 |
60 | Koopmeiners Karl - NATO | 1955 | NATO | GER | 3 | 1865 | 19.5 | 13.5 | 173 |
61 | Adkins James | 1944 | United Stat | USA | 3 | 1931 | 19.5 | 13 | 858 |
62 | Zengin Sedat | 2085 | Turkey | TUR | 2.5 | 2012 | 29.5 | 21 | 238 |
63 | Tommasini Enzo | 2128 | Italy | ITA | 2.5 | 1995 | 28 | 20.5 | 709 |
64 | Bellardi Michel - NATO | 2063 | NATO | FRA | 2.5 | 1862 | 26 | 19 | 303 |
65 | Parker Glen | 1900 | United King | ENG | 2.5 | 2024 | 25.5 | 18 | 817 |
66 | Nielsen Henrik Lindholt | 2028 | Denmark | DEN | 2.5 | 1993 | 24 | 17.5 | 717 |
67 | Crapulli Giuseppe - NATO | 1970 | NATO | ITA | 2.5 | 1901 | 24 | 17.5 | 324 |
68 | Parisse Denis - NATO | 1960 | NATO | FRA | 2.5 | 1806 | 22 | 17.5 | 788 |
69 | Krainski Slawomir | 2194 | Poland | POL | 2.5 | 1793 | 21 | 15.5 | 225 |
70 | Geerts Luc - NATO | 1573 | NATO | BEL | 2.5 | 1779 | 19.5 | 14 | 461 |
71 | Adolfssen Rico | 1707 | Denmark | DEN | 2.5 | 1727 | 18 | 13.5 | 285 |
72 | McInnes Neil | 1880 | United King | ENG | 2 | 1710 | 20.5 | 15 | 361 |
73 | Khalil Vincent | 2129 | France | FRA | 2 | 1652 | 19.5 | 14.5 | 384 |
74 | So Kam | 1666 | Canada | CAN | 2 | 1636 | 19.5 | 13.5 | 443 |
75 | Morrison Munroe | 1720 | United King | ENG | 2 | 1845 | 18 | 13.5 | 54 |
76 | O'Neill Steve - NATO | 1320 | NATO | ENG | 2 | 1610 | 16.5 | 12 | 291 |
77 | Smith Bryan - NATO | 1400 | NATO | ENG | 2 | 1624 | 16.5 | 12 | 50 |
78 | Stuhr Finn | 1483 | Denmark | DEN | 1.5 | 1724 | 20 | 14.5 | 516 |
79 | Zilka Jozef | 1458 | Slovakia | SVK | 1.5 | 1477 | 18 | 12.5 | 294 |
80 | Charles Freddy | 1820 | Belgium | BEL | 1.5 | 1568 | 17.5 | 13 | 747 |
81 | Shea Joseph | 1585 | Canada | CAN | 1 | 1479 | 15 | 10.5 | 175 |
82 | Campeau Jayson | 1056 | Canada | CAN | 0 | 1147 | 15.5 | 10.5 | 754 |
Verloop voorbereidingen en toernooi
Het BIMS had een instellingsbeschikking uitgegeven voor een Stuurgroep en een Projectorganisatie om de voorgang van de organisatie te kunnen sturen.
De Stuurgroep bestond uit Cdre Huub van Dillen (CIMS), lkol Michel van Meurs (H-BIMS) en bgen bd drs. Hendrik Steffers (Vz International Military Chess Committee) en had als taak de bewaking van de voortgang van de organisatie en het maken van principeafspraken met Dir-IDL cdre Schrijvers.
De projectorganisatie bestond uit de projectleiders lkol Johan Engelen (Chef d'Equipe Schaken) en Hen Blikman (Hfd Bedrijfsbureau BIMS), secretaris kap Jan den Besten en de leden Erica Visser (Hfd Servicecentrum IDL) en de heer Leonardo (Bedrijfsleider Paresto) en had als taak de organisatie van het toernooi te realiseren.
