Jānis Klovāns

Who was Jānis Klovāns?

Jānis Klovāns was a Latvian chess Grandmaster. He was a career officer in the Soviet Army.

Jānis Klovāns won the Latvian Championship nine times, and participated in several Soviet Championships. He was a member of several successful Latvian youth teams during the early to mid-1950s, along with stars such as GM Mikhail Tal and GM Aivars Gipslis.

He played for Latvia in two Chess Olympiads. In Manila 1992, at second reserve board, and in Istanbul 2000, at third board.

Janis Klovans thrice won the World Senior Chess Championship, in 1997, 1999, and 2001. Still an active player in his seventies, he played regularly in tournaments all over Europe, and maintained a FIDE rating of over 2400, making him one of the strongest players in his age group.

He was awarded the International Master title in 1976, and the Grandmaster title in 1997, following his win in the World Senior Championship. This achievement is notable in that he was probably the oldest player to be awarded the GM title for current achievements, rather than an honorary or retrospective title.