Originally posted by EmLasker'Soviet' is no synonym for 'Russian'.I'm not so sure the Soviets cared much about chess in those early days.And if they did I doubt Alekhine had their support,certainly not after he didn't return to Russia after being allowed a visit to the west.
Did the Soviet Dominance start with Alekhine or Botvinnik?
I believe Alekhine. people categorize him as French, but he was really Russian. what's your opinion?
Originally posted by KatastroofAfter the Russian Revolution Alekhine was expelled from Soviet Union. I have a copy of a BBC interview where he said just that. He was a citizen of France, therefore he is a Frenchman of Russian birth. He was never a Soviet citizen.
'Soviet' is no synonym for 'Russian'.I'm not so sure the Soviets cared much about chess in those early days.And if they did I doubt Alekhine had their support,certainly not after he didn't return to Russia after being allowed a visit to the west.
Trivia Question:
Who was the first American World Chess Champion?
Hint: It was not Bobby.
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Originally posted by caissad4Morphy
After the Russian Revolution Alekhine was expelled from Soviet Union. I have a copy of a BBC interview where he said just that. He was a citizen of France, therefore he is a Frenchman of Russian birth. He was never a Soviet citizen.
Trivia Question:
Who was the first American World Chess Champion?
Hint: It was not Bobby.
or
Capablanca
depending on what you mean by American and by chess champion.
EDIT - Wait, Wiki's giving Steinitz to the US as well as Austria-Hungary. It could be Steinitz. It all depends how you define the words in the question.
1 edit
I do believe Steinitz was a citizen of the USA at the time he won the official WC title,yes.So it has to be him.
I didn't know Alekhine was expelled from the soviet union.Is this certain?I thought the soviets claimed his families lands thereby Alekhine lost his wealth causing him to turn his back on them and leave to never return.
Originally posted by EmLaskerAlekhine was allowed to leave Russia in the 1920s -- with his Swiss wife -- for a visit to the West. He never returned. After he won the world championship from Capablanca in 1927, I'm sure it was a source of consternation that the chess champion of the world had fled the Soviet Union. The Soviet chess establishment shouldered on without the champion and developed its own talent, including one promising candidate: Botvinnik. After he was properly seasoned and had tested his mettle against the best chess players of the West, including Flohr, Reshevsky and Fine, the Soviet authorities approached Alekhine for a title match against the Soviet champion, Botvinnik, to be played in Moscow. According to accounts, Alekhine was very excited at the prospect of returning to his home country and being feted by the Soviet authorities. Alas, it was not to be -- Alekhine died alone in his hotel room in Portugal in 1946.
Did the Soviet Dominance start with Alekhine or Botvinnik?
I believe Alekhine. people categorize him as French, but he was really Russian. what's your opinion?
So in answer to your question, the era of Soviet dominance in chess properly began with Botvinnik. It was only in the 1950s that the Soviets rehabilitated Alehkhine and acknowledged his influence on Soviet chess players. In their book entitled "The Soviet School of Chess," Kotov and Yudovich, the pedigree of Soviet chess begins with Chigorin, then Alekhine and finally, Botvinnik.
Originally posted by caissad4Morphy, although since Steinitz in generally considered the first World Champion, Steinitz could be considered the first (naturalized). Lasker also lived in the US for a considerable amount of time, as did Capa.
Trivia Question:
Who was the first American World Chess Champion?
Hint: It was not Bobby.
If you want to talk about any official chess WC, including correspondence chess champions, then Hans Berliner should be counted for winning the title in the 60's. #5 in the line after my man CJS Purdy. However, he was also naturalized to the US.
Not that it makes much difference - the US is a nation of immigrants.
Originally posted by KatastroofCorrect, he became a US citizen shortly before losing the title to Lasker.
I do believe Steinitz was a citizen of the USA at the time he won the official WC title,yes.So it has to be him.
I didn't know Alekhine was expelled from the soviet union.Is this certain?I thought the soviets claimed his families lands thereby Alekhine lost his wealth causing him to turn his back on them and leave to never return.
In Alekhine's own words, he claims to have been expelled.