US Hall of Fame
William Shinkman
Inducted 2023 1847 - 1933
United States of America
Biography
William Shinkman ranks among the greatest problem composers in chess history. He composed over 3500 problems on a variety of themes in a career stretching over six decades, earning the nickname “the Wizard of Grand Rapids.” Shinkman began his activity in the golden age of problem solving in the last half of the 19th century when daily newspapers all over the United States had chess columns. These columns invariably included composed problems to solve, many of them Shinkman’s. Besides being a giant in the field of problem solving, Shinkman was also influential in the development of chess puzzles.
Explore More Legends of Chess
Robert (Bobby) James Fischer
inducted 1986 (U.S.) | 2001 (World)
Nona Gaprindashvili
inducted 2013
Mikhail Tal
inducted 2003
Eugene Torre
inducted 2021
Garry Kasparov
inducted 2005
Paul Charles Morphy
inducted 1986 (U.S.) | 2001 (World)
Judit Polgar
inducted 2021
José Raúl Capablanca
inducted 2001
Anatoly Karpov
inducted 2004
Rex Sinquefield
inducted 2020
Arpad Emrick Elo
inducted 1988
Alexander Alekhine
inducted 2004
