Jan Timman, Renowned Dutch Chess Grandmaster, Dies at 74

Timman was considered the best player outside the Soviet Union for two decades before losing the World Chess Championship in 1993.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:10pm

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Jan Timman, a Dutch chess grandmaster who was widely considered the best player outside the Soviet Union for two decades, died on February 18 at his home in Arnhem, the Netherlands. He was 74 years old. Timman rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, winning or tying for first place in several elite international tournaments. Despite a laissez-faire attitude that included alcohol and drug use early in his career, Timman was a fearless and dynamic competitor who reached a peak ranking of No. 2 in the world in 1982, trailing only Anatoly Karpov, the world champion from Russia.

Why it matters

Timman's success helped create a chess renaissance in the Netherlands, which is currently ranked 9th in the world among countries with more than a dozen grandmasters. His death marks the passing of one of the most prominent and influential figures in the history of Dutch chess.

The details

Timman reached the World Chess Championship final in 1990, losing to Karpov, and again in 1993, losing to Nigel Short. However, Short and champion Garry Kasparov decided to organize the 1993 match without the governing body FIDE, which retaliated by declaring Karpov the FIDE world champion, though most continued to recognize Kasparov as the legitimate titleholder. Timman's loss to Karpov in 1993 more or less marked the end of his peak as a player, though he continued to compete and win elite tournaments in the 2000s.

  • Timman was born on December 14, 1951 in Amsterdam.
  • He became an international master in 1971.
  • Timman became a grandmaster, the game's highest title, in 1974.
  • He reached a peak ranking of No. 2 in the world in January 1982.
  • Timman reached the World Chess Championship final in 1990 and 1993.

The players

Jan Timman

A Dutch chess grandmaster who was widely considered the best player outside the Soviet Union for two decades before losing the World Chess Championship in 1993.

Anatoly Karpov

The world chess champion from Russia, who defeated Timman in the 1993 FIDE World Chess Championship match.

Garry Kasparov

The former world chess champion, who was recognized as the legitimate titleholder despite Karpov's FIDE victory over Timman.

Nigel Short

The English chess grandmaster who defeated Timman in the 1993 World Chess Championship final, earning the right to face Kasparov.

Judit Polgar

A Hungarian chess grandmaster and the only woman to be ranked in the top 10 players in the world, who paid tribute to Timman.

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What they’re saying

“I respected his chess, his artistic vision of chess as a practical player and as a chess composer, and respected his character.”

— Judit Polgar, Hungarian chess grandmaster

“Timman had once beaten me — in the final match of a 1991 tournament in Paris — something that most of the world's top players had never managed to do.”

— Garry Kasparov, Former world chess champion

The takeaway

Timman's legacy as a fearless, dynamic, and influential chess grandmaster who helped spark a chess renaissance in the Netherlands will continue to inspire future generations of players in the country and around the world.