In praise of Jose Capablanca

By Errol Tiwari On In Chess with Errol |
 Cuba’s Jose Raul Capablanca, who from 1914 to 1924 played 126 tournaments and match games and lost only 4. The New York Times commemorated Capablanca’s loss in this headline: “Capablanca loses 1st game since 1914”. He contested 578 official tournament games in his career and lost only 36 of them. (Photo: Chessbase)
 Cuba’s Jose Raul Capablanca, who from 1914 to 1924 played 126 tournaments and match games and lost only 4. The New York Times commemorated Capablanca’s loss in this headline: “Capablanca loses 1st game since 1914”. He contested 578 official tournament games in his career and lost only 36 of them. (Photo: Chessbase)

Last month, March, represented 110 years since the suave Cuban chess player Jose Raul Capablanca won the great San Sebastian Chess Tournament. The tournament was held in February-March 1911. In those times, there was no Candidates Tournament, but the chess world was aware that whoever won San Sebastian reserved the right to challenge the world champion for his title.  Fifteen of the world’s finest chess players took part in San Sebastian. Emanuel Lasker, the world champion, was invited but declined the invitation. Chessbase reported that Lasker was married in March, 1911, the same month of the tournament which was perhaps the reason he refused.