First Open Dutch Championship GIPF
(heat 4/4 of the GRC 2001)

Organization: EGO
Place: Spellenspektakel, Beursgebouw Eindhoven, NL
Date: Sunday, November 4, 2001
Format: Swiss system, 5 rounds, 30 min. player/game
Participants: 20


Finally: "Le Maître" strikes...

Patrick "Maître" Van de Perre (B) worked himself slowly upwards. With careful and consistent play he settled himself in the top 10 of the rankings (currently in 7th place), but without *brio* because he remained the highest ranked player who hadn't won a ranking tournament yet. He was collecting second and third places and always came just a bit short for a victory.
In Eindhoven he put things straight: 5 wins in a row during the Open Dutch Championship. Maybe he was a little too stressed during the previous confrontations, but this time - i.e. the first time that the games were played with 30 minutes per player - he found a way to deal with his nerves. He won his last match against Ad Rovers (NL) in a true final. Ad was the second player who was unbeaten after 4 rounds, which illustrates well that the *Dutchers*, in particular the EGO-members, are catching up with the Belgians. In the final standings he shared the second place with Werner Dupont and Kurt Vandenbranden.
Also a special compliment for Felix Vermeulen's (B) great result. He was the only junior (11 years) amongst the seniors, but that couldn't stop him from winning 3 games.

Note: now that Patrick has won his first trophy, Jix Demerco is the highest ranked player without a win... Jix, do you copy?