Jan Timman

Jan Timman was a prominent Dutch chess grandmaster, celebrated for his achievements during a time when Soviet players dominated the chess world. Born in 1943, he became a nine-time Dutch champion and achieved significant recognition by reaching the world ranking's second place in 1982, just behind the legendary Anatoly Karpov. Timman was known as 'the best of the West' and had a notable journey in chess, including a shot at the World Championship in 1993 against Karpov. Despite his successes, he expressed a sense of regret for not reaching the pinnacle of chess and was critical of the modern, computer-driven approach to the game, preferring his earlier bohemian lifestyle. His contributions to chess also included publishing several books, notably one on Max Euwe, the only Dutch world champion.