Every World Chess Championship Match Ranked | Part 1: pre-FIDE (1834-1937)

[@marksmith2701]

This is Chess Dojo at its best: chess, chess, chess, and more chess, with familiar names and facts, with new insights and new facts, peppered with varied opinions based on deep love of the game. I often tell non-chess friends that we are living in a Golden Age of Chess coverage on the internet. Here's one of the reasons why.

[@ChessDojo]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@persephone7656]

Love this opportunity to learn chess history. There’s just so many interesting characters and you don’t get any of that grinding out learning chess online.

[@michaelf8221]

I had no idea that Tarrasch was on the sidelines of Steinitz-Lasker shit talking both competitors. That's hilarious

[@G-chess_channel]

Tarrasch was apprantly unbearable as a human being lol. And we think Kramnik is bad! Well actually it’s arguable since Tarrasch never falsely accused others of stuff but my point is Tarrasch was an interesting guy

[@davidpelletier5011]

@@G-chess_channellasker used psychology (he was known for playing the move that would most trouble his opponent rather than looking for the objectively best move), and although the match regulations stipulated no smoking, he kept a cigar in his mouth. This infuriated Tarrasch. When it was pointed out that the cigar was unlit, he exclaimed “everyone knows Lasker says the threat is worse than the execution!” (At least this is the way I remember the story.)

[@G-chess_channel]

@@davidpelletier5011 Pretty sure that was Nimzowitsch in a tournament.

[@paulgottlieb]

Lasker was financially wiped out by WW I. He was a patriotic German and had invested his entire savings in German War Bonds. When Germany lost, Lasker lost everything. He was at a low ebb in 1921

[@chesscomdpruess]

Did not know that! Thanks!!

[@davidblue819]

When it comes to the fame of a match, match books should count, especially when they are written by the players. This should come up a lot with Botvinnik and later Kasparov. Tal should also be mentioned. Two losers also deserve special credit. Topalov wrote a great book of his bitter world championship match loss to Kramnik. Euwe was a co-author of Alekhine's excellent book on how he came back and beat Euwe in the revenge match. Think about the mental toughness it must have taken for Euwe to write notes for publication for even a couple of games in Alekhine's book. Some days it isn't easy being a gentleman.

[@russellstinson3414]

Here's the other thing you didn't mention about Alekhine-Euwe 1935; Euwe came back from 3 games down to win. That alone should make it a great match.

[@G-chess_channel]

It was a very hard fought match honestly with pretty good games, espicially that one game that Euwe won.

[@Js-gp7nx]

You so called experts dont know much about Euwe , like Anand he made chess great for his country, besides he was a teacher, written so many great books, he was a amateur but had a great influence on professionalization the game. Maybe visit the Max museum in Amsterdam Jesse, some history to learn for you.

[@j-mo3129]

Lasker played until late in life and was still very strong. All while pursuing professional interests outside of chess. Lasker knew how to beat individual players. I just never understood why so many GMs dismiss him.

[@G-chess_channel]

Lasker was a top player, absolute elite for like 40 years. I think that is only rivaled by 2 other players, Korchnoi and Smyslov who are also underrated. Crazy dudes

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Lasker won the New York tournament in 1924 beating world Best scoring 2875 elo at age 56! Bobby Fischer beat Spassky 10 wins 15 draws 5 losses in 1992! Spassky was 162nd world ranking and rated 2550!So we get Fischer rating 2617,78 in 1992! Fischer would have been 59th world ranking in 1992! Lasker 2875 at age 56 versus Fischer 2617,78 at age 49!

[@Tom-ov9ks]

This is fantastic! I suggested a Dojo Talks like this in a comment to another video. I did not know how close Schlecter came to beating Lasker. Must be a seriously overlooked player. I know very little about him other than the slightly passive line of the Slav/Grunfeld.

[@haydenn680]

Banger! Tierlists are great. Would love to see yall do an Opening Tierlist. There are some out there but would love to see yours

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks! We kind of did that with guest GM Eugene Perelshteyn a few years ago, but maybe it's time for an update 😃 Here's that episode, if you're interested! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmPFlIGencSrnMksi=VG5pSkfnNQqYVpoQ

[@haydenn680]

@ I think those e4 and d4 videos were great but the black openings definitely could use an update as Jesse didnt participate and David gave his weird “play them all” answer trying to be smarter than the question (i. e. Philidor)

[@marcusnygaard2670]

@@ChessDojoWould love an update as well! Maybe also an in-depth repertoire tier-list 1. E4. 2. E5 for both white and black (ruy, italian, philidor, petrov and so on).

