Emanuel Lasker

Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) was a German chess player and World Chess Champion for almost 30 years. He was also a mathematician and philosopher and one of the strongest chess players of all time.

Emanuel Lasker vs NN

In Manchester, 1903, the legendary Emanuel Lasker faced an unnamed opponent in a game that concludes with a swift mating pattern. See if you can find the two-move finish that left the board decided.

George H. Mackenzie: One of the Old Masters

According to his biographer John S. Hilbert, George H. Mackenzie was universally loved during his lifetime but utterly forgotten after his death. “George H. Mackenzie: A Chess Biography” presents Mackenzie’s games and stories about his life and times. More 🡢

The Second Chess Grandmaster

When Maurice Ashley became a grandmaster, he was the first USA federation Black player to achieve that title. Brewington Hardaway, whose father is African American, is the second USA federation Black player to become a grandmaster. At SuperNationals VIII, Hardaway finished with 6 points out of seven games. That score placed Hardaway in a seven-way […] More 🡢

The Saint Louis Chess Conference: Grandmaster Maurice Ashley

The Saint Louis Chess Conference will be October 24–26. If you are interested in presenting, the proposal submission deadline is April 5. Early bird pricing ends on April 30. Keynote speakers are Grandmasters Maurice Ashley and Judit Polgár and former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. More 🡢

Albert W. Fox: A Chess Life On and Off the Board

Chess historians adore Albert W. Fox: A Chess Life On and Off the Board and respect its author, John S. Hilbert. International Master John Donaldson describes Hilbert as “America’s premier chess historian.” Along with Donaldson, several chess historians provided blurbs for Hilbert’s Fox book. More 🡢

Greatest World Chess Champion of All Time?

How to judge which world chess champion is the greatest of all time? One might look at the number of years that the champion held the title, inflation-adjusted peak rating, dominance over peers, or abilities as a chess ambassador. Another criterion, adopted by this article, is how many different challengers has each world chess champion faced. More 🡢

Chess Historical Literacy

For chess historical literacy, becoming familiar with the World Chess Champions is essential. Their games and writings influenced both their contemporaries and those that came after them. Therefore, one should be able to name, in order, the World Chess Champions. More 🡢

Infographic: All World Chess Champions

We all know that Magnus Carlsen is the World Chess Champion, but who was the first one? And when? Even less is known about women champions. You probably have heard about Susan Polgar, but who is the current woman chess champion? More 🡢