José Raúl Capablanca

José Raúl Capablanca was born in Havana in 1888 and learned chess as a small child by watching his father. In 1901 he defeated Cuban champion Juan Corzo in a match. He later studied at Columbia University in New York, but left his studies and concentrated on chess. His victory over Frank Marshall in a 1909 match brought wider international recognition. He won the strong San Sebastián tournament in 1911, ahead of established European masters. In 1913 he joined Cuba’s foreign service, combining chess travel with a role representing his country abroad.

Capablanca became world champion by defeating Emanuel Lasker in Havana in 1921, winning four games and losing none. He went unbeaten in tournament and match play from February 1916 until March 1924, when Richard Réti defeated him in New York. His championship years included outright victories at London in 1922 and New York in 1927. Alexander Alekhine defeated him in the 1927 world championship match in Buenos Aires. Although Capablanca sought a return match for years, it never took place.

Capablanca’s books include My Chess Career and Chess Fundamentals, which explain his approach through games and practical principles. His handling of simplified positions and endgames became a particular focus of later study. After a period away from major competition, he returned to win Moscow in 1936 and share first place with Mikhail Botvinnik at Nottingham that year. Playing for Cuba in the 1939 Buenos Aires Olympiad, he earned the award for the best first-board performance. He died in New York in 1942, aged fifty-three.