YouTube chess archives

23.3.2012 - YouTube needs no introduction, and just grows and grows and grows. This year it was announced that the daily views of videos already number the billions. It is no surprise that rare footage of all kinds of events and people is appearing, and chess is no exception. While perusing it, we found video of Rubinstein, Capablanca, Botvinnik, and even Karpov's analysis of Fischer-Spassky 1972.

YouTube chess archives

YouTube needs no introduction, and just grows and grows and grows. This year it was announced that the daily views of videos already number the billions, and while there was a time where describing a video as having "YouTube quality" was a derogatory comment, nowadays one can upload lengthy videos in full HD quality.

The sheer quantity of material is so incredibly far-reaching that it is no surprise that more and more rare footage of all kinds of events and people is appearing, and chess is no exception.

While perusing the vast archives, it was striking to find tids and bits of footage of even the oldest masters. Though most of it sadly only lasts seconds, it is still a remarkable resource. At the end there is even a two-part exposé by Anatoly Karpov on the famous 1972 Fischer-Spassky match.

Very rare live film footage of Akiba Rubinstein at the board. You can also spot Richard
Reti standing behind the referee. Bald guy on the far right is Tartakower.

Capablanca gives a simul (date unknown). Footage is dodgy, but is only one of three
known videos with Capablanca. Time will no doubt unearth more.

Images with Botvinnik and Flohr, presumed from their matches in the 1930s

Footage from the famous 1946 match between the USA and the Soviet Union. It featured
Botvinnik-Reschevsky, Smyslov-Denker, and more.

Scenes from the famous 1951 world title match between Botvinnik and Bronstein

Video depicting Efim Geller and Vassily Smyslov from the 1955 USSR Championship

The final scenes between the historic Fischer-Botvinnik game from the 1962 Olympiad

Live images from the 1963 World Championship, crowning Petrosian and ending the
Botvinnik era.

A number of scenes of a young Mikhail Tal

The video poster added the further explanations: With the participation of : @ piano GM Vassily Smyslov @ 0.54 IM Alexander Koblents (coach) @ 1.28 GM Boris Spassky @ 1.50 GM Mark Taimanov @ 1.54 GM Efim Geller @ 1.57 GM Wolfgang Unzicker @ 2.06 GM Vassily Smyslov @ 2.21 GM David Bronstein (sitting middle) GM Tigran Petrosian (sitting on the right) @ 2.27 GM Paul Keres @ 4.15 GM Mikhail Botvinnik

Color footage from a 1973 simul with both Tal and Karpov

This is part one of two of a special with the great Anatoly Karpov commenting on the
1972 Fischer-Spassky match.

Part two of the fascinating video

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Capablanca's Chess + Billiards match

1.4.2012 - We all know chess boxing – where two players engage in alternating rounds of chess and pugilism. It was introduced eight years ago, and some people still profess to like it. But did you know about an earlier, less crude, attempt to combine chess with a disparate sport? It was tried by the great J.R. Capablanca, who played a chess-billiards match in 1922. It unsurprisingly ended 1-1.

Dejan Bojkov: Chess Highways

10.4.2012 - The Bulgarian GM's third DVD for ChessBase isn't about openings, but instead aims to instruct amateur players on the power of queens, rooks and bishops in both the middle and endgame. 48 carefully selected games, all thoroughly explained. "The price of $39.95 might seem steep, compared to a book, but cheap for a 5½ hour lesson with a GM," writes IM John Donaldson in this review.

YouTube chess archives