Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Saldus, Saldus Municipality, Latvia
About Jānis Klovāns
- Janis Klovans (April 9, 1935 – October 5, 2010) was a Latvian chess Grandmaster.
- He was a career officer in the Soviet Army. Janis Klovans won the Latvian Championship nine times (1954, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1979, and 1986), and participated in several Soviet Championships.
- He was a member of several successful Latvian youth teams during the early to mid-1950s, along with stars such as GM Mikhail Tal and GM Aivars Gipslis. He played for Latvia in two Chess Olympiads.
- In Manila 1992, at second reserve board (+0 -0 =2), and in Istanbul 2000, at third board (+5 -4 =4). He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 1976, and the Grandmaster (GM) title in 1997, following his win in the World Senior Championship.
- This achievement is notable in that he was one of the oldest players to be awarded the GM title for current achievements, rather than an honorary or retrospective title.
- This can be explained by the fact that although he was a strong master for many years, he was rarely allowed to play outside of the Soviet Union, and therefore had few opportunities to gain FIDE titles.
- Likely his career as a Soviet Army officer hampered his international chess opportunities.
- In 2001 he earned the International Correspondence Chess GM title.Janis Klovans won the World Senior Chess Championship in 1997, 1999, and 2001.
- He continued to play into his seventies and maintained a FIDE rating of over 2400, making him one of the strongest players in his age group. He was married to the six-time Latvian Champion Astra Klovane and had two daughters.
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See Also
- Famous People's Birthdays on 09 April, Latvia
- Famous People's Birthdays in April, Latvia
- Famous chess player's Birthdays on 09 April, Latvia
- Famous chess player's Birthdays in April, Latvia
- Famous correspondence chess player's Birthdays on 09 April, Latvia
- Famous correspondence chess player's Birthdays in April, Latvia