This week’s episode of the New In Chess podcast features an inverview with Dutch grandmaster Loek van Wely.A friend of the podcast, for this edition Loek invited Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam to his home in the south of the Netherlands. Loek is currently in preparations for the Dutch Chess Champiopnship, which starts on Saturday, July 4, in Aalsmeer (for more information check out the website of the Dutch Chess Federation).Over the years, Loek has won the Dutch Chess Championship 8 times. His first win, in 2000, was the beginning of a unique series of six consecutive victories. Now, 26 years after that first title, he is going to try to win it a 9th time. If he succeeds, that would mean that in the list of all-time greats, he’d catch up with 9-time winner Jan Timman, while moving a little closer to the father of Dutch chess, Max Euwe, who won the title twelve times in a time span of 34 years.Besides the Dutch Championship, Loek also wanted to talk about Jan Timman, a dear colleague of his and an inspiration for many years, who passed away earlier this year, on February 18, at the age of 74. Jan meant a lot to Loek and he wanted to pay homage to a great player whose books he devoured as a kid and with whom he fought many fierce battles after he had become a grandmaster himself. Loek also reflects on his ambitions as a chess pro, speaks about the stellar career and lasting legacy of Jan Timman, and explains why he has political ambitions in the upcoming presidential elections of the European Chess Union. 2:23 – The Global Chess League10:30 – Loeks “worldwide” chess activities in the past month14:05 – Loek’s preparations for the upcoming Dutch national championship22:57 – The late Jan Timman’s role in Loek’s chess life25:08 – Loek’s first games against Timman in the 90’s32:00 – People’s tendency to overlook Timman’s greatness33:36 – AD BREAK34:28 – Timman’s never-ending passion for chess37:48 – Loek’s favourite Timman memories39:16 – Loek’s brutal 1998 match against Timman45:28 – Chess politics and Wadim Rosenstein’s bid for FIDE president 55:40 – AD BREAK56:14 – Loek’s view for the future of the chess world1:03:03 – Loek’s love of winning

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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