Jan Timman

Born on 14 December 1951 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, into the family of a famous Dutch mathematician, Professor Rein Timman.

Learned chess at the age of eight. He said: "In the garden I saw the neighbors sitting and playing. I found that fascinating."

Won the Dutch Junior Championship under 20 at age 14 and was soon regarded as the greatest Dutch talent since Max Euwe.

Attended university but was not fond of the academic life, preferring to focus on chess.

He was one of the chief editors of the prestigious magazine New in Chess since its launch in 1984 and wrote over ten chess books.

The leading Dutch grandmaster for decades and one of the strongest players in the world from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, ranked as high as No. 2.

A World Championship Candidate on multiple occasions, reaching the semifinals in 1982 and the final of the Candidates Tournament in 1990.

Won numerous international tournaments, including Linares, Amsterdam, and Wijk aan Zee.

Known for his deep strategic understanding and his brilliant attacking play; his book The Art of Chess Analysis is considered a modern classic of chess literature.

Timman was famous for his wit and his literary flair. He said: "Half the variations which are calculated in a tournament game turn out to be completely superfluous. Unfortunately, no one knows in advance which half."

He admitted: "I have always been lazy; that's why I wasn't extraordinarily strong."

He also said: "Inner peace is needed to play a good chess game."

"Half the variations which are calculated in a tournament game turn out to be completely superfluous. Unfortunately, no one knows in advance which half."

"I have always been lazy; that's why I wasn't extraordinarily strong."

"Inner peace is needed to play a good chess game."

The Art of Chess Analysis (1980) — widely considered one of the modern classics of chess literature.

Timman's Selected Games — a collection of his best games.

Chess the Adventurous Way — an instructional work.