Dutch Championship 1981
Jan Timman's tournament began with defeats by Rini Kuijf and Paul van der Sterren, yet it ended with another national title. Seven victories and four draws around those setbacks lifted him to 9/13, half a point ahead of Jan Hein Donner.
A poor start, a strong recovery
Two defeats made Timman's route unusually difficult, but no one won more games. His seven victories gave him the same 9-point total as in 1980 and allowed him to retain the title despite the pair of losses.
Leeuwarden's last edition
The championship had made the Frisian capital its regular home from 1969 onward; 1981 was the last edition played there. Donner finished second on 8½ and Hans Ree third on 8, completing a familiar Dutch podium for the venue's farewell.
Final standings
| # | Player | Score | Record | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timman, Jan H | 9/13 | +7 -2 =4 | games |
| 2 | Donner, Jan Hein | 8½/13 | +5 -1 =7 | games |
| 3 | Ree, Hans | 8/13 | +5 -2 =6 | games |
| =4 | Ligterink, Gert | 7½/13 | +4 -2 =7 | games |
| =4 | Langeweg, Kick | 7½/13 | +3 -1 =9 | games |
| =4 | Van der Wiel, John | 7½/13 | +3 -1 =9 | games |
| =7 | Boersma, Paul | 6½/13 | +5 -5 =3 | games |
| =7 | Van der Sterren, Paul | 6½/13 | +5 -5 =3 | games |
| =9 | Kuijf, Marinus | 6/13 | +2 -3 =8 | games |
| =9 | Stehouwer, Coen | 6/13 | +1 -2 =10 | games |
| 11 | Hartoch, Robert G | 5/13 | +1 -4 =8 | games |
| =12 | Van der Vliet, Fredrik | 4½/13 | +2 -6 =5 | games |
| =12 | Bohm, Hans | 4½/13 | +1 -5 =7 | games |
| 14 | Grooten, Herman | 4/13 | +3 -8 =2 | games |
Cross Table
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timman, Jan H | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | |
| 2 | Donner, Jan Hein | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 3 | Ree, Hans | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Ligterink, Gert | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | Langeweg, Kick | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | |
| 6 | Van der Wiel, John | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | Boersma, Paul | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | |
| 8 | Van der Sterren, Paul | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 9 | Kuijf, Marinus | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 10 | Stehouwer, Coen | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | |
| 11 | Hartoch, Robert G | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | |
| 12 | Van der Vliet, Fredrik | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | |
| 13 | Bohm, Hans | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | |
| 14 | Grooten, Herman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Each cell shows the row player's recorded results against the column player. ● = same player.