CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1927, Page 1

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

(A PABLANCA DEFEATED

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

BUENOS AYRES, Nov. 30

Alexander Alekhine became the new chess champion of the world by winning six games from Capablanca, in a match lasting thirty-four games, of which twenty-five wore drawn and three won by the Cuban. The conditions provided that the winner of the first six games should secure the title. Capablanca received a purse of -5200 dollars, and Alekhine four thousand. The match lasted several months. ALEKHINE. THE AA’IZARD. (By a Chess Correspondent). It would be hard to imagine a greater contrast than that between Capablanea. the Cuban, and Alexander Alekhine, the wonderful Russian who

is leading him hv three games to two in a challenge match for the chess championship of the world. Capablanca. (if medium height, darkcomplexioned, black-haired, and blackeyed. is typically Latin in appearance, hut in temperament is the embodiment; of calm. As outwardly stolid as the mo-t phlegmatic of Anglo-Saxons, he sits motionless. and expressionless, watching Hue hoard with the detach-’ ment and aloof serenity of a mathematician. Alekhine, tall, fair, and blue-eyed, is a typical Slav : highly-strung, imaginative, burnt up witli a nervous lire which lie controls only " ith difficulty. Capbalanen hates tobacco. Alekhine lights cigarette after cigarette, only to twist each out of shape, after a few puffs, between his strong and restless lingers. And. si me style is the man. it is almost inevitable that they should be a.s unlike in methods as iu personality. Capablanca is one of the greatest exponents of classical chess , perhaps the greatest—that the world lias over seen. The least showy of players, he is always content to open quietly and "ear down an opponent by his superb judgment and accuracy. Alekhine, on the other hand, has

been well described as a rofnahtic, always engaged on daring plans’ worked out with amazing imaginhtidh and brilliancy. His quite oxtraordinAry memory, has. of course, been demonstrated again and again. 'Oil one occasion he played 28 games simultaneously against 28 of the best players in France, sitting with Ills hack’ to hip opponents and playing without Food for twelve hours. lie won 22 games and lost three, the others being drAVvh. Another time he played, blindfold, £6 games simultaneously in Now Yore, winning 16, drawing live and-losing five. Playing 54 simultaneous ' gairips in Paris, with the mse. of all ins faculties. he won 46. drew five and lost only three.

Which of the three chess giants of the world—‘Capablanca, Lasker, and Alekhine—is the greatest it is impossible to say. for each at the top of his form has played games that are already"; classics ami enlarged and enriched technique of the game. But it can. at least he said that for dasn, originality and courage Alekhine is the most captivating player of his age.