79 years ago: Capablanca beats Botvinnik

79 years ago: Capablanca beats Botvinnik

By Prof. Nagesh Havanur

22nd May 1936. The Hall of Columns in Moscow is packed to capacity. There are crowds outside anxiously watching demonstration boards. It’s the 7th round of the International Chess Tournament. The game of the day is between Botvinnik and Capablanca who have shared the lead so far with four points out of six.

After his loss of title a decade before Capa has participated in one tournament after the other to prove his claim to a return match with Alekhine. Meanwhile younger talents, Keres, Reshevsky and Fine have emerged on the scene to cross swords with the old guard. But it’s Botvinnik among them all who presents the most formidable challenge. Indeed, it was he who came first in Moscow 1935 Tournament pushing Capa to the fourth place. In spite of the relative failure in the previous year the Cuban’s admirers are legion and his primer of chess sells like hot cakes outside the tournament hall. He is of course aware of public adulation and plays to an appreciative crowd.

Botvinnik is brimming with confidence. It’s true, Capa has been his idol all these years. But he has held his own against the old master in their previous encounters. This time he intends to overtake the Cuban.

As luck would have it, he outplays the old master and Capa is on the verge of defeat. Meanwhile Botvinnik has used up most of his time and there is barely a minute left before the time control.

The suspense is unnerving for the public even as he unveils a complex combination threatening checkmate. He has reckoned without his adversary…

A cut and thrust duel worthy of both players! Botvinnik’s sacrificial play deserved a better fate than it met. But then Capa showed admirable sangfroid in meeting an apparently irresistible attack. As it turned out, this encounter proved decisive in determining the final result. Capa came first with 13/18 points. Botvinnik was placed second with 12/18.

Final table from Grigory Yakovlevich Levenfish's Moscow 1936 International Chess Tournament book

When they met again in Nottingham 1936 they shared first place with 10/14 points, but their individual encounter was a only a draw. He got his opportunity in AVRO 1938. While he did not do too well in the tournament he succeeded in beating Capa in an encounter that he called “The Game of My Life”. Capa bore no grudge for his defeat and said, “It was a battle of ideas.”

A terrific performance that Capa would have loved to give himself! He remained Botvinnik’s idol to the end. The master and the “disciple” are no more in our midst. We can only cherish their legacy.

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