| Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen | |
| Country: | Denmark |
| Birth Date: | 13 August 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Aalborg, Denmark |
| Grand Master (2023) | |
Steffen Nielsen (born Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen, 13 August 1975) is a Danish chess player, composer, and journalist. He is the 2022 World Champion of Chess Composition.[1]
Besides the world title, Nielsen has won several other prizes for chess composition, such as the prestigious 2016 FIDE World Cup tournament and a 2011 tournament dedicated to GM Jan Timman's 60th birthday. In 2018, Nielsen won bronze at the World Championship.
Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen has made significant contributions to the world of chess studies and he is the co-author of the book Endgame Labyrinths.
His passion for chess began in his teenage years, and though he played at a decent amateur level, he found his calling in chess composition, which suits his family life better as it doesn't require extended absences.
Nielsen's tactical focus in chess is reflected in his compositions, where he often draws inspiration from dramatic games and blitz chess, finding beauty in complex, hanging positions.
His compositions are not just for aesthetic pleasure but serve to expand the horizons of chess, challenging the notion that the game has been exhausted despite the finite number of pieces. Nielsen's approach to composition is exploratory, seeking to introduce new ideas into the game.
In 2023 he attained the title of FIDE International Grandmaster for Chess Composition.