For many years Jan Timman was one of the best chess players in the
world. The Dutch Grandmaster combined his brilliant successes on the
board with a passion for writing and meticulously analysing his own
games and those of his rivals. Three times he was a World Championship
Candidate and in 1993 he played in the final of the FIDE World
Championship, a match that he lost to Anatoly Karpov. In this
fascinating book, Jan Timman portrays ten World Chess Champions that
played an important role in his life and career. Champions that not only
inspired him, but also champions he did battle with. Alexander Alekhine
(1892-1946) he never met, but the story of how in Lisbon he bought one
of the last chess sets belonging to the fourth World Champion is one of
many highlights in the book. Also there is the time when he visited
Mikhail Botvinnik in his dacha outside Moscow and watches 'the
Patriarch' put on one of the browned laurel wreaths that he won decades
ago. Timman has a keen eye for detail, a fabulous memory and he visibly
enjoys sharing his insider views, including many revelations of the
great champions. Timman's Titans not only presents a personal view of
these chess giants, but is also a wonderful evocation of countless
fascinating episodes in chess history. Each portrait is completed by a
rich selection of illustrative games, annotated in the author's
trademark lucid style. Always to the point, sharp and with crystal-clear
explanations Timman shows the highs and lows from the games of the
champions, including the most memorable games that he himself played
against them.
