Odisha, Bhubaneshwar- While the Polgar sisters remain an iconic example of chess prowess within a family, the Dutch Van Foreest family is emerging as a unique case study in multi-generational chess success. With champions spanning three centuries, their story is remarkable, especially given the current generation’s surprising unawareness of their esteemed predecessors when they first took up the sport.
Ancient Roots and a Modern Resurgence
The Van Foreest family’s chess lineage traces back over a century before the current generation. Jorden van Foreest’s great-great-grandfather, Arnold van Foreest, was a three-time Dutch chess champion (1889, 1893, and 1902). His great-great-granduncle, Dirk van Foreest, also claimed the Dutch title three times (1885, 1886, and 1887).
After a significant hiatus, the family’s return to top-level chess began with Jorden van Foreest. He won his first Dutch title in 2016, marking the family’s achievement of having a national champion in three different centuries. His younger brother, Grandmaster Lucas van Foreest, followed suit, becoming the Dutch champion in 2019. Most recently, their sister, Woman International Master Machteld van Foreest, is the reigning Dutch women’s chess champion. Earlier this year, Jorden and the 17-year-old Machteld achieved a rare brother-sister double by simultaneously winning their respective national championships.
Jorden’s most significant individual achievement came in 2021 when he won the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament, becoming the first Dutch player in 26 years to claim the title. Currently, Jorden is playing in the Chennai Grand Masters 2025.
Sibling Dynamics and Inspirational Mentors
Despite their close family ties and shared passion for chess, the Van Foreest siblings rarely play against each other competitively. Jorden notes, “We didn’t really want to compete with each other that much… I sometimes help my sister when she needs something, but we don’t play against each other that much.” Faced with the unique challenge of managing multiple chess talents, the family reportedly drew inspiration from Laszlo Polgar, the father and coach of the famed Polgar sisters.
Beyond the Board: An Aristocratic Heritage
The Van Foreest legacy extends beyond the chess board. They are an aristocratic family with deep historical ties to Dutch nobility. Notably, Pieter van Foreest from the 16th century is renowned as the “Hippocrates of the Netherlands,” a testament to their broader impact on Dutch society.
With Jorden, Lucas, and Machteld still young and accumulating titles, the current generation of Van Foreests is just two national titles away from matching the combined tally of their great-great-grandfather and granduncle. With age on their side, they are poised to surpass this milestone and further cement their place as one of the most distinguished chess families in history, akin to the legendary Polgars and the formidable Indian duo of R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali, who made history in 2024 as the first brother-sister pair to play in the Candidates Tournament.
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