The U.S. Chess Championship Match of 1909 resulted in a dispute over Capablanca's Cuban citizenship, though Cuba was an American protectorate at the time; chess organizer and lawyer Walter Penn Shipley decided neither player could hold the title, since neither had challenged the last living U.S. Chess Champion. In round 11 Frank James Marshall and Jose Raul Capablanca played the Queen's Gambit Declined.
Frank James Marshall favored aggressive play and confounding complications, prompting his nickname "The Great Swindler;" he would win the U.S. Chess Championship twice before relinquishing the title to allow a change to tournament format. Jose Raul Capablanca excelled in simple game-play and accurate endgames, earning him the nickname "Chess Machine;" he was undefeated in match and tournament play from 1916 to 1924, held the World Chess Champion title from 1921 to 1927, and is generally regarded as one of the best players of all time.
