Jon Speelman at 70: A leading figure of English chess

Jonathan Speelman turns 70 today, 2 October 2026. The English grandmaster was one of the world’s leading players in the late 1980s, reaching the Candidates semifinals and climbing to the world top five in the FIDE rankings. A three-time British champion, Speelman also played a major role in England’s Olympiad successes and later became well known for his work as a chess author, analyst and columnist. Happy birthday!