Jan Timman, the revered Dutch chess grandmaster once dubbed 'the best of the West' during an era of Soviet dominance, has died at the age of 74. The Dutch Chess Federation announced his death on Thursday.
A nine-time Dutch champion, Timman reached a career-high world ranking of second in 1982, behind only the formidable Soviet great Anatoly Karpov. He secured numerous prestigious tournament victories throughout the 1980s.
His career pinnacle came in 1993 when he contested the final of the Candidates Tournament against Karpov for the world championship title. This opportunity arose after defending champion Garry Kasparov split from the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Timman ultimately lost the match 12.5 to 8.5.
Following that defeat, his competitive career gradually receded, with his last national championship triumph occurring in 1996. In later life, Timman authored several chess books, including a notable work on the Netherlands' sole world champion, Max Euwe.
In a 2023 interview with Dutch newspaper NRC, Timman expressed regret at never reaching the top spot but said he had never wanted to change his bohemian lifestyle. 'I would not choose chess as my profession these days,' he remarked, citing the modern reliance on computers. 'It was a hippie life, but with a purpose.'
