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Jan Timman, Dutch Chess Grandmaster Hailed as 'Best of the West,' Dies at 74

The celebrated contender leaves a legacy of elite results, seminal books, plus stewardship of New in Chess.

Overview

  • Dutch Chess Federation announced Timman’s death at 74, with FIDE praising his stature in world chess and his cultural influence.
  • He peaked at world No. 2 in January 1982 and won nine Dutch national titles during a dominant run across the 1970s–1990s.
  • Timman contested the 1993 FIDE World Championship match against Anatoly Karpov, losing 12.5–8.5 after the Kasparov–Short split from FIDE.
  • He was a prolific author, longtime New in Chess editor, and noted endgame study composer, later earning induction into the World Chess Hall of Fame in October 2025.
  • His final Dutch Championship games came in July 2024, and he formally retired from over-the-board play in May 2025.