Vanaf januari 2005 kwam de trein echt op gang en werd er veel werk verzet. De taakverdeling binnen de projectorganisatie was grofweg als volgt:
Tijdens het toernooi was een aparte groep mensen nodig die voor de administratieve ondersteuning zouden zorgen. Hierbij moet worden gedacht aan het inkloppen en verwerken van de gespeelde partijen, het maken van bulletin, het verzorgen van foto's van alle activiteiten, het laten functioneren van de 2 electronische schaakborden en het bijhouden van de website. Deze taken werden verricht door Ard Dekker, Peter de Bloeme, Martin van der Hidde, aoo John Cornel, sgt1 Erik Kruit en zijn vrouw Joyce. Ook het Nederlands team zelf heeft bij de op- en afbouw de handen uit de mouwen gestoken.
As The Hague's Deputy Mayor for New Territories and Durability, let me give you a short introduction to city history. It's actually a small place but like so many small packages it has something of a rich past. And it has had an impact on the world out of proportion to its modest size. Today it is a part of the Randstad, the urban conglomerate of the four western cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. This area is home to 6 million people and produces 50% ofGNP.
City history actually started quite recently, back in 1248, when the counts of Holland chose The Hague as their hunting base and built the so-called Hall of Knights. One of our oldest civil monuments it has been the symbol of Dutch governance since the Middle Ages. Besides its name I sadly see no link here to the game of chess.
When The Netherlands declared itself independent of Spain in 1579, The Hague became the meeting place of the States General of the later Republic of the Seven United Provinces. This was really what started the city's international role.
We then had a visit from the master tactician, the man who made pawns of many a European king. Bonaparte, though his presence was of limited duration. After he and his brother were removed from the board, the former Republic was transformed into the Kingdom of The Netherlands. The Hague again the home of the new administration. And as centre of Dutch government, also the centre of national policymaldng. With European nation-state building running at full speed, this resulted in many embassies being opened in the city. Today there are 94 here.
At the end of the 19th century, after the First Hague Peace Conference in 1899, the first supranational legal institution in history was founded in The Hague: The Permanent Court of Arbitration. In 1946 the International Court of Justice was installed in the Peace Palace. Within the context of the United Nations and Europe, The Hague developed a new international strategy for hosting international and European institutions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Urban scholars such as Peter Hall, Saskia Sassen and David Landes have noted that cities are particularly successful when they have an open mind and attitude to innovation, research and everything foreign. Western cities have proven historically to be rather successful in this. But as those scholars also said, long term success means having to create an international context of connections, institutions, universities, residents, culture and creativity. Again, a knowledge-based organization like NATO, with international tasks on communication, command and control, fits our city profile perfectly.
As time goes on the number of foreign organisations, especially those associated with peace and justice, seem to be growing. Just like pawns on the chessboard, they clearly like to work together. With such a density of military, judicial and political thinking and skill here present, I think it appropriate that a Military Chess Tournament, the essence of military and political thinking, be organised here.
When the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was installed in The Hague - a sad but logical consequence of the Peace Palace - the former UN secretary-general Boutros Boutros Ghali promoted the city to legal capital of the UN. In a way the title was well earned. Many governmental and non-governmental institutions on international law chose The Hague as their residence.
We host the Peace Palace of course, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Criminal Court. Crime institutions like Europol and Eurojust are doing their best to remove international criminals from the scene from their base in The Hague. International law research institutions, law firms and legal publishers are setting up here. Recently, Leiden University opened a local branch in The Hague. There is some truth thus in our calling The Hague city of Peace and Justice.
It is all naturally of great importance to the local economy. This international workforce forms, with children, partners and visiting friends, the so-called expat community - currently almost 30,000 souls. It is a fascinating group of people that will only grow with time.
The presence of these new international institutions and their staff is driving a fascinating city upgrade.
A city is not just a place of work; it is also a place for living. We are putting high priority to offering international staff a wide choice of high-quality housing, both in the centre and in the outlying districts. To ensure we continue to meet demand for this, and with a view to providing suitable secured accommodation for diplomats and international officials in particular, we are building a spacious and prestigious new development to the south of the city. Here, tranquillity and a luxurious setting will combine with good accessibility and essential amenities.
