World Chess Championship 1921
The World Chess Championship 1921 was a battle between the reigning world chess champion Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca and his challenger. Capablanca won and became the third World Champion in chess history.
Prehistory
The Cuban Capablanca had a reputation as an almost invincible "Chess Machine" acquired. When he won in 1911 in San Sebastián that tournament, which should decide the challenger to Lasker, he asked Lasker for a title fight. However, Lasker for a clause that Capablanca with 2 points must gain advantage to become world champion, he refused indignantly. On 12 August 1920 the came through the mediation of the Dutch Chess Federation in The Hague to an agreement.
Organization and rules
It was played in Havana. The match was limited to 24 games: winner the player should be, who would have been the first 12 ½ points or 8 games won. What would have happened in a draw, was not specified in the contract game. The cooling-off period was one hour per 15 trains. In five games a week were up to two sessions a day instead, but never to several games a day. The first meeting lasted four and the second two hours in between had to be at least three free hours. The right to dispose of the lots had been set to both players.
Controversy about Lasker's abdication in 1920
Lasker put down his world title in 1920 in favor of Capablanca's what was written in the contract game. However, it is disputed whether Lasker ever allowed to resign the title to Capablanca's favor and after the announcement of the release of the title this message was not accepted by the chess public. Such was, for example, the German chess magazine Capablanca after the title fight as champion. In the issue of August-September 1920, said in a footnote to Lasker's abdication: " A view of who are the rebels, the entire chess world. " In the event of a victory by Lasker this would not assume the title, they are the world of chess available want.
Course
The match began on 15 March 1921 for the Gran Casino de la Playa in Havana. Lasker was not able to cope with Capablanca's style. In addition, the tropical climate made him to create. When he was with 4 losses after 14 games with 10 draws in residue and Capablanca refused his desire to continue in a milder climate, he gave up. It was the first and only time that a World Cup was prematurely terminated by the task.