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Emanuil Lasker2nd world chess champion
Date of Birth: 24.12.1868
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Emanuel Lasker
Emanuel Lasker, born on December 24, 1868, in Barlinek, Poland (formerly Berlinchen), was a renowned chess player and theorist. He is considered the second World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1894 to 1921. Lasker's contributions to the art of chess are highly revered, with Alexander Alekhine stating that "many ideas of chess art are unthinkable without Lasker."
Early Life and Career
Lasker began his chess career as a student, participating in tournaments organized by the Berlin Chess Society from 1888. In 1889, he achieved success in international competitions, winning the side tournament in Breslau (now Wrocław) and the tournament in Amsterdam. He went on to win matches against prominent players such as Karl Bardelben, Jacques Mieses, Gustav Berda, and Bird's English.
Rise to World Champion
In 1891, Lasker moved to England, where he continued his winning streak. He won the two-round tournament in London in 1892, defeating players like Joseph Blackburne and Gustav Berda. Lasker's success in the United States in 1893, winning the tournament of American masters in New York and defeating George Henry Mackenzie, further solidified his reputation as a formidable chess player.
Inspired by his achievements, Lasker challenged Wilhelm Steinitz for the World Chess Championship in 1894 and convincingly won the match with a score of 12:7. He continued to showcase his exceptional skills in subsequent tournaments, achieving notable placements in events such as Hastings (1895), St. Petersburg (1895/1896), Nuremberg (1896), and Paris (1900).
Later Career and Legacy
Lasker's career continued to flourish, and he won multiple World Chess Championship matches against Frank Marshall (1907-10) and David Janowski (twice in 1909 and 1910). Although he lost the title to Jose Raul Capablanca in 1921, Lasker remained a formidable opponent and continued to compete in various tournaments around the world.
His chess legacy extended beyond his playing career. Lasker's approach to the game integrated logic, technical prowess, and a unique psychological understanding of his opponents. He studied various games based on calculation and dedicated his research to game theory. Lasker developed concepts related to strategic plans, positional structure, and tactical decision-making, revolutionizing the understanding of chess combinations.
In the face of political upheaval, Lasker emigrated to the Soviet Union during the rise of Nazi Germany. He lived in Moscow from 1935 to 1937 before relocating to the United States to join his wife's relatives. Emanuel Lasker passed away on January 11, 1941, in New York City.
His contributions as a chess player, educator, researcher, and thinker significantly influenced the development of chess, establishing it as an essential element of human culture. As Alexander Alekhine stated, "many ideas of chess art are unthinkable without Lasker... Lasker should serve as an example for all chess players of both the present and future generations."
