Emanuel Lasker, 1908

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1908

Emanuel Lasker, 1908. Original photo from Ullstein Bild. Original b/w photographer unknown. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/emanuel-lasker24-11-1868-philosoph-mathematiker-news-photo/545647253

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Schachjahrbuch für 1908 by Ludwig(?) Bachmann (Ansbach, 1909), whose caption correctly identified the two masters, Siegbert Tarrasch and Emanuel Lasker, and notes the photo was taken in Munich during the 1908 world championship match. Source

Lasker vs Tarrasch 1908, Düsseldorf / Munich

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Emanuel Lasker and Siegbert Tarrasch
Frontispiece to The Championship Match: Lasker v. Tarrasch by L. Hoffer, London, 1908. Source

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October 12 1908

Birmingham Post-Herald, Birmingham, Alabama, Monday, October 12, 1908

How Emanuel Lasker Grew To Be a Master
Of Dr. Emanuel Lasker, world's champion chess player, who recently won a series of games from Dr. Tarrasch of Germany for the championship of the world Prof. Kewitsch, his instructor in mathematics at college, says:
“Lasker was born on December 24, 1868, at Berlinchen, a small city in the Neumark, where his father, as an employee of the synagogue, had a precarious existence, which, however, did not rob him of the pleasure of playing the royal game with his sons. In his case it is against demonstrated that giftedness in a family for a certain art increases from generation to generation, until one member of the family, aided by special circumstances, climbs the summit of ability.
“With the aid of relatives and members of their faith, the parents succeeded in giving their sons a higher education. The older, Berthold, also a famous player, is a physician. The younger had to quit school from Obertertia when all means were exhausted. A commercial career was intended for him, but for this he was unfitted.
“But they succeeded in sending him to another school, at Landsberg, where he skipped a class and in three months was promoted to prima. After two years at Easter in 1888 Lasker passed his Abiturium examination.”
Here Prof. Kewitsch repeats the four difficult questions in mathematics and geometry submitted to the students.
“While the other scholars were busy during the allotted five hours Lasker was through in two hours. This rapidity astounded me, and instead of letting him go I gave him another problem to solve, one so difficult I thought it would worry him. Lasker solved this one also, within the remaining three hours.
“I will state that he was brighter in arithmetic than in geometry. His ability in drawing was inferior, but his power of combination was extraordinarily developed.
“Now to chess. I was president of the Landsberg Chess club and considered the best player there, but that means little. On the quiet, Lasker had played with several members and desired to join the club; but, being a student, it was impossible. He was anxious to play with me, but I had to reply: ‘Dear Lasker, business first, then pleasure, your school must not suffer.’ He was not accustomed to order, and worked irregularly—sometimes not at all, then the whole night. The school regulations were a disagreeable fetter to him and I had my troubles.
“But in the summer, during the customary class excursion, he again requested me to play and produced a pocket chess board. I consented and we played on the match, the board passing from one to the other. At first I thought he was not such a much. But the game suddenly took a turn presaging my death and I resigned. Quick to the second game; but now attention! No underestimation of the adversary! I lost that also, and—the day being long—the third and the fourth.
“Then I wished him success in his future battles and recommended Bilguer's handbook for his further guide, but warned him not to play chess all the time—at the university mathematical studies must remain the main thing. He probably would have followed this advice had he not been compelled by necessity to adopt chess playing as a means of a livelihood. I say probably, because already at that time I noticed in him a longing for public fame. It was not long thereafter when the newspapers reported a new star in the chess firmament. Lasker won in England, in America, and in 1894 defeated Steinitz for the championship of the world.
“Lasker is a professional player. He lives by this work, and it is hard work. A champion, he was in the happy position to dictate conditions for the match with Tarrasch, and this he did in a thorough manner.”

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Emanuel Lasker, 1904

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May 04 1904

The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, Wednesday, May 04, 1904

Caption: Dr. Emanuel Lasker.
World's Chess Champion, Defeated by Harry N. Pillsbury Yesterday.

