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Can you tell us about your chess career?
My father (Justus) played chess at home. After watching him play chess with his friend I was instantly hooked on the game. At the age of 5 my father taught me the rules of chess after which I was addicted to this noble game. I played every day with a good friend and my father.
Since I wanted to play every day my father bought me a Chess computer for my 7th birthday. Now I really could play all day without imposing on my father's time. The only thing that my parents could hear was the sounds on the Chess computer coming from my room.
The sounds, in the end, got quite annoying for my parents and as a solid remedy my father send me to the local chess club. This is where my career as a chess player really took off. My best results are becoming 3rd on the Ech -16 2000 Kallithea and 2nd in 2001 under 18 in Kallithea, winning of the just new world champion Kasimdhzanov in 2004 in Vlissingen. And winning the Essent Open in 2006. In 2006 I also became GM in Wijk Aan Zee.
How is the chess life in your country?
In general in Holland is a good chess country. There are many strong GM's for such a small flat country. The youth chess education is OK.
What is chess for you?
Chess is art, sport and science for me. It's a love which will never end I guess. Unless chess has brought me much happiness, being fully chess professional is too one-sided for me and that makes me lazy and unhappy.
Do you intend to have another profession?
Law I'm studying and I'll become probably a lawyer.
How do you see your chess future?
Sunny. I like playing chess and I play interesting games most of the times. And still improving, so what can I ask more for?
What do you think about computers, will they make chess suffer?
Yes, I dislike the computers very much. They kill the game and the creativity and talent of the players.
Are you satisfied with your tournament so far?
Yes and no. Till round 5 I went perfectly, but in 6 and 7 I lost so stupidly and unprofessionally.
Did you have time to see Plovdiv?
A kind taxi driver showed me on the rest day many nice spots. The old town, the rowing-lake and sports arc, and the gipsy neighborhood. Furthermore all Bulgarian people are very kind and the ladies are pretty.
Will you predict a winner here?
Sergey Movsesian.
Thanks a lot, I wish you no more bad games here.
Interview by IM Dejan Bojkov