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Jan Hein Donner at national championships. Photo by Verhoeff, Bert / Anefo –

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Jan Hein Donner

鈥淗ein Donner (1927-1988) was a Dutch Grandmaster and one of the greatest writers on chess of all time. He was born into a prominent Calvinistic family of lawyers in The Hague.

1. Donner was born on 16^th July 1927

Hoogoven Schaaktoernooi. Jan Hein Donner, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

Johannes Hendrikus (Jan Hein) Donner was born on July 6, 1927, in The Hague.  He learned to play chess on August 22, 1941. This exact date was remembered because it was the same day his father was imprisoned by the Germans (remember it was World War 2).

2. He has a special talent for chess

Jan Timman (links) en Jan Hein Donner, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

 He had a special talent for chess since one year later he played Euwe. In 1944 he joined DD (Discendo Discimus). He was a member of this famous Dutch chess club all his life. In 1945 he started his law studies at the University of Amsterdam but spent most of his time there studying and playing chess.

He got international fame in the Hoogovens tournament in 1950. He took first place before Euwe and Rossolimo. In 1952 he became an IM and in 1959 an IGM. In 1954 he wins the Dutch Championship and ends thus the 33-year reign of Euwe.

When asked to mention his best game, he said: 鈥�鈥� very little remains of the hundreds of games I played. Maybe one. A short one, but one that shows some of the perfection I always sought for, but  rarely found 鈥�鈥� This is that game:

3. Donner鈥檚 father was a government minister

Jan Hein Donner, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

 His father was a government minister, his oldest brother was President of the European Court of Justice, and his nephew was also a government minister.

Donner鈥檚 father was the Minister of Justice and later became President of the Dutch Supreme Court, detected a keen legal talent in his son. But Hein opted for a bohemian lifestyle as a chess professional and journalist.

4. It was clear from an early age that Jan Hein was different

Derde ronde IBM-schaaktoernooi te Amsterdam, Jan Hein Donner (l) tegen Karpov (r), Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

It was clear from an early age that Jan Hein was different. Troublesome and obnoxious, lazy but gifted. His father had him assessed by a professor of psychology who found him 鈥榲ery egocentric and immature/unbalanced鈥�, with certain angst, with, in contrast, an inclination towards narcissism, and a sense of inferiority, with, contrast, an inclination to act tough.

5. He scored several excellent tournament victories

Jan Hein Donner analyseert, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

 He scored several excellent tournament victories but never quite fulfilled the promise of his chess talent.

Hein Donner developed from a chess player-writer into a writer-chess player. His provocative writings and his colorful persona made him a national celebrity during the roaring sixties. His book 鈥楾he King鈥�, a fascinating and often hilarious anthology spanning 30 years of chess writing, is a worldwide bestseller and features many people鈥檚 lists of favorite chess books.

The author Harry Mulisch, his best friend, immortalized Hein Donner in his magnum opus The Discovery of Heaven. In 2001 the book was adapted for film, with Stephen Fry playing the part that was based on Donner.

6. He was one of the most colorful and controversial chess players of his time

Jan Hein Donner tijdens loting, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

Johannes Hendrikus Donner (Jan Hein to the chess world, Hein to his friends) was one of the most colorful and controversial chess players of his time. His family has been for many years prominent in politics and law.

7. Donner was the ideal combination of attributes for a chess player and journalist

Schaker Jan Hein Donner (l), Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

Possibly the ideal combination of attributes for a chess player and journalist.

What should we make of a man who donated his prize from Venice in 1968 to the Viet Cong, on the condition that the proceeds were used to buy machine guns rather than medicines? A man who wrote that women were hopeless at chess and would never learn?

8. He was a man who used his chess columns to insult his fellow Dutch players

 A man who used his chess columns to insult his fellow Dutch players, most notably a long-running feud with his older contemporary Lodewijk Prins?

Someone, I think, who was deliberately provocative, who spoke and acted to gain a response more than anything else.

9. His results were wildly erratic

Jan Hein Donner bij de loting, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

His results were wildly erratic: at his best, he could win strong grandmaster tournaments, but these triumphs would be interspersed with disasters.

Donner had wins to his credit against most of the top non-Russians, even including Fischer, but an abysmal record against Soviet grandmasters. (Looking at his games in MegaBase it鈥檚 also notable how well he scored against English opponents.)

 He was also famous for losing a remarkable number of miniatures.

10. He suffered a brain hemorrhage that ended his playing career at age 56

Hoogovenschaaktoernooi te Beverwijk, Jan Hein Donner, Bestanddeelnr. Photo by Fotocollectie Anefo –

On August 24, 1983, Donner suffered a brain hemorrhage that ended his playing career at age 56.  After suffering a stroke at the age of 56, Donner lived his final years in a nursing home.

He continued writing, however, typing with one finger, and won one of the Netherlands鈥� most prestigious literary awards.

He died at 61, on November 27, 1988. His friends Tim Krabbe and Max Pam compiled his best writings into one volume: 鈥淭he King: chess pieces鈥�.