Pillsbury Waited Long.
Defeated Champion Lasker in Chess Tournament by Surprise He had Nursed Since 1896.
The sixth of the 16 rounds in the International chess masters' tournament was played yesterday at Cambridge Springs, Penn., and so far most of the honors have come to Janowski, who has won five matches with one draw, Marshall won five, lost one.
Dr. Lasker, the world's champion, was defeated by Harry N. Pillsbury of Somerville, who nursed a variation in the queen's gambit declined for the champion ever since the St. Petersburg tournament of 1896, and yesterday sprung it. Pillsbury now has won 3½ matches and has lost 2½.
John Barry of Boston won yesterday from Meises, who otherwise would now be tied with Janowski in first position. The latter had decided to draw his game with Showalter.
Much enthusiasm is being manifested at the hotel where the matches are played. At each victory the national flag of the player winning is flown from the flagstaff, and when the American colors are thrown out the townspeople receive them with great enthusiasm and the band plays.
Pillsbury is likely to improve his position this week, as his hardest matches are over, and his form against Lasker showed him at his best.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1922

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June 11 1922

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, June 11, 1922

Lasker Accepts Invitation.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, ex-world's chess champion, has accepted an invitation from the Hastings Chess Club to play in the proposed quadrangular tournament with Capablanca, Aljechin and Rubinstein next September, following the international congress in London. Capablanca, on the other hand, has written that the proposition does not appeal to him, excepting under greatly modified terms.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1930

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April 01 1930

Evening Chronicle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, Tuesday, April 01, 1930

Local Chess players who have at different times been entertained with the beautiful games of Dr. Lasker, and who have come into personal contact with him over the board, will be pleased to learn that he is still hearty and well. In a cheery letter, he refers to his old-time visits to this city, and other incidents.
“I have,” he concludes, “given up serious chess, because I need the time for other work, but occasionally I read chess games and look at problems and endings. I enjoy all that is artistic and that merits attention.”
After holding the championship of the world for 26 years and enriching the pages of chess literature with immortal games, one should not grudge the doctor his well-earned retirement.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1937

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October 14 1937

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, October 14, 1937

Dr. Lasker Due Here Saturday
While his successors are battling for the title he held from 1894 to 1921, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, who witnessed the first game at The Hague, is on his way here for a visit and is due to arrive Saturday aboard the Holland-America liner Statendam. The famous veteran will be 69 in December and a warm welcome awaits him. He is accompanied by Mrs. Lasker.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1936

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May 18 1936

The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, Monday, May 18, 1936

Emanuel Lasker Takes International Chess Lead
Moscow, May 17 (AP)—Emanuel Lasker of New York gained undisputed possession of first place in the international chess tournament tonight. While Lasker was drawing with Kahn of Russia, the two experts with whom he had shared first place yesterday—Jose Capablanca of Cuba and Levenfish of Russia—failed to complete their matches.
Erich Eliskases of Austria and Botvinnik of Russia drew, as did Riumin of Russia and Andor Lilienthal of Hungary.
The standings: Lasker, 2½; Levenfish, Botvinnik and Capablanca, 2; Lilienthal, Kahn and Ragozin, 1½; Flohr, Riumin and Eliskases, 1.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1903

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March 13 1903

Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, Friday, March 13, 1903

Lasker Played Chess at Princeton.
Princeton, N. J., March 12.—Dr. Emanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world, played a simultaneous chess match to-night with different Princeton players. The Princeton open handicap chess tournament will be held on March 14th.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1940

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July 24 1940

Evening star, Washington, District of Columbia, Wednesday, July 24, 1940

Lasker Draws Marshall.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, champion from 1894 to 1920, came to the United States about two years ago for a national tour. After the schedule, he intended to take over a mathematics professorship at a Soviet university, but the European turmoil caused a change in his plans.
Following a series of lectures on chess philosophy and mathematics in New York, the former world champion began a series of match games with Frank J. Marshall, retired United States champion. Marshall won the first game. The second, a draw, is given here. On the defensive, Marshall counters with an unusual, although sound, line of tactical maneuvers that only a true master may follow with success.

