“Chess for me is not a game, but an art. Yes, and I take upon myself all those responsibilities which an art imposes on its adherents”…The legendary chess player of all times, Alexander Alekhine, didn’t take up chess only as his profession but had spent his life working towards the betterment of the game. He added an aesthetic value to the game and reminded the world that it is not only a pastime but also an art that needs talent and skill. Known all over the globe for his style of playing and classical defense, Alekhine was the undisputed king of chess till he died.

Born in the year 1892 on 19th October in Moscow, Russia, Alekhine was born into a noble family. Being a part of one of the richest families in Moscow didn’t stop Alekhine from deciding on his own career. His father, who was an important member of the Duma and also a marshal of nobility, gave him all the freedom to choose his own career. His mother who was the daughter of a famous industrialist introduced Alekhine to chess when he was a mere kid. He spent his teenage learning right moves of the game and went on to participate in various tournaments when he was 15. His education was maneuvered at the Imperial High School for Law in Moscow. With his win in the ‘Russian Amateur Chess Championship’ in the year 1909, his career got a kick-start. He started participating in Russian as well as international tournaments. He became famous internationally after his win in Stockholm in the year 1912 and the All Russian Championship in the year 1914. His performance in the international tournaments was exceptionally well which earned him recognition throughout.

Alexander Alekhine’s life was betrothed to chess and he strived throughout his life to make chess popular with the youth. He wrote several books on chess for them aspiring playing notable of which are My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937, The Book of the Hastings International Masters' Chess Tournament 1922, The Book of the New York International Chess Tournament 1924, The Book of the Nottingham International Chess Tournament, The World's Chess Championship, 1937. It was during the First World War that he got badly injured while helping a soldier. Alekhine was awarded a medal by the Austrians for his bravery. In the later half of his career, after the Second World War, Alekhine was constantly caught up in series of controversies for the anti-German comments he made.

Alekhine married Grace Freeman, his fourth wife in the year 1934 who was 16 years elder to him. She was Alekhine’s wife till his death.

His style of playing is well known in the chess world for its strong attack and even stronger defense. "Alekhine is a poet who creates a work of art out of something that would hardly inspire another man to send home a picture post-card." What made Alekhine different from other chess players was his ability to sense an attack and place his move likewise. Edward Winter, a chess expert rightly referred to him as "the supreme genius of the complicated position." The notable contemporary chess players play Alekhine defense till date.

World Chess Championship

Alekhine was the undisputed king of World Chess Championship from years 1927 to 1935 and 1937 to 1946. The World Chess Championship 1927 was held in Buenos Aires. It was on September and November that he won the WCC title with the score of 6 wins, 3 losses and 25 ties playing against Capablanca. It was after his win that Alekhine shifted to Paris and landed himself into controversies pertaining to which The Soviet Chess Federation broke all terms with him. Since then he held the title till the mid of 1930’s. He won two world title matches with Bogoljubow held in Berlin, The Hague and Amsterdam in the year 1929. He kept on playing tournaments and matches all over the world all through the 1930’s. It was in the year 1935 that Alekhine lost the WCC title to Euwe. It was held in Zandvoort of Netherlands.

It was in the year 1937 that Alekhine won back the WCC title. The match was held in Netherlands between Alekhine and Max Euwe. It was a tough competition but Euwe gave up at last making Alekhine the winner of the title. After his win in the 1937 World Championship, Alekhine declined all offers to play title matches and thus, held the title till his death.