Mannheim 1914 and the Interned Russians

94 games (the other 5 are lost) from the Masters’ Tournament at Mannheim which was broken off when World War 1 began, with extensive notes. Alekhine won ahead of Vidmar, Spielmann, Breyer, Marshall, Reti, Janowski, Bogoljubow, Tarrasch, Duras, John, Tartakower, Fahrni, Post, Carls, Krüger, Flamberg and Mieses.

90 games from the lower sections (all that are known), many never published before, many with notes.

103 games from the tournaments played by the interned players in Baden Baden and Triberg, plus other games played in consultation, in matches and by correspondence. All the available games, many with notes.

Almost half the book, more than 250 pages, tells the full story of what happened when the tournament was broken off – a story never told before of the arrests, internments, the ones that got away. The author has attempted to follow all 40 Russians who were at Mannheim playing, reporting and spectating and to tell their stories. Magazine and newspaper articles are quoted from the USA, Britain, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Australia and more. Alekhine’s story has some surprises! 

The book contains (approximately) 373 games and 1 problem, 232 diagrams and 130 illustrations (photographs, maps, documents).

In early August 1914 there were 12 Russians left in Mannheim facing internment and by mid-1918 there were just 2 left. The book explains how and why.

This is one of the strangest stories in modern chess and it is has now been researched and recounted for the first time.

• Casa editrice The Chess Player
• Codice 6723
• Anno 2014
• Pagine p. 526, hardcover
• Isbn 9780992792428