Education
He was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, where he studied mathematics.
chess player non-fiction writer mathematician
He was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, where he studied mathematics.
He qualified for two Candidates Tournaments: In the 1989–1990 cycle, Speelman qualified by placing third in the 1987 interzonal tournament held in Subotica, Yugoslavia. After beating Yasser Seirawan in his first round 4–1, and Nigel Short in the second round 3½–1½, he lost to January Timman at the semi-final stage 4½–3½. In the following 1990-1993 championship cycle, he lost 5½–4½ in the first round to Short, the eventual challenger for Garry Kasparov"s crown.
Speelman"s highest ranking in the FIDE Elo rating list was fourth in the world, in January 1989.
In the April 2007 FIDE list, Speelman had an Elo rating of 2518, making him England"s twelfth-highest-rated active player.