It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Luc Winants, who died yesterday, February 7, at the age of 60. Our thoughts and prayers are with Luc’s family and friends at this difficult time. Read to know more about late Luc Winants, who was he, what was his cause of death and much more.
Who was Luc Winants?
Luc Winants was a prominent figure in the chess world, renowned for his skills and achievements. Born on January 1, 1963, in Watermael-Boitsfort, Belgium, he was a proud chess player who dedicated his life to the sport. In 1998, he earned the title of international grandmaster, solidifying his position as one of the best players in the world. Luc’s father, Henri Winants, was also a talented chess player and won the Belgian Individual Championship in 1975 alongside Johan Goormachtigh and José Tonoli. This legacy of chess expertise runs deep in the family and has been passed down from generation to generation.
As a young man, Luc had a passion for chess and took part in several international youth Olympics. In 1982, at the age of 19, he was one of the participants in the U20 World Youth Championship in Copenhagen and performed impressively, finishing in the middle of the field. This was just the beginning of a long and successful chess career for Luc Winants, who has left a lasting impact on the chess community and will always be remembered as a legendary player.
Association Internationale des Echecs Francophones – AIDEF Wrote,
It is with emotion and great sadness that I have just learned of the death of my friend the Belgian GM Luc Winants.
May he rest in peace
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Luc Winants died: What was his Cause of death?
Luc Winants was a renowned chess player from Belgium who made a great impact on the chess world. He was regarded as his country’s best chess player and, at times, the only grandmaster, making him a true chess icon. Throughout his career, he had the opportunity to represent Belgium in numerous chess Olympiads and made a remarkable achievement by remaining undefeated in two of them. The chess community was devastated to learn of his passing on February 7th at the age of 60. The cause of his death remains unknown and leaves a great void in the hearts of those who knew and admired him. Luc Winants will forever be remembered as a brilliant chess player who made a lasting impression on the sport.
Career of Luc Winants
Luc Winants was a highly accomplished chess player who made significant contributions to the sport. He obtained the title of International Master of the International Chess Federation in 1986, having met the standards at several tournaments, including the Thessaloniki Olympiad in 1984, the tournament in Ostend, and the Belgian championship in Anderlecht in 1986, which he won with an impressive score of 10 out of 12. In 1998, he achieved the title of international grandmaster after meeting the standards in tournaments in Ostend, Wijk aan Zee, and Barcelona.
Throughout his career, Luc took part in eight Chess Olympiads with the Belgian team, showcasing his skills on the international stage. He had several successful finishes in tournaments, including 2nd to 4th place in Dordrecht in 1988 and a first-place finish in Barcelona in 1991. He had his best result at the Olympiad in Calvià in 2004, where he remained undefeated on the first board with a score of (+2 =7 -0) and an Elo performance of 2651.
In addition to his playing career, Luc was also a respected chess teacher and ran a chess site called “Les Jardins de Cassa,” dedicated to the history of the game and its famous champions. He had the opportunity to coach several international players, including Etienne Bacrot and Lennert Lenaerts. He was also a talented writer and contributed a weekly column on chess to La Libre Belgique, further demonstrating his passion and expertise in the sport.
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Tributes to Luc Winants
My friend Luc Winants has died 1st January 1963- 7th Feb 2023. The Belgian grandmaster loved the game and the old masters.
— GaryLanechess (@garylanechess) February 7, 2023
This world will be poorer without you in it Luc, and this world is a richer place today because of you. #chess #echecs #chess #LucWinants pic.twitter.com/rsLG1CnP5r
Alain van Langenacker Wrote,
R.I.P. my cousin Luc Winants you were a good person and also a gifted at failures your passion your reason to live and know, I remember like it was yesterday when Tanta your mom took you out of the toilets where you were locked up with a squared sheet for playing chess when she confiscated all your games the passion was already there. 
Sad news -Luc Winants has left us.😥
— Sokolov Ivan (@GMSokolovIvan) February 7, 2023
I remember meeting him (at his home in Brussels) and getting shown beautiful Morphy games and RL Siesta variation (Luc scoring great win vs Zoltan Almasi)
Visits ended (like bohemians should) -with wine & chat.
Luc – you will be missed! 😥
