by Marc Ghannoum
editiorial note: this article was written in August. Unfortunately someone placed it really late (you all know who). But perhaps on the verge of a new wonderful season it is perfectly timed now
History has a funny way of rewriting itself. As time passes, the significance of special moments only seems to grow. I remember attending a Canada–Soviet Union World Cup hockey game in 1987—the two undisputed superpowers of the era. The arena was half empty, and the press barely covered the event. Yet nearly forty years later, every Canadian seems to remember that night. In our collective memory, the occasion has grown larger than life, perhaps even smoothing over a few inconvenient facts, so that its magic shines with the brilliance it always deserved.
For VAS, this season has been no less than a fairy tale.
The crowning achievement was, of course, winning the 1st Class division and earning promotion to the elite division of Dutch chess for the first time in decades. We pipped Caissa Eenhoorn at the post after a relentless title race. Without Tex’s heroic effort against Henk-Jan Visser, today’s story might have had a very different ending. And who could forget our dramatic 5.5–4.5 victory over Magnus? I couldn’t be there, but Victor made sure I experienced every twist and turn from afar, sending angina-inducing updates while seemingly taking great pleasure in tormenting his captain. Then came the perfect finale: a nerve-racking last-round victory over our archrivals Caissa, on home soil, surrounded by our members and friends. It was the ideal ending to a remarkable season. A fantastic dinner followed, accompanied by dance moves that are probably best left undocumented—but certainly not forgotten. Wamerdam, L’Ami, and Carlsen: consider yourselves warned. We’re coming for you.
The KNSB Beker proved just as exhilarating. We knocked out several strong teams—including Bloemendaal, Haarlem, and, once again, our year-long rivals, Caissa Eenhoorn—to reach the national finals, also hosted at home. With just a little more luck, we might well have crowned that campaign with another memorable triumph.
Nor should we overlook our near miss at the Dutch Blitz Championship, where Pascal carved his way through a field full of grandmasters with astonishing ease. (Niels, meanwhile, mounted an equally impressive assault on the buffet)
Benno has already chronicled our SGA campaign in his annual report, so I won’t repeat the details here. Suffice it to say that we came within touching distance of yet more silverware, narrowly missing first place in both the league and the Beker.
Finally, no review of this extraordinary season would be complete without acknowledging the volunteers who make VAS what it is. The list is far too long to reproduce here, but you know who you are. Thank you. I don’t know of another club whose volunteers would skip their own home celebration to attend the decisive match of a rival team, simply to keep the rest of us updated in real time. That says everything about this club.
Let’s not wait forty years before appreciating what we’ve accomplished together. This has been a season to remember. Onwards to 2026–2027, sure, but let’s keep the smiles of those moments vibrant while we play 1.e4.