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Max Euwe, Dutch chess grandmaster

The life and legacy of the Dutch world chess champion

black and white photograph of Max Euwe who arranges chess pieces on a shelf.
by
Adrian Murphy (opens in new window) (Europeana Foundation)

Max Euwe was a Dutch chess grandmaster and mathematician who was the fifth World Chess Champion, as well as the president of the World Chess Federation.

black and white close-up portrait photograph of Max Euwe playing chess

Who was Max Euwe?

Born as Machgielis Euwe on May 20 1901 in Amsterdam, he began playing chess at a young age. He studied mathematics at the University of Amsterdam, and later earned a doctorate.

He spent most of his professional life working in teaching and education, in both schools and universities.

black and white photograph of Max Euwe in a classroom

From the early 1920s, he became the leading chess player in the Netherlands.

What championships did Max Euwe win?

From 1921 to 1952, he won all the Dutch chess championships which he took part in.

In 1928, he became a world champion for the first time by winning the Amateur World Chess Championship which was held in The Hague.

Euwe's greatest achievement in chess was becoming World Champion in 1935, by defeating the reigning champion Alexander Alekhine. The match was played over many games in various cities and towns in the Netherlands between October and December that year. Euwe's world title aroused enthusiasm for chess in the Netherlands, with many Dutch clubs being founded in 1935.

sepia photograph of two men playing chess.

What books did Max Euwe write?

Recognising his role as a leading chess player, he was the author of more than 70 books on chess, including Strategy and Tactics in Chess in 1937, Judgement and Planning in Chess in 1954 and The Road to Chess Mastery, with Walter Meiden, in 1966.

black and white photograph of Max Euwe standing while playing chess.
black and white photograph of Max Euwe playing chess against two opponents.

Euwe was also involved in the administration of chess.

He served as the President of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) from 1970 to 1978. During his tenure - despite many conflicts with the USSR Chess Federation - he worked to improve the organisation and regulation of international chess tournaments and to promote the growth of chess as a sport.

colour photograph of a memorial sculpture shaped like a chess piece combined with a bust sculpture.

Euwe passed away on November 26, 1981, but his legacy in the world of chess lives on where he is remembered for his skills and dedication to the game.

Today in the centre of Amsterdam, he is remembered by a monument in the centre of a square named Max Euwe Plein.

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