MARK RUBERY CHESS

Four years before Nicholas the 2nd was executed along with his family in a basement in Ekaterinburg, the last Russian Tsar was to make an indelible mark on the game of chess. In 1914 Nicholas subscribed 1000 roubles towards the prize fund of the 1914 St Petersburg tournament, which was sufficient inducement to attract the strongest players in the world at that time.

Emanual Lasker was the current World Champion and had not played a game in the previous five years. He was expected to be seriously challenged by Jose Capablanca, who was just making his spectacular appearance on the chess scene and Akiba Rubinstein the winner of five successive tournaments, who many thought was the strongest player then alive. Other participants included Alexander Alekhine, Siegbert Tarrasch, Aron Nimzovich, Frank Marshall, Joseph Blackburne and David Janowski. With three rounds of the 21 round tournament remaining, Capablanca held a commanding lead and it was then that he lost a famous game to Lasker after some astute psychology and fine endgame technique. The next round Capablanca blundered in the opening against the aging Tarrasch, allowing Lasker to overtake the Cuban and score a distinguished victory.

At the closing banquet the Tsar named the following five players- Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch and Marshall as Grandmasters of Chess. This was the first time the title was officially used and recognised. (Lasker finishes with a final clearance sacrifice when White’s knight will reach e4 with multiple winning threats. Black’s congested pieces make a sorry impression-Pritchett)….dxe5 36.Ne4 Nd5 37.N6c5 Bc8 38.Nxd7 Bxd7 39.Rh7 Rf8 40.Ra1 Kd8 41.Ra8+ Bc8 42.Nc5 1–0

Our game is just too difficult for ordinary intelligent people. – Jan Hein Donner