#55. Jorden Van Foreest Previews Tata Steel!

This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest.

On the eve of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Jorden talks to Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam about his preparation for ‘the Wimbledon of chess’ and his adventures in earlier editions of this world-class event. Most notably, the 2021 edition that Jorden sensationally won ahead of a daunting field that included Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri.

As they look ahead to the 87th(!) edition of ‘Wijk aan Zee’, Jorden also gives his take on two news stories that got worldwide attention during the World Rapid & Blitz Championship in New York that he recently played in: ‘Jeansgate’, the scandal that erupted when Magnus Carlsen was fined for wearing jeans, and the controversial end of the Blitz championship, when Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi decided to share the title and the world chess federation FIDE went along in this breaking of the rules.

Jorden was born into a family with a rich chess tradition. At the end of the 19th century, his great-great-grandfather Arnold van Foreest was Dutch champion, and so was the brother of his great-great grandfather, Dirk van Foreest.

Interestingly, Jorden’s younger brother Lucas has been Dutch champion as well. And yes, Jorden himself has also been Dutch champion as he won the title when he was only 17 years old, one year after he had become a grandmaster.

Jorden, who is 25 now, has been U-10 Open Dutch Youth Champion in 2010, U-14 European Youth Champion in 2013, and only a month ago he won the European Blitz Championship in Skopje.

As said, Jorden’s biggest triumph so far was his win in the 2021 Tata Steel Chess Tournament, where he defeated Anish Giri in a hectic blitz tiebreak.

Jorden is not only a former winner of this epic tournament, it’s also one of his favourite tournaments. He truly knows the village of Wijk aan Zee inside out, as he has been playing there from a very early age.

If you are looking forward to the Tata Steel Chess Tournament as much as we are, you should not miss this highly entertaining conversation with Jorden van Foreest. If you are slowly but surely getting into the mood for two weeks of great chess, you will definitely enjoy this episode of the New In Chess podcast!

0:00 – Intro

2:50 – What is Jorden’s state of mind with Tata Steel right around the corner?

7:37 – When Jorden won the tournament in 2021, how did he prepare?

10:21 – Cold showers

13:15 – Jorden being one of the older players in his group at 25

14:05 – How Jorden’s life and career changed after his 2021 win

15:18 – Working for Magnus in the runup to his World Championship match with Nepo

21:46 – How does Jorden prepare for his thirteen opponents in Wijk aan Zee?

24:27 – Does Jorden follow the same “modern” approach to opening preparation?

26:44 – Does Jorden get affected by his opponents’ presence?

29:13 – AD BREAK

29:45 – Does Jorden prepare differently in such an exceptionally strong field?

33:10 – Why did Jorden participate in the rapid and blitz World Championship in New York?

36:00 – Jorden’s history of good performances in Wijk aan Zee

38:29 – Jorden tells a funny Daniil Dubov story

39:48 – “Jeansgate” and how other top players responded to it

47:18 – How does Jorden feel about the prize-sharing situation between Magnus and Nepo?

49:55 – How does Jorden plan to work with his brother Lucas in Wijk aan Zee?

52:48 – AD BREAK

53:50 – The special atmosphere in Wijk aan Zee during Tata Steel

57:50 – How is Jorden preparing for the upcoming qualification cycle for the Candidates’ Tournament?

1:00:23 – Jorden’s view on freestyle chess

1:03:45 – Are there any opponents in Wijk aan Zee that Jorden is especially excited to play against?

1:08:13 – Outro