The popular Leiden born Grandmaster is this year’s ‘veteran counterweight’ to the many youngsters in the C group. In a recent opening ceremony presentation in Wijk aan Zee, John spoke of his many appearances in Corus editions (26 or 27 I believe), and the fact that over the years he spent a total of a year of his life in the village! He is a very sharp, attacking player who rarely shies away from bloody, tactical battles. In the 1980’s he was an extremely active Grandmaster, who met many of the who’s who over the board. Van der Wiel got his title in 1982 – well before many of his c group competitors were even born!

He is a two-time champion of the Netherlands, former European junior champion, a past winner of the B group and scores of open and closed events. Despite his swashbuckling style, for years john was considered the antidote to computers, having won several matches against them, till losing one to Rebel. Nowadays, having settled down some, John limits himself to playing in his homeland, taking part in several opens, the Dutch league and the Dutch championship where he finished in the middle of the crosstable with 50%.