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https://en.chessbase.com/post/capabl...uvencio-blanco Fascinating article about Capablanca. Presented as an imaginary interview. I learned several things about Capa I had not known before.
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The biggest element which the chess world missed out on was a possible World Championship rematch between Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine, after Alekhine won their 1927 title match. Capablanca had never lost a game to Alekhine leading into that match, over nearly 15 years of competition.
Not only that, but Alekhine used the power of his position as champion to keep Capablanca out of tournaments which he was playing, for the next nine years! This dreadful conduct by the champion did much to hold back worldwide interest in chess during that time.
Not until the 1936 Nottingham super-tournament, by which time Alekhine was no longer world champion, did they meet again over the board, and Capablanca won that game!! Looking at the tournament book for Nottingham (written by Alekhine), particularly at their head-to-head game, one can easily see that Alekhine stinted on the notes and analysis for it, not giving Capablanca sufficient credit for his victory (the diagram in the book is incorrect as well!). Capablanca tied for first place at Nottingham with Mikhail Botvinnik (23 years younger), after finishing ahead of him, in clear first place, unbeaten, in the Moscow 1936 super-tournament.
Looking at Capablanca's results over those nine years, one can only conclude that a possible rematch would have been a very close-run affair. Alekhine, after disparaging Capablanca's play after their title match as not worthy of a rematch, did lose to amateur Max Euwe in 1935; Euwe granted Alekhine a rematch in 1937 (being under no obligation to do so), and Alekhine reclaimed the title. Happily, the world championship system was soon to be reformed, into a vastly better format. The leadership role in that reform effort was performed by Max Euwe.
The only player with a lifetime plus score over Capablanca was Paul Keres, 28 years younger. And not until Zurich 1934 did Alekhine manage to defeat former champion Emanuel Lasker (24 years older) head-to-head in a tournament game! -
From Alekhine's viewpoint Capablanca had wealthy patrons and Capa would only agree to a match if Alekhine could raise an equal amount. It took years of touring and toil for Alekhine to raise that kind of money. Capablanca didn't have to do any work to raise his half of the prize fund, could just relax and live a lavish lifestyle. So Alekhine was very bitter about it.Comment
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So, Erik, when you point this out, and it is important, you are discussing the lead-in period to their FIRST match, in 1927, yes!?
My counter is this: Perhaps if Alekhine had had a somewhat more open and friendly personality, he could also have raised money for the first match more easily, from wealthy patrons in France, USA, and perhaps the UK, and elsewhere in Europe. He also lived a luxurious lifestyle, apparently.
For the never-to-be-held rematch, Alekhine probably realized that if he did play it, he could very easily lose to Capablanca, even if he played excellently. He evidently liked the experience of being World Champion too much to be concerned with the criticism he endured for not granting Capa a rematch. Instead, he granted Efim Bogolyubov TWO World Title matches, in 1929 and 1934, winning both handily. Bogo at that stage, while still strong, was very much below the level of Alekhine and Capablanca; Bogo's peak had been 1924-25, before he defected from the USSR.Comment
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Travelling across Canada was not luxurious, and Alekhine had to save most of his money for the match, not spend it lavishly. But yes, why couldn't he get sponsors?Originally posted by Frank Dixon View Post
Yes, lazy Capa would have to actually do some work and prepare to win the rematch. He was the more talented, better player.
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