Patrick Wolff is an American chess grandmaster and writer. Born on February 15, 1968, Wolff won the U.S. Chess Championship in 1992 and 1995. He learned chess from his father at the age of five and earned his international master title in 1983. In 1984, he obtained his grandmaster title and won his first U.S. Chess Championship in 1992.
Wolff was a Harvard undergraduate when he placed third in the World Junior Championship in 1987, finishing ahead of several future top-10 players. In international chess events, he finished second in Manila 1990 and first at New York 1992. As a member of the U.S. national team, he participated in the Chess Olympiads in 1988 and 1992, contributing to team bronze medals both times.
In addition to playing chess, Wolff has contributed to the field with his writing. In 1997 he won the "Chess Journalists of America" award for the best magazine article. He co-wrote “Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess” with famed American chess player and writer William Lombardy, and is also the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess Openings."
Wolff is also known for his business acumen. After retiring from professional chess, he started a career in investment management. He worked at Peter Thiel's Clarium Capital and then at Thiel's hedge fund, where he was managing director. Wolff later co-founded Grandmaster Capital Management with Thiel and served as its Chief Investment Officer. He is currently a principal at Thiel Macro LLC, an investment firm in San Francisco.