And of course international schooling. We have many - American, English, French, German and international. Even Japanese is nearby. It also means a high-quality cultural life, which is also near the top of the city's priority list.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,
We appreciate the presence of international organizations and institutions, and indeed the well educated people that come with them. The same applies to international events like yours. We are delighted the Military Chess Tournament is being in our city and hope that you will return, in due time.
I thank you for your patience and your attention and wish you a pleasant stay in our city and a good start of the tournament.
Finally, I am most interested in hearing your comments, suggestions and recommendations. They will be most gratefully received. Thank you very much.
ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE NETHERLANDS I AM HONOURED TO WELCOME YOU NATO CHESS PLAYERS HERE TODAY. I FEEL IT AS A PRIVALAGE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OPENING OF THIS REMARKABLE TOURNAMENT.
THIS MORNING YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN WELCOMED IN THE CITY HALL OF THE HAGUE. A SIGNAL THAT THE MAYOR IS VERY PLEASED THAT HIS CITY IS HOSTING THIS INTERNATIONAL MILITARY EVENT. NOW IT IS MY TURN TO WELCOME YOU TO ONE OF OUR MOST PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTES - THE NETHERLANDS DEFENCE COLLEGE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE DEFENCE COLLEGE PROVIDES THE HIGHER STAFF COURSES FOR OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS WITHIN ARMED FORCES OF THE NETHERLANDS. FURTHERMORE, THE DEFENCE COLLEGE PROVIDES SEVERAL COURSES FOR OUR FOREIGN ALLIES, ESPECIALLY THE NEWER NATO MEMBERS, TO CONTRIBUTE TO INTEGRATION WITHIN NATO. PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE COUNTRIES ARE ALSO WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE COURSES; SO, THE DEFENCE COLLEGE IS WORKING HARD TO BRING OFFICERS TOGETHER FROM NATO AND PFP COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OTHERS CUSTOMS AND VALUES; SO, IN THAT RESPECT THIS TOURNAMENT FITS PERFECTLY.
THIS LOCATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IDEAL FOR HOSTING A CHESS TOURNAMENT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CLOSE AT HAND. IT OFFERS A SPACIOUS PLAYING HALL, WITH AN ANALYSING ROOM NEARBY. EVEN SMOKERS ARE NOT FORGOTTEN, FOR THEY CAN USE THE SPECIALLY DIVIDED PART OF THE PLAYING HALL. THERE ARE RESTAURANT AND LODGING FACILITIES AVAILABLE AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THIS BARRACKS IS ALSO THE LOCATION OF OUR CISM ORGANIZATION IN DUTCH, CALLED BIMS, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION (OF THE TOURNAMENT).
THE NETHERLANDS IS LUCKY TO HAVE THE OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF BIMS, BECAUSE CHESS IS NOT SEEN AS A SPORT IN EVERY COUNTRY. IT IS AN OLD DISCUSSION WHICH IS EVEN GOING ON WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE. IT WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IF THE IOC ACCEPTED CHESS AS A GAME TO BE PLAYED AT THE OLYMPICS. THAT WOULD PUT AN END TO THE DISCUSSION, AND IF CHESS WAS ACCEPTED AS A SPORT WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMMUNITY THEN IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT CHESS COULD BE ACCEPTED AS A SPORT WITHIN CISM. AS A CONSEQUENCE, COUNTRIES MAY FIND THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL MEANS TO ORGANISE FUTURE NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SEND TEAMS OF PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MILITARY CHESS TOURNAMENTS.
THE LATE DR. MANFRED WÖRNER, THEN SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO, OPENED THE FIRST NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HAMMELBURG, GERMANY IN 1989 AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE^ DEVELOPMENTS. IN THOSE EARLY DAYS HE WAS ALREADY EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SPORTING-ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE NATO MEMBER STATES. I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE NETHERLANDS HAS TAKEN ITS SHARE IN ENSURING THE CONTINUITY OF THIS EVENT. OUR COUNTRY PROPOSED THE FOUNDING OF AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CHESS COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE THE GAME OF CHESS WITHIN THE MILITARY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS WOULD CONTINUE OVER THE YEARS. THAT ASPIRATION WAS REALISED IN 1993, AND BRIGADIER STEFFERS WAS CHOSEN AS CHAIRMAN. THAT SAME YEAR THE NETHERLANDS ORGANISED A TOURNAMENT AT THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY IN BREDA AND IN 1994 WE HOSTED THE 5TH NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE OFFICERS SCHOOL, AGAIN IN BREDA.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE IN THE HAGUE IS A NATURAL FOLLOW-ON TO OUR PREVIOUS APPROACH. WITH THE CONTINUING SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS I AM SURE THAT THE NATO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS MAY LOOK FORWARD •INTO BRIGHT FUTURE.
