Duncan Suttles

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Duncan Suttles (b. 21 December 1945) is an International Grandmaster of chess who was the strongest Canadian player between Abe Yanofsky and Kevin Spraggett. He is one of the few over-the-board grandmasters who also holds the title of Grandmaster of Correspondence Chess. He has been inactive in over-the-board play for some time, but is a significant figure in computer chess through his involvement with Magnetar Games, a software firm that he serves as President and Chief Technologist.

Suttles was born in the United States (San Francisco) but moved to Canada at a young age, spending his formative years in Vancouver, British Columbia. He first appeared on the international chess scene as a member of the Canadian team at the Chess Olympiad of 1964. He was a member of the Canadian team well into the 1980s, often occupying first board. Suttles was already of Grandmaster strength by 1968, and in fact qualified for the title at the Lugano Olympiad. However, due to Cold War politics he was denied the title on an absurd technicality; he had supposedly played too many games, and several established Europeans complained about his 'ugly' chess. He finally achieved the title at the San Antonio tournament of 1972, ironically gaining the last half-point he needed against the Soviet Grandmaster Tigran Petrosian. He represented Canada in the qualifying Interzonal events for the World Chess Championship at Sousse 1967 and Palma de Mallorca 1970, but did not qualify for the final Candidates' matches that would choose the title challenger.

In his youth Suttles was strongly influenced by Aron Nimzowitsch, and became well known due to his preference for hypermodern openings, as well illustrated in this victory from the 1967 Interzonal at Sousse. His victim in this game was the strong Yugoslav grandmaster Milan Matulovic. Note the use of a defensive king-side fianchetto, avoidance of main opening lines, development of Black's Knights to unusual squares, and a sudden eruption of tactics once White's initiative has been blunted -- all characteristic of Suttles at his best.

Matulovic-Suttles, Modern Defense: