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John Nunn
JohnNunn10 (A).jpg
Nunn in 2010
Full name John Denis Martin Nunn
Country England
Born (1955-04-25) 25 April 1955 (age 70)
London, England
Title Grandmaster (1978)
International Solving Grandmaster (2004)
World Champion WC Problem Solving 2004, 2007, 2010
WC (Seniors over-65) 2022, 2023
FIDE rating 2568 (August 2025)
Peak rating 2630 (January 1995)
Peak ranking No. 9 (January 1985)
Scientific career
Thesis Some problems in algebraic topology (1978)
Doctoral advisor John Hubbuck

John Denis Martin Nunn (born 25 April 1955) is an English chess grandmaster. He is also a three-time world champion in chess problem solving. John Nunn is a talented chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician. He is known as one of England's strongest chess players ever. He was once ranked among the top ten players in the world.

Early Life and Amazing Education

John Nunn was born in London, England. From a young age, he showed incredible talent for chess. In 1967, when he was just 12 years old, he won the British Under-14 Chess Championship.

Two years later, at 14, he became the London Under-18 Champion. Even more impressively, at only 15, he started studying Mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford. He was the youngest student at Oxford since the 1500s! John Nunn finished his degree in 1973. Later, in 1978, he earned a special advanced degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in mathematics. After teaching math for a few years, he decided to become a full-time professional chess player in 1981.

Chess Career Highlights

John Nunn became the European Junior Chess Champion in 1975. He earned the top title of Grandmaster in 1978. In 1980, he won the British Chess Championship.

Nunn has won two individual gold medals at the Chess Olympiads. These are big team chess tournaments. In 1989, he placed sixth in the first 'World Cup' series. This event featured the top 25 chess players globally. He also won the famous Hoogovens tournament three times: in 1982, 1990, and 1991.

Hoogovens Schaaktoernooi vierde ronde. Nunn (koploper) in aktie, Bestanddeelnr 931-9184
John Nunn playing chess in 1982

In January 1995, John Nunn reached his highest ever Elo rating of 2630. This rating system measures a player's skill. Six years earlier, in 1989, his rating of 2620 put him in the world's top ten players. He was ranked ninth globally. At that time, two other English players, Nigel Short and Jonathan Speelman, were also in the top five.

John Nunn has mostly stopped playing in major chess tournaments. However, he still plays in some rapid chess events.

Chess Author and Publisher

Besides being a strong player, John Nunn is also a very respected author of chess books. He has written many books, including Secrets of Grandmaster Chess. This book won an award in 1988. His book John Nunn's Best Games also won an award in 1995. He is also in charge of a chess publishing company called Gambit Publications.

A chess historian named Edward Winter said that Nunn is a "polymath." This means he is very knowledgeable about many different things. Winter praised Nunn's ability to write clear explanations for beginners and deep analysis for experts.

In 2010, chess superstar Magnus Carlsen suggested that being too smart might sometimes make it harder to become a world champion in chess. He used John Nunn as an example. Carlsen believed Nunn's vast knowledge and constant desire to learn might have pulled him away from focusing only on chess.

Chess Problem Solving

John Nunn is also very good at chess problems. These are puzzles where you have to find the best moves to win. He has created many problems himself. He has also been part of the British team that solves these problems. He even wrote a book about it called Solving in Style.

Nunn won the World Chess Solving Championship three times: in 2004, 2007, and 2010. He is one of only a few people to earn both the Grandmaster title for playing chess and the Grandmaster title for solving chess problems.

Computer Chess and Endgame Studies

John Nunn has been interested in computer chess for a long time. In 1984, he started writing about games played by computers for a magazine. He also joined the team for a computer chess magazine.

He later wrote books using special chess databases called endgame tablebases. These databases contain every possible move and outcome for certain chess endings. His books, like Secrets Of Rook Endings and Secrets of Minor-Piece Endings, help players understand how to play these endings perfectly. John Nunn is known for being a leading expert in using these databases to find new chess strategies.

Senior Chess Success

Even as he got older, John Nunn continued to achieve success in chess. In 2014, he finished third in the World Senior Chess Championship (for players over 50). In 2015, he came in second at the European Senior Chess Championship (over 50).

Most recently, he won the World Senior Chess Championship (for players over 65) in 2022 and again in 2023. This shows his lasting skill and dedication to chess.

Famous Chess Games

John Nunn has played many memorable games. Here are two examples:

Øst-Hansen vs. Nunn, Teesside 1974
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8 {{{square}}} white knight {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 8
7 {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white queen {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 7
6 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king 5
4 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white king {{{square}}} black queen 4
3 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 3
2 {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king 2
1 {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 1
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Final position
  • Jacob Øst-Hansen vs John Nunn, Teesside 1974: This game was played in a very exciting style. Nunn sacrificed some of his pieces to attack his opponent's king. He managed to bring the enemy king out into the open and deliver a checkmate.
Beliavsky vs. Nunn, Hoogovens 1985
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8 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 8
7 {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 7
6 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black bishop 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 5
4 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 4
3 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn 3
2 {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black knight {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 2
1 {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white knight {{{square}}} white king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black king 1
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Final position
  • Alexander Beliavsky vs John Nunn 1985, Wijk Aan Zee 1985: This game is sometimes called "Nunn's Immortal Game." It is considered one of the best games of the 1980s by many chess experts.

Books Written by John Nunn

John Nunn has written many helpful books for chess players of all levels. Here are some of them:

  • John Nunn's Chess Course (2014)
  • 1001 Deadly Checkmates (2011)
  • Understanding Chess Middlegames (2011)
  • Nunn's Chess Endings, volume 1 (2010)
  • Nunn's Chess Endings, volume 2 (2010)
  • Understanding Chess Endgames (2009)
  • Grandmaster Chess Move by Move (2005)
  • Learn Chess Tactics (2004)
  • Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games (2004, with Graham Burgess and John Emms)
  • Endgame Challenge (2002)
  • Understanding Chess Move by Move (2001)
  • Secrets of Minor-Piece Endings (2001)
  • John Nunn's Best Games (2001)
  • Learn Chess (2000)
  • 101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures (2000)
  • Nunn's Chess Openings (1999, with Joe Gallagher, John Emms, and Graham Burgess)
  • John Nunn's Chess Puzzle Book (1999)
  • Complete Najdorf: Modern Lines (1999)
  • Secrets of Practical Chess (1998)
  • The Complete Najdorf 6. Bg5 (1997)
  • Secrets of Grandmaster Chess (1997)
  • The King-Hunt (1996, with William Cozens)
  • Beating the Sicilian 3 (1995, with Joe Gallagher)
  • Secrets of Pawnless Endings (1994, 2002)
  • New Ideas in the Pirc Defence (1993)
  • Secrets of Rook Endings (1992, 1999)
  • The Complete Pirc (1989)
  • Solving in Style (1985, 2002)
  • The Benoni for the Tournament Player (1982)
  • Tactical Chess Endings (1981)

Personal Life and Hobbies

John Nunn is married to Petra Fink-Nunn, who is also a chess player from Germany. They have a son named Michael.

Astronomy as a Hobby

As John Nunn played less competitive chess, he developed a strong interest in astronomy. This is the study of stars, planets, and space. He shares this hobby with former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. Nunn has written articles and given talks about astronomy for Chessbase News.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: John Nunn para niños

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