The first six world Champions - 6 volumes

Wilhelm Steinitz - 1st World Chess Champion

The first official world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz was a towering figure in the chess world in the last quarter of the 19th century. For nearly three decades, he never lost a serious match.

His opening innovations have resonated for more than a century. For example, for those who do not wish to meet the Ruy Lopez with 3...a6, the Steinitz Defense, 3...d6, may still be one of the best ways to meet the “Spanish Torture.”

In the early 1870s, he formulated a positional approach that served as the foundation of modern chess. And his pioneering work on chess theory has been a major, enduring influence since it was postulated.

Moreover, if we think of his achievements as a writer, not just as a player, Steinitz was unique. Few authors before or since even come close. And none of his great successors could match his versatility and output.

Emanuel Lasker - 2nd World Chess Champion

Emanuel Lasker was a great chess fighter, thinker and researcher. He was possessed of gigantic playing strength, retaining the title of World s Number One Chessplayer for 27(!) years.

Even after losing his crown, he kept his ability for a long time, as shown by his victories and prize-winning finishes in immensely powerful international tournaments when he was 54 (Moravska-Ostrava 1923), 55 (New York 1924), 56 (Moscow 1925), and even at 66 (Moscow 1935)! 
 
One of the chief postulates of the Second World Champion was the battle of honor. On the chessboard, lies and dishonesty have no place. These words of Lasker could serve, even today, as an example to every young chessplayer of how to relate to the Great Game.

Emanuel Lasker was the first in history to achieve a universal style. This was a Style of the Future, which is why the Second World Champion would not be understood by many of his contemporaries, who believed that he had no style at all.

Lasker`s games of chess, like his entire chess legacy, will live forever! Join Russian chess historians Isaak and Vladimir Linder as they take you on a journey exploring the life and games of the great world champion Emanuel Lasker.

Jose Raul Capablanca - 3rd World Champion

The name of José Raúl Capablanca (1888-1942), the third world champion, is indelibly inscribed in the annals of chess history.

Capablanca’s technique, intuition, remarkably quick calculation, and sense for elegant combinations made him the paragon of grandmasters during his lifetime.

At the peak of his career Capablanca was almost invincible; each of his losses was regarded as a sensation. His books, articles, and lucid annotations became instant classics.

As a star of the first magnitude, Capablanca continues to influence the world of chess. All the world champions of the late 20th century – Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, Fischer, Karpov, and Kasparov – have been influenced by Capablanca’s original ideas.

Respected Russian chess historians Isaak and Vladimir Linder cover all aspects of the great Cuban world champion`s life, from his development as chess prodigy, to becoming world champion and beyond.

Dozens of archival photographs crosstables and a complete record of Capa`s tournament and match results complement the 87 annotated games and fragments, the result being a magnificent tribute to one of the greatest chessplayers of all time.

Alexander Alekhine - 4th World Chess Champion

The World Chess Champion Series

The fourth title in the popular World Chess Champion Series is about the enigmatic Alexander Alekhine.

Tracing the Russian-born champion from his youth in Russia, through his assault on the chess Olympus and beyond, this books paints a fresh portrait of the player who was one of the most spectacular tacticians ever to play the game.

The authors do not shy from confronting some of the less savory aspects of Alekhine’s life. They stick to the facts and present the issues surrounding the fourth world champion.

Rounding out this outstanding biography are over 130 games annotated by German grandmaster Karsten Mueller.

Max Euwe Fifth World Chess Champion

The fifth book of the World Chess Champions series focuses on the life and career of the Dutchman Max Euwe. 

This soft-spoken professor of mathematics rocked the chess world in 1935 when he defeated the seemingly irresistible force, Alexander Alekhine, to become world champion. 

Many chessplayers thought this was an upset of the first magnitude. Hardly. Euwe was at his prime and the best in the world at the time. In fact, Euwe posted a plus score against Alekhine in the four games they played between the 1935 and 1937 matches.

The venerable fifth world champion was also a first-class arbiter, author and chess diplomat. As an author, he is regarded as one of the two or three finest chess writers for the average player. 

Euwe  was also president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) at the time of the Fischer-Spassky title match in 1972. Were it not for Euwe’s persuasive, patient handling of the difficult negotiations between the Russians and Americans, it is very likely that the match would not have taken place at all.

Mikhail Botvinnik: Sixth World Chess Champion

The Patriarch of Soviet Chess

From the mid-1930s to the early 1960s, one man towered above all other chessplayers. That was the sixth world chess champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. His calm, deep analytical approach, supplemented by careful attention to his mental and physical conditioning served him well throughout his career.

Now, in the sixth volume of the World Chess Champion Series by Isaak and Vladimir Linder,  you will learn all about the chess advances and achievements of the Patriarch of Soviet chess, about his life and scholarly pursuit, and his contributions to the various phases of the game – opening, middlegame and endgame.

Botvinnik was no less influential when he assumed the role of teacher. Graduates of his school included such powerful players as Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Sergei Tiviakov and Alexei Shirov.

This book presents almost 150 of Botvinnik’s best games and endings, with fresh annotations by German grandmaster Karsten Müller, along with crosstables and many archival photographs. We invite you on journey to explore the life and games of one of the greatest and most influential world champions ever.

• Marca Russell Enterprises
• Code WORLDCC
• Pagine 1560