WellingGerard Welling was born on the 3rd of April 1959 in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Graduated as a historian at Utrecht University he has spent his professional life as a business analyst on banking-reporting. Practicing chess as a major hobby he completd the requirement for the International Master title in 1992. Gerard has been a regular participant in Dutch, Belgian and German leagues but his focus of activity has been mainly on international opens during holidays. Chess career peaks have been first places (some shared) in a couple of opens, such as the Biel Major open 1979, Amstelveen open 1983, Noteboom open Leiden 1984, Lyngby open 1989, Dresden open 2001 etc. and a few dozen IM-norms. In his junior days he has been Dutch U-20 blitz champion in 1978 but has given up speed chess a long time ago. Read More Read Less