Joop van Oosterom
Joop van Oosterom | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 12, 1937 Hilversum, Netherlands |
| Died | October 22, 2016 (aged 78) Monaco |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, chess patron, correspondence chess player |
| Known for | Patronage of chess and billiards; two-time World Correspondence Chess Champion |
Joop van Oosterom (born 12 December 1937 – passed away 22 October 2016) was a Dutch billionaire known for his patronage of chess and billiards, as well as a two-time victor of the World Correspondence Chess Championship. He built his wealth through the Volmac Software Group, with his net worth estimated at around €1.1 billion at the time of his passing.
Between 1992 and 2011, he was the driving force behind the annual Melody Amber chess competition held in Monaco, which drew elite Grandmasters to compete in rapid and blindfold formats. The tournament was named in honor of his daughter Melody Amber. Another daughter served as the inspiration for the Crystal Kelly Cup, an exclusive three-cushion carom billiards event primarily hosted in Monte Carlo and Nice from 1994 until 2011. Additionally, he supported the Women–Veterans chess contests during the period from 1992 to 2001.
Following a serious brain hemorrhage in 1993, van Oosterom managed to complete the correspondence chess world championship cycle, ultimately becoming the 18th World Champion in Correspondence Chess in 2005. His triumph sparked debate because he employed top grandmaster Jeroen Piket as a personal assistant, alongside two Dutch International Masters who contributed to analyzing his games. Chess writer Tim Krabbé highlighted that van Oosterom’s achievements were significantly aided by these collaborators. He also secured victory in the 21st World Championship Final in Correspondence Chess held in 2008.
Van Oosterom passed away in Monaco in October 2016; however, his death was not publicly disclosed until February 2017, with no official cause revealed.