Cloister tournaments

TER APEL 1966-97

pgn-file of Ter Apel zip-file of CBase-files of Ter Apel

The first event was played from 28 ii until 5 iii 1966 at the occasion of 500 years cloister in Ter Apel. This village lies in the Northern Netherlands near Germany. Fourteen members of S.C. Ter Apel celebrated their club’s 50 years jubilee by organizing the second international tournament of six players from 16 until 21 ii 1987. The third chess event lasted from 10 until 17 ii 1990. Subject was the uniting of Europe. Chess players from Eastern and Western Europe were invited. Thereafter it became an annual event.

Each opening of the tournament was a happening. The start was spectacular in 1995. Grandmasters and local actors were transported in a carriage towards the mediaeval cloister. Soldiers from Sloten occupied the building. Groningers opened roaring cannon fire on the Frisians. Camp followers carried wounded men from the battlefield. When the battle was over, six men from Sloten were executed by bowmen in Hotel Boschhuis. That was the drawing of lots.

Economic conditions had become poor in Ter Apel. Even Heribert Hake was unable to organize another grandmaster event after 1997.