The ninth round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament was set in motion by Ruben Houkes, a former Dutch judoka. He won gold in the men's under 60-kilo class at the 2007 World Judo Championships and the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, also in the men's under 60-kg class. After watching the first moves on stage he explained what makes the event in Wijk aan Zeen special for him.