Before you is the tournament book of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021. Theevent that has been won in sensational fashion by the young Dutch grandmasterJorden van Foreest. In a tiebreak in the third blitz game, he was just a bit faster ofhis compatriot Anish Giri. The barrage was necessary because both players verysurprisingly ended with the wonderful score of 8½ out of 13 in joint first place. Withthis they had left behind, among others, World Champion Magnus Carlsen (7½) andthe number two in the world, Fabiano Caruana (8). An unprecedented achievement, because the tournament in Wijk aan Zee is sometimes called the "Wimbledon of chess" of the elite tournaments. After the last round, in which Van Foreest in a formidable way had left the Swede Nils Grandelius chanceless, it was waitingfor the game between the Spaniard David Antón Guijarra and Anish Giri. Ourcompatriot was in a bad position, lost perhaps, but he managed to free himself fromthe tangled position and gain an important half point. It was decided beforehandthat a tiebreak would be held, consisting of at least two blitz games. Should theseresult in a 1-1 score, an Armageddon game would be played. This turned out to bea nervous and blood-curdling fight, with the pieces flying around. In the end theyounger OF the two, Jorden van Foreest, emerged victorious and thus the youngGroninger booked the greatest success of his still young career. Apart from thecommotion in the Dutch seaside resort of Wijk aan Zee, where the tournament washeld – under strict corona rules – the whole of the Netherlands rose to its feet whenthis great result became known. Hadn't we had to wait since 1985, when JanTimman won the Hoogovens chess tournament, for a Dutch chess player to standon the highest podium? And now it was even two players from this country whocould dispute together who would take the highest honor
