Matthias Wahls
Matthias Wahls during a workshop in 2020
CountryGermany
Born (1968-01-25) January 25, 1968
Hamburg, Germany
TitleGrandmaster (1989)
FIDE rating2530 (January 2024)
Peak rating2609 (January 1999)

Matthias Wahls (born January 25, 1968) is a German chess grandmaster.

Career

Wahls began his career in chess through the SK Union Eimsbuettel, a chess club in Hamburg. Beginning in 1985, he played for Hamburger SK in the first division, and the same year he became the German youth champion. In 1988, he was recognized by the FIDE as an international master, and became a grandmaster in 1989.[1]

In the early 1990s, he represented Germany in the 1990 and 1992 Chess Olympiads. He won the 1996 and 1997 German championships.[2] In 1998, Wahls qualified for the FIDE World Chess Championship, which was held a year later in Las Vegas. There, he defeated Altin Cela of Albania in the first round by 1½ – ½ but lost in the second round by 0 – 2 to Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk.

In the latter part of the 1990s, Wahls began conducting chess seminars, especially focusing on openings, and this reduced his tournament activities. He also published a book in 1997 on the opening Scandinavian Defense[3] and a course.

Wahls' Elo rating remained unchanged at 2543 from July 2006 to October 2022, as he played no Elo-eligible matches. He has since dropped to 2533.[4]

Wahls has also focused on the game of poker. In 2007, he founded PokerStrategy.com, with Dominik Kofert. Wahls intended to spread the poker game Texas hold 'em in Germany.

References

  1. ↑ "The chess games of Matthias Wahls". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Matthias Wahls". shop.chessbase.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ Wahls, Matthias; Müller, Karsten; Langrock, Hannes (April 16, 2011). The Modern Scandinavian: Themes, Structures & Plans in an Increasingly Popular Chess Opening. New In Chess. ISBN 978-90-5691-344-1.
  4. ↑ "Wahls, Matthias". International Chess Federation. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
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