LaviChess

Max Euwe

Max Euwe of the Netherlands was world champion from 1935 to 1937. He never turned professional: he taught mathematics and found it hard to make time to compete. Later he became president of the world chess federation, FIDE.

  • BornMay 20, 1901, Watergraafsmeer, today part of Amsterdam
  • DiedNovember 26, 1981, Amsterdam
  • CountryNetherlands
  • World champion1935–1937
  • In the line of championsNo. 5 of 18
  • Highest ratingNo FIDE rating
    FIDE's official lists began in July 1971

The amateur

Euwe earned a doctorate in mathematics in 1926 and then taught mathematics at a girls' school in Amsterdam. He taught during the day, had a family, and struggled to find time for tournaments. Even so, he was one of the best players in the world throughout the 1930s.

The title matches

Euwe's points come first, then wins (+), losses (−) and draws (=) in the classical games. A rapid tiebreak is given separately.
YearAgainstResultWhere
1935Alexander Alekhine15½–14½ (+9 −8 =13)
Won the title		several Dutch cities
1937Alexander Alekhine9½–15½ (+4 −10 =11)
Lost the title		several Dutch cities

The 1935 match

In his match against Alexander Alekhine in 1935, things looked bleak at first. After nine games Alekhine led 6–3. Euwe slowly worked his way back and took the title 15½–14½. The match was played in several cities around the Netherlands.

How he played

Euwe worked at chess like a scientist: systematically and thoroughly. He knew the openings well and helped develop their theory. He liked sound, harmonious positions, but his greatest strength was calculating in sharp positions and punishing his opponents' mistakes.

Afterward

In 1937 Alekhine took the title back. Euwe also played in FIDE's 1948 championship tournament, where he finished last. In the 1960s he became a professor of information processing, what we now call computer science, first in Rotterdam and then in Tilburg. From 1970 to 1978 he was president of FIDE. He wrote many chess books. He died in Amsterdam in 1981.

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Max Euwe
  • Store norske leksikon: Max Euwe
  • MacTutor History of Mathematics (St Andrews): Machgielis Euwe
  • OlimpBase: the title matches of 1935 and 1937
  • PGN Mentor: the title matches' games and the 1948 championship tournament

The facts on this page come from the sources above, checked against each other. Where the sources disagree, only what they agree on is given. The match results are also checked against the games themselves.

Updated November 8, 2026