Anish Giri and Eline Roebers are the new Dutch chess champions. The 29-old GM earned his fifth national title and the first since 2015, while 17-year-old Eline won her first Dutch crown.

The 2023 Dutch Championship (open), a 13-player knockout tournament and took place in Utrecht from July 2-9, just about half a year after the previous edition.

Each match consisted of two classical games, with 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to the end of the game, with a 30-second increment from move 1. In the case of 1-1 in the classical game, blitz tiebreaks were played. 

The event attracted all the best local players, including the Dutch # 1 Anish Giri, who had skipped several championships before, Jorden van Foreest and the defending champion Erwin l'Ami (all three got a bye through to Round 2).

The two top seeds, Anish Giri and Jorden van Foreest confirmed their status as pre-event favourites and made it all the way to the final. Anish eliminated Benjamin Bok in the quarterfinals and then, in the semis, beat Max Warmerdam in the blitz tiebreaker. Jorden van Foreest knocked out Sipke Ernst and then played a nail-biter semifinal against Erwin l'Ami. The opponents exchanged blows in the classical games and the first two blitz games, with Jorden's eventually prevailing in the fifth and drawing the sixth.

The final was a very close battle - the first four games (two classical and two rapid) were drawn, although, in game 4, Giri had a won position at some point. Anish struck in game five after outplaying his opponent with the black pieces again, but this time he was precise to the very end.

Jorden van Foreest – Anish Giri

28…Rxf3! 29. Qxf3 Rxf3 30. Kxf3 Ne5+ and Black's queen and powerful central pawns proved superior to White's two rooks | 0-1, 52 moves

Jorden did his best to create complications in game 6 with the black pieces, but Anish had everything under control all the way and secured a draw and the title from the position of strength.

In addition to the title, Anish Giri picked 13 FIDE Circuit points and leapfrogged Gukesh D to grab the lead in the race for a spot in the Candidates.

FIDE Circuit points awarded in 2023 Dutch Championship:

The women's event, a double four-player round robin was dominated by the highest-rated lady in the Netherlands, Eline Roebers (2363). Eline won all her mini-matches against the competition and finished two points ahead of Anna-Maja Kazarian. Robin Duson took bronze.

Final standings women:

Photos: Harry Gielen

Official website: schaakbond.nl/