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Alekhine vs Capablanca: The Rivalry

Very interesting article. Still great games.
Is there some evidence for the rumor that Capablanca was womanizing during their World Championship match? That is sometimes named as the cause for his loss.

Very interesting article. Still great games. Is there some evidence for the rumor that Capablanca was womanizing during their World Championship match? That is sometimes named as the cause for his loss.

Thank you for this well-researched article about these two chess giants.

Thank you for this well-researched article about these two chess giants.

@tpr said in #2:

Very interesting article. Still great games.
Is there some evidence for the rumor that Capablanca was womanizing during their World Championship match? That is sometimes named as the cause for his loss.

In my research I never came across any evidence supporting that. I'd imagine that Capablanca already had his hands full with playing Alekhine. Maybe he did, but there wasn't anything that I saw relating to that.

@tpr said in #2: > Very interesting article. Still great games. > Is there some evidence for the rumor that Capablanca was womanizing during their World Championship match? That is sometimes named as the cause for his loss. In my research I never came across any evidence supporting that. I'd imagine that Capablanca already had his hands full with playing Alekhine. Maybe he did, but there wasn't anything that I saw relating to that.

Olga: "Adored and pursued by women, naturally, he had had many infatuations, none of them too serious."
"The players would like to know why you don’t pay more attention to chess"
Fischer during his 1972 World Championship Match against Spassky had two 17 year old blonde Icelandic girls friends.

It seems that Alékhine defeated Capablanca mainly in the opening. Alékhine had prepared several unusual lines. Capablanca started 1 e4 in the 1st game, but after he suffered a loss he switched to 1 d4 for the remainder of the match.

Olga: "Adored and pursued by women, naturally, he had had many infatuations, none of them too serious." "The players would like to know why you don’t pay more attention to chess" Fischer during his 1972 World Championship Match against Spassky had two 17 year old blonde Icelandic girls friends. It seems that Alékhine defeated Capablanca mainly in the opening. Alékhine had prepared several unusual lines. Capablanca started 1 e4 in the 1st game, but after he suffered a loss he switched to 1 d4 for the remainder of the match.

Capablanca was a womanizer. I just didn't see anything about it being the cause of his loss to Alekhine because he was womanizing during the games specifically.

That Fischer story sounds remarkable. I remember reading an anecdote about two girls who stayed in Fischer's room saying that all he did was listen to rock n roll while studying chess (not during the 1972 match specifically).

Where did you read about Fischer having two 17 year old blonde Icelandic girlfriends. (I remember reading that Fischer danced with a beautiful Icelandic girl during the closing party - and that everyone was surprised that Fischer danced well (not sure if he knew her or was just asked).

Capablanca was a womanizer. I just didn't see anything about it being the cause of his loss to Alekhine because he was womanizing during the games specifically. That Fischer story sounds remarkable. I remember reading an anecdote about two girls who stayed in Fischer's room saying that all he did was listen to rock n roll while studying chess (not during the 1972 match specifically). Where did you read about Fischer having two 17 year old blonde Icelandic girlfriends. (I remember reading that Fischer danced with a beautiful Icelandic girl during the closing party - and that everyone was surprised that Fischer danced well (not sure if he knew her or was just asked).

@tpr

Thanks for linking the article - I hadn't seen it before.

Tim Krabbé's website has some more info on this. Go to (27. 19 October: Of Icelandic girls) - almost at the end of the page https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess2/diary_2.htm

Also here's this quote from https://www.chess.com/blog/Spektrowski/spassky---fischer-the-match-diary-by-nikolai-krogius-part-6

"In the sports palace, Fischer's long stay at the table was interrupted by a sweet Icelandic girl who invited the champion for a dance. Bobby mumbled something, fidgeted for a bit, then smiled and accepted. To the surprise of many people who thought that Fischer was a complete recluse, he danced pretty well."

@tpr Thanks for linking the article - I hadn't seen it before. Tim Krabbé's website has some more info on this. Go to (27. 19 October: Of Icelandic girls) - almost at the end of the page https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess2/diary_2.htm Also here's this quote from https://www.chess.com/blog/Spektrowski/spassky---fischer-the-match-diary-by-nikolai-krogius-part-6 "In the sports palace, Fischer's long stay at the table was interrupted by a sweet Icelandic girl who invited the champion for a dance. Bobby mumbled something, fidgeted for a bit, then smiled and accepted. To the surprise of many people who thought that Fischer was a complete recluse, he danced pretty well."

Thank you so much for this extensive article. I remember reading that Alekhine refused to play in tournaments where Capablanca played. I'd like to know if there's any evidence to support this. I'm Cuban, so perhaps the source where I read this is a bit biased, hehe.

Thank you so much for this extensive article. I remember reading that Alekhine refused to play in tournaments where Capablanca played. I'd like to know if there's any evidence to support this. I'm Cuban, so perhaps the source where I read this is a bit biased, hehe.

@albertjunior90

This youtube video lecture claimed that Alekhine refused to play in the 1932 Pasadena tournament if Capablanca was playing. Apparently the tournament was going to invite them both and apparently Alekhine played without getting paid an appearance fee. (I'm wondering about this since Capablanca played 0 tournaments or matches from August 1931-December 1934).

https://youtu.be/sym9V7YspNE?t=6440

The lecture cites Edward Winter's book Capablanca at the end of the video, which is a reliable source. So this is true if that video got the info from the book.

1931 was when their relationship decayed a lot.

Alekhine barely played professional chess in 1928/1929, only playing one tournament (1929 Bradley Beach).

Capablanca didn't play from August 1931 - December 1934.

I can't find any other sources showing whether Alekhine refused to play in tournaments where Capablanca played.

@albertjunior90 This youtube video lecture claimed that Alekhine refused to play in the 1932 Pasadena tournament if Capablanca was playing. Apparently the tournament was going to invite them both and apparently Alekhine played without getting paid an appearance fee. (I'm wondering about this since Capablanca played 0 tournaments or matches from August 1931-December 1934). https://youtu.be/sym9V7YspNE?t=6440 The lecture cites Edward Winter's book Capablanca at the end of the video, which is a reliable source. So this is true if that video got the info from the book. 1931 was when their relationship decayed a lot. Alekhine barely played professional chess in 1928/1929, only playing one tournament (1929 Bradley Beach). Capablanca didn't play from August 1931 - December 1934. I can't find any other sources showing whether Alekhine refused to play in tournaments where Capablanca played.