Czech grandmaster Petr Neuman has passed away

by André Schulz
4/30/2025 – The Czech Chess Federation announced yesterday on its website the death of Czech grandmaster Petr Neuman (11 March 1978 – 29 April 2025). The Czech Chess Federation describes Petr Neuman, who became a grandmaster in 2013, as one of the country's most active players. Last weekend, Neuman was still playing for his German club Bad Mergentheim in the Bundesliga. | Photo: Czech Chess Federation

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The Czech Chess Federation announced the death of Petr Neuman on its website last Tuesday. The Czech grandmaster was found dead in his apartment on Monday (28 April). Neumann had played in the season final of the German Bundesliga in Deggendorf over the weekend. He was playing for his club SF Bad Mergentheim, but was unable to help them avoid relegation. Neuman had played in all of his club's matches this season.

Neuman was born on 11 March 1978. His first recorded games date back to 1992, when the 14-year-old competed in the Budejovice Open. In 1993, he came second in the Czech U16 Championship and also took part in the national championship. In 1995, he took part in the U18 European Championship. The following year, he shared first place in the Czech U18 Championships. In the years that followed, he was very active in team competitions and open tournaments, mainly in the Czech Republic.

In 1998, he won a round-robin tournament in Budapest and the Jirasek Memorial Open. In 2004, he won the Klatovy Open, and in 2008 and 2011, he won the Jirasek Memorial Open again. In 2012, he won a round-robin tournament in Marianske Lazne as the highest-ranked player. In 2024, he won the Stare Mesto Slavia Kromeriz Open.

He held the title of Grandmaster since 2013. The Czech Chess Federation describes Neuman as one of the most active Czech players. Neuman was a teacher of mathematics and geography at the private primary and secondary school 1. KŠPA in Prague. He was a long-standing member of the coaching committee of the Czech Chess Federation.

Neuman died at the age of 47.

Czech Chess Federation...


André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
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