Max Euwe (1901 - 1981), pen signature on 1972 World Chess Championship First Day Cover from Berlin. Machgielis ' Max ' Euwe was a Dutch chess player, mathematician, author, and chess administrator. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion, a title he held from 1935 until 1937. He served as President of Fide, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.