Like Henry Ernest Atkins, whom Eugene Manlapao featured in September, William Ewart Napier was an exceptional master, but is now almost forgotten. In this article, Eugene explores the life of Napier, who burned brightly in his short career as a chess player.
Chess has been part of societies across the world. Its roots can be traced to ancient India, where it was known as ‘Chaturanga’, a game simulating battlefield
IIn the world of sports and intellect, Chess, or the ‘Game of Kings’ as it is known, holds a special place. From prodigies like
Nuremberg 1896 was one of the several super-tournaments in the last decade of the nineteenth century. Coming as it did when the world crown was perceived to be hanging precariously on Emanuel Lasker’s head, the tournament presented a stern test to Lasker himself and all the other world title contenders. It is fitting to revisit the tournament on its 127th anniversary.
Recently, I’ve been looking at some of my old middlegame books, both as potential teaching material and for the pleasure of reminding myself what the bods had to say. A few of the found jewels: Max Euwe and Hans Kramer’s two-volume work on the middlegame; three volumes of “Complete Chess Strategy” by Ludek Pachman; “A Contemporary Approach to the Middlegame” by Alexei Suetin; and three different editions of Aron Nimzowitch’s “My System” (one in Russian).
The former world champion, 60, led the Champions Showdown 9LX unbeaten with 3/4, then collapsed to 3/9, while the 22-year-old finished ahead of the US elite