By the time Max was five years old his parents had taught him to play and soon he was able to beat them. Max attended school in Amsterdam where he excelled in mathematics, and he began to play chess at ever more advanced levels.
Selleks ajaks, max oli viis aastat vana ja tema vanemad olid talle õpetanud mängima ja varsti ta suutis peksid neid. Max koolis Amsterdamis, kus ta silma paistnud matemaatika ja hakkas malet mängima, on veelgi kõrgemal tasemel.