HOWEVER, CHESS IS NOT THE ONLY IMPORTANT MATTER THIS WEEK AND I WOULD HEARTILY RECOMMEND A VISIT TO THE CITIES OF DELFT AND THE HAGUE. BOTH CITIES HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT PITY IF YOU COULD NOT SEE AND ENJOY SOME OF THEM. BUT THE MAIN PO^C^S OF THIS WEEK IS OFCOURSE THE CHESS TOURNAMENT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I AM NOT A CHESSPLAYER MYSELF, I REALISE THAT PLAYING CHESS IN COMPETITION WILL AUGMENT OUR INTELLECTUAL BASIS FOR TACTICAL AND EVEN STRATEGIC THINKING AND MANOUVERING. IN THAT RESPECT CHESSPLAYING FITS WELL WITH THE MILITARY PROFESSION.
WITH THIS FINAL REMARK I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE MY SPEECH IN THIS OPENING CEREMONY. MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!
Ladies, Generals and Gentlemen,
CHESS, what is it? Science, art or sports? Many have tried to answer this very question. Fact is, that chess itself offers so many possibilities and raises so many questions that it has kept on fascinating all the connoisseurs of this noble play throughout time.
Since the seventies of the 20th age the evolution of chess has been dramatic. Grandmasters and less talented have accurately studied the strategic and operational aspects.This has strongly contributed to the quality of individual matches.
Additionally, the introduction of time limits and restraints has further improved the appeal of chess with audiences. What has remained, without any doubt, is that any quality chess player must continue to be an accurate judge of his current position on the chessboard and subsequently make a clear plan.
In fact this compares to business situations that require appropriate judgements and corresponding planning as crucial elements of the decision making process. For succesful performance the players, read chess stakeholders, must also be in perfect shape and condition.
The Dutch ex-world champion, Dr Max Euwe, proved so during his most succesful chess periods, when he combined chess with a sports career as an amateur boxer of merit as well.
From this we may derive that chess is very valuable, both in terms of psychological and physical aspects. Therefore I am very pleased that within NATO the international chess tournament has become a recurring and fixed event on the annual agenda. Some ten years ago The Netherlands also hosted this event.As some of you may remember the then venue was Breda. Now we, The IDL,The Netherlands Defence College or exactly translated The Institute of Defence Learning programmes are honoured to host this event.
The IDL Commander, commodore Schrijvers and his staff deserve our gratefulness for their input and cooperation . So does the staff of The BIMS (BIMS is the office who organizes the international sports).
"Con Amore" all staff, together with the Dutch Military Chess Committee under the guidance of Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Engelen have done their utmost to make this chess event a real festivity.
Until recently, The Defence College belonged to the city of the Hague. All the more reason for us to express our gratitude and appreciation to the council of the Hague, who have seen to a hearty welcome for players and officials. Mr.Dijkstra ,in particular, I would like to thank for his mediation.
Officials and players,the NATO chess tournament is characterized by its sportmanslike features. Besides the fine and exciting matches the strengthening and expansion of friendly ties are additional values and assets. In this context we especially welcome the Slovakian officials and players . Also a special welcome for the midshipman or should I say midshipwoman Miss van Run. She is the first official female player with an ELO Rating above the average of this tournament. As you perhaps remember the average is 2050.
Generaal van Baal my thanks for you friendly words, Commodore van Dillen thanks for being here and for your support in the past.
I wish you all, chess participants and officials, a fantastic tournament and a pleasant stay in the Netherlands. I am convinced the the organizing Dutch Chess Committee will do its utmost to this effect.
With great pleasure I declare this 15th NATO Chess Tournament opened.