Stockholms Schacksällskap, one of the world’s oldest chess clubs, celebrates its 150 years jubilee with a grand tournament at the venerable Scandic Hotel Hasselbacken**** in the heart of The Royal Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden.The Hasselbacken Chess Open 2016 will be held from April 30 through May 8, 2016 and prize fund in total of 300 000 SEK (nearly 32,000 €) will be distributed.
“My rating is increasing rapidly, but so far, I have had bad luck with collecting GM-norms. But before the end of the year, I hope to be Grand Master”, says Jorden van Foreest.
Is this your first visit to Sweden and Stockholm?
“I have never travelled to Sweden in the past and I look forward visit your country”!
You are coming to Sweden together with your little brother. What are your plans to do in Stockholm in addition to playing in Hasselbacken Chess Open?
“Our main goal is, of course, the tournament. But between rounds, we will for sure visit the city and environment”.
You are still IM, but has a really high rating. Have you taken any of the three norms to become Grand Master?
“My rating is increasing rapidly, that is true. But taking the norms somehow seem to be more difficult! As of now I only have one norm, but I also have been a little unlucky as of late. In May I played the Aeroflot tournament, and there I obtained my first norm. As one player didn’t show up, this will only count as an 8 round norm however. In July I played the Open Dutch championship and another Dutch tournament (Vlissingen). In both tournaments I obtained a TPR above 2600 but I didn’t met the other norm requirements (in the Dutch Open for instance I did not have enough foreign players). I hope to have three norms by the end of this year”.
What is your best advice to young players who want to reach the world top?
“My biggest advise is to just enjoy the game as much as you can. That’s most important. Everything that you do connect with chess will help you improve, try to do that as much as possible”.
Looking into the future. what is your main goal as a chess player?
“On short term I want to become GM soon. After that I will try to get to 2700 – but that’s still far away!”
