Hoogeveen here we come!

Today the yearly spectacle in Hoogeveen begins. The crown group of the Essent Tournament is the strongest ever, with the world’s number 1 (the ex-world champion Topalov), the number 12 (the 21 year old Mamedyarov), the number 16 (Judit Polgar) and the number 39 (our own Ivan Sokolov). Besides, there’s an amateur tournament and a very strong open tournament, with e.g. the number 56, Mikhail Gurevich, and the number 83, Ivan Cheparinov (Topalov’s second) and two crew members of this site: doggy and forest. A third reporter (we will also publish lots of great articles here of course) joins us: oak. Furthermore, again we will publish videos and live photos, directly from the tournament hall, onto this site in the most right column! So I would say: stay tuned, don’t go away! (Leave that for your television.)