The small Dutch town of Waddinxveen hosted an international four-man double round robin chess tournament in June of 1979. Among the participants were (in order of ELO) world champion Anatoli Karpov (2705), Czech grandmaster Vlastimil Hort (2600), US grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek (2595), and Dutch grandmaster Gennady Sosonko (2535). The average of the combined ratings of the four players qualified the tournament as a category XV event. According to Hans Ree, the tournament was significant in that both Karpov and Hort were countrymen of Sosonko and Kavalek respectively. Kavalek had emigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1969, and Sosonko had been born in Leningrad. There was a time when such a tournament wouldn't take place, but Ree referred to this event as "a tournament of reconciliation." In attendance at the opening ceremony were Dutch prime minister Dries van Agt and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, father of the future Queen Beatrix. The Soviet Ambassador to the Netherlands even wished Sosonko luck, saying ""Do your best, Leningrader!" according to Ree. Alas, it was not to be, in spite of the spirit reconciliation, for Karpov dominated the event in what had become a customary performance. Kavalek managed to place clear second with a win over Sosonko, but the Soviet born, Dutch grandmaster finished in last place, having forfeited two whole points to the winner by the final. The final standings and crosstable are as follows:

1 Karpov 5/6 ** 1½ ½1 11

2 Kavalek 3/6 0½ ** ½½ ½1

3 Hort 2.5/6 ½0 ½½ ** ½½

4 Sosonko 1.5/6 00 ½0 ½½ **