20/02/2026
It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Dutch chess grandmaster Jan Timman, who died at the age of 74. Widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in the history of the Netherlands, Timman rose to international prominence during an era when the global chess scene was dominated by the Soviet Union. His exceptional strength and creative style earned him the celebrated nickname “The Best of the West.”
Throughout the 1980s, Timman stood among the world’s elite. He reached second place in the world rankings in 1982, trailing only Anatoly Karpov, and became a key challenger in several World Championship cycles. He contested the world title twice—most notably in 1993, when he faced Karpov in the FIDE World Championship final.
Timmans’ tournament victories were numerous and influential. Among his most memorable achievements were his victories at the prestigious Hoogovens tournament (now the Tata Steel Chess Tournament) in 1981 and 1985, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s leading competitive players. He also claimed the Dutch national championship nine times, demonstrating extraordinary dominance on the domestic stage. In addition to his chess career, Timman also wrote several books and articles about his favorite game. He will be sorely missed in the world of chess
Photographer: Lennart Ootes
