John Nunn – The Problem Solver

Dr. John Nunn (born 1955) is one of the most talented figures in British chess history. A Top 10 player in his prime, he is equally famous for his intellect off the board, holding a PhD in mathematics.

Nunn was a fierce tactician in his prime. Despite his academic background, he didn't play dry chess; he loved sharp main lines like the King's Indian and the Sicilian Najdorf, calculating deeper than his opponents.

He is one of the few people in history to hold the title of Grandmaster in both Over-the-Board Chess and Chess Solving. He can solve complex mate-in-X problems faster than almost anyone alive.

He retired from professional classical chess to focus on writing and publishing (Gambit Publications), but he recently returned to win the World Senior Championship (65+) in 2022 and 2023.

He won the World Chess Solving Championship in 2004, 2007, and 2010, proving his calculation is flawless.

He went to Oxford University at age 15, the youngest undergraduate in 400 years, and graduated with a PhD in Algebraic Topology at 23.

In 1989, he reached his peak world ranking of #9, establishing himself as one of the elite grandmasters of the decade.

He won the World Senior Chess Championship (65+ category) back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, dominating the field.

At the 1984 Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki, he won the individual Gold Medal on Board 2 with a stunning score of 10/11.

He won the British Championship in 1980, a crown he chased in a highly competitive era of English chess.

He won the prestigious Wijk aan Zee (Hoogovens) tournament three times (1982, 1990, 1991), often ahead of World Champions.

His book collecting his own best games won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year award and is a modern classic.

He was one of the first humans to use computer "Tablebases" to discover new truths about endgames, publishing Secrets of Rook Endings.

He founded his own publishing house, Gambit Publications, setting a new standard for high-quality chess literature.

He wrote authoritative books on the King's Indian Defense and played it fearlessly against the world's best.

Unlike most players who only solve, Nunn also *composes* beautiful chess problems and studies, showcasing his artistic side.

He has defeated World Champion Viswanathan Anand in classical games, demonstrating his elite strength.

His nickname reflects his approach: he doesn't just play moves; he tries to solve the position as if it were a mathematical puzzle.

He was a principled 1.e4 player, known for entering the sharpest theoretical duels in the Ruy Lopez and Sicilian.

He is one of only a handful of people in history to hold the GM title for both playing and solving.

He was part of the "English Chess Explosion" in the 1980s, helping England become the second-strongest chess nation behind the USSR.

His book Understanding Chess Move by Move is frequently cited as the best book for club players to learn logical planning.

A true polymath, he is also an accomplished amateur astronomer and has published articles on the subject.

He established conventions for how to format chess books clearly, raising the bar for all chess authors who followed him.