[@haydenn680]

@@ChessDojo if I may, it would be nice if you guys would recommend like five of your favorite Sicilians as well as five of your favorite replies to the Ruy Lopez.

[@yawn8974]

1:03:20 lmao don't forget he also clicked his heels at Lasker. Weakest mic drop ever

[@paulgottlieb]

Steinitz abandoning romanticism was as popular as Dylan going electric

[@thesamtomyfrodo]

Great episode! I always love these since I’m a history buff and enjoy getting a glimpse into the past through these discussions. I’m not on patreon, but I hope you don’t mind me suggesting a topic - the immortal game (either widely accepted or what you consider the immortal game) of each current top 10 player. Some of these players are very young though lol so maybe just their best game so far.

[@Agastya26]

Very excited to see this series! Looking forward mainly to the Karpov-Kasparov matches.

[@ChessDojo]

It should be a good time!

[@ericwagner7747]

Gunsberg lit up steinitz repeatedly in the evans gambit.

[@smejmoon]

I believe the reason why Ding - Nepo match was epic in current times is because they both believed they could take the other guy down and went for it.

[@paulgottlieb]

I don't think Rubinstein, who was very shy and socially awkward, could never secure a patron who could finance a challenge

[@mekelius]

Anyone else hear a couple "jesseisms" in David's speech in this one 😁? But hey, great list. I maybe would have liked a little bit more of the chess, like what famous ideas first made an appearance on the board. But ofc the human side of it is fascinating as well.

[@johncreekpaum4998]

It was quick, but I caught that Avatar reference from David!

[@paulgottlieb]

Lasker, and later Rubinstein and Capablanca were far ahead of their contemporaries in positional understanding. And they won a lot of their games based simply on that understanding..

[@dsrguru]

I learned a lot about chess history, and I also learned that David is an Avatar fan!

[@paulgottlieb]

Tarrasch was Jewish! And like Lasker, he was a proud German. Tarrasch lost a son in WW I

[@MrSoupandBread]

This is the deep stuff

[@chessmanwriter12]

Love this. The main thing I disagree with is I think 1927 should be in epic. Capablanca was basically a god at the time, he'd gone 10 years at one point without losing a game, and even Alekhine concluded that Capablanca was just a better player. But somehow Alekhine managed to defeat him anyway.

[@j-mo3129]

Alekhine sobered up for the rematch

[@chessmanwriter12]

@@j-mo3129 You must have misread my comment.

[@G-chess_channel]

Imo the reason the match isn’t high for me is because of the number of boring draws in the QGD. Ofc there were good games and interesting moments and storylines but like for the average player this match probably wouldn’t be so interesting. Also Capa’s streak of unbeaten games was 8 years. 1916-1924. Starting off with a loss to Chajes in 1916 and ending it with a loss to Reti.

[@Sitbear]

Can't wait for the 2023 championship to be ranked!

[@Minerva6699]

Nice!

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@francoispitre6292]

Mayweather studied Lasker for picking oponents for is championship belts

[@diells7396]

another one!!!!!

[@davidblue819]

Alekhine selects Max Euwe: "This is what I'm looking for: the Italian Stallion." Max was a good partner, didn't take no cheap shots.

[@geoffreyevans6133]

Steinitz challenged Tarrasch to come to USA and play match for the World Championship. Tarrasch couldn’t afford to come and play a match due to his medical practice.

[@pascojc]

Very disappointed that Staunton -St Amant not included. Clearly was considered to be for bragging rights as world's best, as Staunton was so considered after the match. Given (young) Fischer's high regard for Staunton, re his pioneering of the English (!) Opening and the fianchetto, his victory is really due more respect. Morphy knew Staunton had earned this due, explaining why he wanted to play him in Europe. Btw I listen on podcast. YT uses up too much charge

[@diells7396]

let’s go

[@geoffreyevans6133]

Tarrasch was of Jewish decent and experienced antisemitism by the Nazis .

[@davidblue819]

If you want to play Steinitz because now he's old, that's an admission about where he stands in the game (all time) and where you stand in the game (all time). This will come up again with Botvinnik. It was desirable to play a match with Botvinnik not because you were as dominant as he was in 1948 but because now he was old. And even then it was, Mommy, Mommy, protect me from having to play a return match against Botvinnik!

[@Sitbear]

Lasker is so overrated. From 1903-1907 he ducked Pillsbury and Maroczy, both of whom would likely have defeated him. A true metagamer.

[@nathynorthy6916]

Janowski is pronounced YanOFFski, ffs. Why do Americans insist on mispronouncing names?