Alexander Alehin [20 (1) November 1892, Moscow - 24 March 1946, Estoril, near Lisbon], Russian chess player, the fourth in the history of the world champion (1927-1935 and 1937), a chess writer and theorist. Doctor of Law (1925).

Childhood and adolescence. Educating nature.

The son of Marshal of the Nobility Voronezh Alexander Ivanovich Alekhine (1856-1917) and Anisya Prokhorova Ivanovna (1861-1915), came from a family known textile manufacturer, owner Trekhgornij Manufactory “. He studied at the classical gymnasium LI Polivanov (Moscow, 1901-1910) and the Imperial College of Law (St. Petersburg, 1911-1914), after which he was awarded the rank of titular councilor. Alekhine played chess with 7 years in youth often participate in tournaments on correspondence and helped to develop their analytical thinking. In 16 years, winning the All-Russia tournament in memory of MI Chigorin (Petersburg, 1909), received the title of maestro and was awarded a porcelain vase – the main prize, established “Their Imperial Majesties.” In 1914 he won third place in the “tournament of champions” in St. Petersburg, becoming one of the contenders for world supremacy. Alekhine’s Words “by chess, I brought up his character” became cruise in the chess world.

Russia period.

In 1916 he sent a volunteer at the Galician front, headed the detachment of the Red Cross, was wounded. For the salvation of the wounded was awarded two medals of St. George and the Order of St. Sviatoslav with swords. In 1919, during a chess tour of Ukraine in Odessa, was arrested and sentenced to death on charges of having links with the Whites. Through the intervention of the chairman of People’s Commissars of Ukraine H. Rakovski released. In 1919 he entered the State Film Studio in Moscow, but in May 1920 goes to the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department Chief Investigator police department, the fall working as a translator in the Comintern. In October 1920 won the first championship of Soviet Russia in chess. In March 1921 he married Anne-Lise Ryuegg – Swiss Democratic Party activist. The marriage was brief, but allowed Alekhin freely emigrate from Russia.

Living abroad. Victory and records.

In 1921-1927 years has played in 22 international tournaments and won 14 of them, including such large as Gastingsky (1922), Baden-Baden (1925), Kechkemetskaya (1927). In 1921 he published in Berlin in German his first book, “Chess Life in Soviet Russia.” He has made a valuable contribution to the debut of the theory, one of the first to use chess top 1. e4 Kf6, termed “Alekhine’s Defense” (1921), has developed a number of new systems to the Spanish party, the French defense, Queen’s Gambit, and many other lines. Has a phenomenal memory. In 1924-1925 set several world records in the simul blind: New York (1924) – played 26 parties, of which won 16, lost 5 and 5 ended in a draw (+16, -5 = 5), Paris ( 1925) – 27 parties, of whom won in the 22′s and only 3 lost (+22, -3 = 2). In 1925, defended at the Sorbonne thesis on “System” in prison in China, became a doctor of law. In 1927, in Buenos Aires won the world championship match of the Cuban Capablanca chess (+6, -3, = 25), becoming the fourth largest in the history of chess world champion. In the years 1929-1937 has played two matches at the World Championship in Germany who lived with the Russian grandmaster ED Bogoliubov (1929, 11, -5 = 9, 1934, 8, -3, = 15) and two with the Dutchman M . Euwe (1935, +8, -9, = 13; 1937; +10, -4, = 11). In 1937 he became the first in the history of chess champion, won the rematch. After winning the International Tournament in Bled (Yugoslavia, 1931), ahead of runner-ups on 5,5 points, setting a record result in the history of chess. Actively contributed to the promotion of chess worldwide. The first world champions held (September 10, 1932 – May 20, 1933) Round the World chess tour (USA, Mexico, Cuba, Hawaii, Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, Ceylon, Egypt, Palestine, Italy) , which played during the 1320 party (1161 won, and only 65 lost). He headed the team of France in four Chess Olympiads (1930, 1931, 1933, 1939). In 1940, Lieutenant-translator of the French army. In 1941, the newspaper Pariser Zeitung, published a series of articles “Jewish and Aryan Chess”, signed by Alekhine, who later called the matter “a forgery”, the question of authorship remains controversial. In March 1946, received a call for the match against Soviet champion Botvinnik. Began to prepare, but died suddenly at the hotel “Park-Hotel Estoril. First time world chess champion, died undefeated. Buried at Estoril in 1956 reburied in Paris at the Montparnasse cemetery, where his monument says: “Genius of Chess Russia and France.” Total Alekhin made in 87 tournaments and 62 of them won first place, held 23 matches, of which won 17 and 4 reduced the draw. His life is devoted to film “White Snow of Russia” (1980), filmed in the Soviet Union based on the novel of Moscow grandmaster Alexander Kotov A. “White and Black” (1965).
V. Linder

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