"Alexander Alekhine: Chess Master, Fearless Strategist"

In the vast universe of chess, where brilliant minds intertwine in epic battles, a figure emerges who defied convention and left his indelible mark on the board. Prepare to immerse yourself in the intriguing world of Alexander Alekhine, a chess master whose genius redefined the rules of the game. 

From the streets of Russia to the gaming halls around the world, Alekhine established himself as a chess titan, a masterful strategist whose moves baffled and astonished his opponents. His unique style fused tactical cunning with creative audacity, creating games that still resonate in the hearts of chess lovers. 

Every Alekhine game was a strategic dance, a symphony of calculated and surprising moves that defied expectations. His bold approach and ability to find beauty in chaos made him an unmatched champion, an unstoppable force on the board. 

Beyond competition, Alekhine was a chess poet, a visionary who expanded the boundaries of the game. His legacy lies not only in victories and titles, but in the enduring inspiration he provides to those who immerse themselves in the complexity and passion of chess. 

Alekhine: First from the right

Alexander Alekhine was born on October 31, 1892 in Moscow, into a noble and wealthy family. His father was a landowner and member of the Russian Imperial Duma, and his mother was the daughter of a textile businessman. He had two siblings, Alekséi and Varvara, with whom he learned to play chess at the age of eleven, thanks to his grandmother. His childhood was marked by the political and social instability of his country, which experienced the First World War and the Russian Revolution. Alekhine graduated in law from St. Petersburg University and briefly worked for the Russian Foreign Ministry. During the war, he served as a nurse in the Russian Red Cross and was decorated several times for bravery. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1914, but managed to escape the following year. 

Alekhine dedicated himself to chess professionally from his youth, and soon stood out for his talent and his aggressive and combinative style. He won the Russian championship in 1914 and 1920, and participated in several international tournaments, where he faced the best players of the time, such as Capablanca, Lasker, Rubinstein or Bogoljubov. In 1921, he left the Soviet Union and moved to France, where he became naturalized in 1927. That same year, he reached the peak of his career by defeating the Cuban José Raúl Capablanca in Buenos Aires and becoming world chess champion. . He was the first champion to defend his title regularly, doing so successfully against Bogoljubov in 1929 and 1934. However, in 1935 he lost the title to the Dutchman Max Euwe, in a surprising defeat that was attributed to his lack of preparation and their personal problems. Alekhine recovered and regained the title in 1937, after defeating Euwe in a rematch. 

Alekhine's life was full of interesting anecdotes, but also controversies and scandals. He was a cultured, polyglot man, fond of music and literature, and author of several books and articles on chess, where he showed his deep knowledge and originality. He was also a great fan of animals, especially cats, and had more than a dozen in his house. However, he also had a difficult, arrogant, confrontational and self-destructive personality. He was married four times, and had problems with alcohol, drugs and gambling. During World War II, he collaborated with the Nazi regime and published some anti-Semitic articles that earned him rejection from the chess community. After the war, he tried to clean up his image and organize a title match with the Soviet Botvínnik, but he did not succeed. 

Alekhine died on March 24, 1946 in Estoril, Portugal, due to choking and liver failure. He was the only world champion to die in possession of the title. His remains were buried in the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris. Alekhine is remembered as one of the greatest predecessors of modern chess, and as one of the most influential in the development of the theory and practice of the game. His legacy is admired by many players, including Garry Kasparov, who dedicated a glowing chapter to him in his book “My Great Predecessors,” where he analyzed his games and his contributions to chess. Kasparov recognized Alekhine's greatness, but also criticized his shortcomings and mistakes, both on the board and off it. Kasparov wrote: “Alekhine was a genius, but also a man with a tragic and contradictory life. His work is a treasure for chess, but also a lesson in humanity.”