November 7 2003 - Aviv Friedman

For many young chess players the name of Jan Timman might be more familiar from his writings in New In Chess and his enriching books than from actual play. In a time when the age of many top players is under 20, a 50+-year-old veteran GM might no longer get the recognition and respect he used to command but this one has a special place in my memory and in the memories of many others. When I started playing chess in 1979, the first chess magazine I have ever seen had coverage of the very strong Bugojno tournament in Yugoslavia. Until then, my knowledge of the chess elite consisted of the now long retired Bobby Fischer and Karpov and Kortchnoi who have played for the world title just one year earlier.

My chess playing friends and I carefully and deliberately went over these match games and concluded that Anatoly Karpov, now that Fischer was inactive, was the chess god. To my big amazement, in Bugojno, our god was completely trashed by this ‘Dutch guy Jan Timman!’ Jan Who?! Huh?! The game left quite an impression: This young fellow showing no inferiority feelings or respect takes out my hero in grand style:

View the game(s) below with the PGN viewer

(1) Timman,J (2585) - Karpov,A (2725) [D35]
Bugojno (5), 03.03.1978
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 0-0 7.Qc2 c6 8.Bd3 Re8 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Nf8 11.h3 Be6 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.Ng5 b5 14.Be5 h6 15.Nxe6 Nxe6 16.g4 Nd7 17.h4 b4 18.Ne2 Bxh4 19.f4 c5 20.Ba6 Be7 21.Bxc8 Qxc8 22.Ng3 f6

23.Rxh6 Nef8 24.Rh3 c4 25.Nf5 fxe5 26.fxe5 Qc6 27.Rdh1 Ng6 28.Nd6 Ndf8 29.Nxe8 Qxe8 30.Rh5 Qc6 31.Qf5 a5 32.e6 Qxe6 33.Qxd5 a4 34.Rc1 c3 35.bxc3 bxc3 36.Rxc3 Qxd5 37.Rxd5 Ne6 38.Kc2 Kf7 39.Ra5 Ng5 40.Rc6 Ne4 41.Rxa4 Nf6 42.Ra7 Nd5 43.Rxg6 Kxg6 44.e4 Nb4+ 45.Kb3 Bf8 46.Rb7 1-0

Karpov still won the event, but for my chess buddies and me a new name has entered the arena. Throughout the years I have often rooted for the player who later became the “best in the west” and a world championship contender. He has played everyone and everywhere, often times leaving remarkable games for the chess anthology. His eclectic, universal style and deep analysis made him a dangerous and fearless opponent to face and an across the board recognition of old and young alike. His contributions to the popularity of chess in Holland can be easily tested by simply asking a non chess playing Dutch person if they know who Timman is – many do.

In Corus, his performances have been erratic and unpredictable - We have seen some good vintage Timman who wins against the very best and some out of form Timman. For 2004 I would like to see more of this type of chess:

(294515) Van Wely,L (2697) - Timman,J (2605) [A64]
Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 13.01.2002

19...Nxg3! 20.Rf3 Bxe5 21.Naxb5 Qh4 22.exf5 Bxf5 23.Ra4 Be4 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Kg1 Ne2+ 26.Qxe2 Qg3 27.Bf4 Qxf4 28.Bxe4 Qg3+ 29.Kh1 Rf1+ 0-1

Than this:

(2) Timman,J (2594) - Ponomariov,R (2734)
GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (11), 24.01.2003

21.a3 Bxf4 22.Qxf4 Nd3 0-1

Is the fire still burning within him? Can he once again rise to the occasion and remind the younger generation who he is? In less than 3 months time we will get our answer.