Ignace Marie Joseph Thérès Vandecasteele  (Belgium,* 26.10.1926 - † 31.5.2018).

Important chess composer of endgame studies

Ignace Marie Joseph Thérès Corneille Vandecasteele was one of the most successful Flemish study composers in chess.

Life

Vandecasteele came from a large family. He qualified as an interior designer in Antwerp and, after three years of self-employment, began a career as a concept manager for the decoration of supermarkets, restaurants and hotels in Belgium's largest distribution company.

Chess study composing

The book Schaakstukken spelen U voor familiarised him with the aesthetic aspects of the art of the endgame. His strengths were studies with few pieces, domination, systematic movement and mate. 

About his style. An overview

As with Roger Missiaen and Julien Vandiest, the main theme in most of his difficult endgame studies is domination.

He often used light figures to construct his studies.

Chess-analytical achievement
Ignace Vandecasteele's great chess achievement is also demonstrated by the fact that this composer often created very demanding studies, for the most part without computer assistance. He shares this special chess-analytical achievement with other Belgian composers such as Roger Missiaen and Julien Vandiest. This is why they were already known as "the 3 Musketiere" during their lifetimes.

Works
Ignace Vandecasteele: 64 Studies on 64 squares, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Alexander Rueb Association for Chess Endgame Study, 1995, ISBN 90-9007687-5.
Ignace Vandecasteele: Flemish Miniatures, Chess endgame Studies, Wilrijk-Antwerp, Alexander Rueb Vereniging voor Schaakeindspelstudie, 1997, ISBN 90-9011612-5.
Ignace Vandecasteele: ChessStudySpins concocted and spun by Ignace Vandecasteele. Tongeren, 2008, ISBN 978-90-9022776-4.

Others: On the Dutch Website ARVES.org 13 chess studies by him are shown.

              On the Website pdb.dieschwalbe.de  3 endgame studies and 1 chess problem can be found.

              On Website "yet another chess problem" .yacpdb.org 39 endgame studies composed by him are shown.

Source: arves.org (editor Peter Boll)