jan timman is gone: the dutch grandmaster who challenged soviet chess dominance
Amsterdam, donderdag, 19 februari 2026.
jan timman, the iconic dutch grandmaster known as ‘the best of the west’, has died at 74. he stood alone among western players in the 1980s, reaching number two in the world rankings behind only anatoly karpov. during a time of soviet domination, timman broke through with skill and precision. he won nine national championships and claimed victory twice at the prestigious hoogerheide tournament. his peak came in 1993 when he fought karpov for the world championship. though he lost, no other dutch player since max euwe came closer. timman remained deeply involved in chess, writing influential books and analyzing endgames well into his later years.
the rise of a dutch chess icon
Jan Timman, born in Delft, learned chess at the age of eight [1]. He became an international grandmaster at 23, which was considered relatively late compared to his peers [2]. Despite this, he quickly rose through the ranks to dominate Dutch chess for decades. Between 1974 and 1996, he won the Dutch Championship nine times [1][3]. His early success laid the foundation for a career that would see him compete at the highest levels of international chess [4].
peak performance in a soviet-dominated era
In 1982, Timman reached second place on the FIDE world ranking, trailing only Anatoly Karpov [1][2][4]. At a time when Soviet grandmasters dominated elite chess, Timman earned the nickname ‘The best of the West’ [1][3][5]. He regularly competed against legends such as Karpov, Boris Spasski, and Garry Kasparov [1][4]. His consistent results in major tournaments established him as a fixture in the global top tier during the 1980s and early 1990s [2][6].
world championship contention and historic near-miss
Timman’s closest attempt at the world title occurred in 1993, following a split within FIDE [1][2]. After Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short organized their own match outside FIDE’s authority, the organization arranged a parallel world championship cycle [4]. Timman advanced to face Karpov, losing the final 12.5–8.5 [1][3][5]. Though unsuccessful, this marked the nearest any Dutch player has come to claiming the world crown since Max Euwe’s victory in 1935 [1][2][4].
legacy beyond the board: authorship and influence
After reducing competitive play, Timman focused on chess literature and analysis [1][4]. He authored nearly twenty books, particularly emphasizing endgame technique [2][3]. His contributions appeared in prominent publications including New In Chess and Schaakbulletin [2][3]. Known for deep strategic insight, especially in endgames, he remained a respected voice in the chess community well into the 21st century [1][4].
late-career resurgence and final withdrawal
In 2024, Timman made a surprise return to the Dutch Championship after an absence of eighteen years [2][3][4]. Competing at age 72, he demonstrated enduring skill before withdrawing following tiebreak losses to Erwin l’Ami [2][3]. By 2025, he officially retired from competitive play due to physical strain [1][4]. His participation highlighted both lasting passion and the challenges aging brings to elite mental sports [2][3].
death and national mourning
Jan Timman passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 74 in Arnhem [1][2][3]. The Royal Netherlands Chess Federation (KNSB) confirmed his death following initial reports by the NOS [2][3]. He had been ill for some time [2][3][5]. Tributes poured in globally, honoring his impact on chess history and his role in challenging Soviet dominance during the Cold War era [1][4][6].