English Chess Forum

I've just heard the sad news that Stuart Niman has died. There is a memorial page for him here.

After Manchester Grammar School, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read maths. He was a strong player with a BCF/ECF grade in excess of 200 (Elo 2200) and played for Cambridge in two Varsity matches. I believe he worked as an investment consultant, playing for Stock Exchange in the London League. I didn't know him personally but played him in a county match in the early 1980s. His elder brother Jonathan was also a competition player.

I've written a mini-biography of Stuart Niman in the Varsity biographical file at BritBase.

Stuart Howard Niman (29 May 1963 - 23 February 2026)

I remember Stuart well. I played in the same Varsity team and stayed at his house on the way to the only BUCA I played in. I had no idea he was ill. RIP

I was greatly saddened to hear this news.

Stuart and I played for the same Manchester Grammar School (MGS) team in the late 1970s. He was a stronger, much more naturally talented player than me. One year our team qualified for the national finals of the Sunday Times school chess championship, more through his efforts than mine.

I lost touch with Stuart after school, but many years later we were both recruited from time to time to take part in the annual MGS Old Boys’ chess matches, which usually involved a face-off against the current school team followed by a curry in Rusholme. The last time we both attended was before Covid. I remember that, with typical modesty, Stuart downplayed his chess skills, saying that he was hardly playing anymore and deserved only to be on bottom board. Of course, he was still extremely strong.

Ironically, the most recent Old Boys’ match was last Thursday. I had hoped to see Stuart there; I didn’t know that he had so very recently died.

My condolences to all his family.

There was a brilliance to Stuart. It didn't really find expression on the chessboard, at least in the couple of times I played him, but clearly did in his career which I knew nothing about, not having met him in the last 40 years.

I was at MGS with Martyn who wrote so well above

This was my reaction per MGS Oldmancs email:

Thanks for sharing everyone.
I'm shocked and upset.

Stuart was a magnificent chess player and human being. Just super intelligent and polite and smiling with it. He could have turned professional NQAT.

One tiny "irrelevant" memory comes to mind - I'm sure I've got some details wrong, but...
we were on the MGS minibus, probably driven by Mr Kelly, coming back from a chess match possibly in Newcastle.

Duncan Clements had a Rubik's cube.

We watched Stuart solve it in less than 30 seconds. We were all aghast. Absolutely amazing. Tim Fyfe was literally drooling at Stuart's skill. Stuart's hands were moving faster than a human could see.
Amazing. Mathematical and logic genius.

RIP Stuart- what a good guy you were.
Thanks for everything

Cheers and greetings from Cape Town
Saul Richman

I’m very sad to read this.

Stu lived close to me and I would often see him out on his walks or bump into him in the local coffee shops in Shenfield. He was always very enthusiastic and easy to talk to.

Whilst I only knew Stuart since 2013 I got the impression he must have been a very strong chess player when he was active. I remember going round his house about 4 years ago and playing some blitz chess with him. I expected to win easily, but have a very distinct memory of just how competitive the games were.

Condolences to the family. A great man. Rest in Peace.