Das Internationale Schachturnier Moskau 1925

xii+222+[2 ad] pages with frontispiece, diagrams and table. Octavo (8 1/2" x 6") bound in original publisher's brown cloth with brown lettering to spine and front cover. Signed by Alexander Alekhine. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana:5385) First edition.

Moscow 1925 was one of the great events in the annals of chess, this tournament (November-December 1925) established two 'firsts'. The first confrontation of the Soviet masters with the recognized leaders of international chess; and, as the inevitable concomitant, the first of the type of contest to which the host country contributes a substantial number - between one half and one third - of the total entries (Zurich 1934, Moscow 1935, Kemeri 1937 were later events run on the same formula). In the event, the home team acquitted themselves well, with Bogoljubow winning 1st prize and Romanovsky and Illyin-Zhenevsky in the prize list. The Russian champion took the lead early, closely followed by Lasker, Torre and Rubinstein. The last-named collapsing completely after a 9th round defeat by Yates. Capablanca had scored only 50% halfway, but finished strongly, annexing en route the first (against Zubarev) and the third (against Duz-Khotimirsky) brilliancy prizes. As a result of this outcome Bogolijubow joined the ranks of World Championship candidates, while the view generally held on the Continent (though not in the USA or Britain) that Lasker was still superior to Capablanca received new nourishment. (Golombek Encyclopedia of Chess). Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (1892-1946) was a Russian and French chess player and the fourth World Chess Champion, a title he held for two reigns. By the age of 22, Alekhine was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played. In 1921, Alekhine left Soviet Russia and emigrated to France, which he represented after 1925. In 1927, he became the fourth World Chess Champion by defeating José Raúl Capablanca. Alekhine defended his title with ease against Efim Bogoljubov in 1929 and 1934. He was defeated by Max Euwe in 1935, but regained his crown in the 1937 rematch. His tournament record, however, remained uneven, and rising young stars like Paul Keres, Reuben Fine, and Mikhail Botvinnik threatened his title. Negotiations for a title match with Keres or Botvinnik were halted by the outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939. Negotiations with Botvinnik for a world title match were proceeding in 1946 when Alekhine died in Portugal, in unclear circumstances. Alekhine is the only World Chess Champion to have died while holding the title.

Condition:

Signed and dated on the half title page. Some light soiling, corners bumped, spine head rubbed through, some check marks internally else about very good.