Emanuel Lasker vs Frank Marshall
Exhibition (1940), New York, rd 2, May-19
Pirc Defense: General (B07) 1/2-1/2

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Emanuel Lasker, 1935

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June 13 1935

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, June 13, 1935

Dr. Emanuel Lasker To Reside In Russia
Owing to conflicting reports concerning the future plans of Dr. Emanuel Lasker, emanating from Russia at the conclusion of the last Moscow tournament, it will be of interest to place on record a quotation bearing on the subject from a letter just received by a New York friend of Dr. Lasker's, which, according to that friend, “ought to clarify the information as to the actual relationship between Dr. Lasker, Russia and Russian chess.”
Dr. Lasker writes:
“In August I intend to go to Russia to settle there. Want to complete a mathematical research there that I began last year and to do a little chess. Interesting and nice people at Moscow.”

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Emanuel Lasker, 1939

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September 03 1939

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, September 03, 1939

Here are two short games from the Chess Review. The first is from a simultaneous exhibition played by Dr. Emanuel Lasker, former world's chess champion, and the second was played in this year's England-Holland match.

Emanuel Lasker vs Max Demby
Simul, 20b (1939) (exhibition), Hotel Alamac, New York, NY USA, Jul-07
French Defense: Winawer. Advance Variation General (C16) 1-0

Emile Mulder vs Frank Parr
NED-ENG (1939), The Hague NED, rd 1, May-28
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation (E32) 0-1

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Emanuel Lasker, 1934

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June 05 1934

Evening Chronicle, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, Tuesday, June 05, 1934

A Great Player and Teacher
Dr. Lasker's New Book
CAPTION: Dr. Emanuel Lasker, who holds the record, 26½ years chess champion of the world, and who has recently enriched the realm of chess with excellent literature.

Accommodating Book
“What is the best book to get on Chess? That query has been put to the writer nearly as often as, “How do you do?”
When the inquirer's age and capabilities are unknown, the query is hard to answer—as hard, as it may be, for a doctor to diagnose a case without feeling the patient's pulse or looking at his tongue. There is literature for every stage and type of player, and the chess volumes are different from each other, as the Thames is from the Volga.
By the courtesy of Dr. Emanuel Lasker, I have been favoured with a copy of his latest book entitled, “Lasker's Chess Primer”—a work which will accommodate beginners, and moderately strong players. The author's record, 26½ years champion of the world, his research, and many games make him, like chess itself, an international possession. He is removed from the prejudices of mere nationalism, because every country benefits without distinction from his life's work.
In this book, Lasker has assumed the role of a great teacher, and in so doing, he has adopted a method which has hitherto not been used by teachers of chess. Price 2s 6d, Printing Craft, Ltd., Featherstone Buildings, Holborn, W. C.

Lasker In A Dangerous Mood
For the benefit of young players who have never had the opportunity of seeing Lasker play, I have elected the following game which will give the reader some idea of the champion's marvelous power. It was played in a tournament at St. Petersburg, his opponent being the famous H. N. Pillsbury, New York.

Harry Nelson Pillsbury vs Emanuel Lasker
St. Petersburg (1895/96), St. Petersburg RUE, rd 10, Jan-04
Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch. Primitive Pillsbury Variation (D50) 0-1

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Emanuel Lasker, 1889

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September 22 1889

The Times-Democrat, New Orleans, Louisiana, Sunday, September 22, 1889

Mr. Burn's success on this occasion, following so closely upon his fine achievement of second prize at the great Breslau meeting, must be a great source of pride to his Liverpool confrères, and was, indeed, to be expected. The fine play of Dr. E. Lasker, who, it will be recollected, only recently achieved the rank of “master” by winning the first prize in the minor tourney at Breslau, is a good proof of the propriety of his elevation, and if we may judge from his games thus far seen, he promises to take a high place in the chess world. Mr. Gunsberg, it should be noted, had no intention of playing, being unwell and having come over to the congress merely as a “looker-on in Amsterdam;” and his entry in the contest was simply to oblige the hospitable managers of the congress. This may suffice to explain his unusually low place in the list.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1928

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December 31 1928

The Guardian, London, Greater London, England, Monday, December 31, 1928

Letters To The Editor
Capablanca's Chess Proposals.
Dr. Lasker's Criticism.
[Dr. Lasker, who sends us the following criticism of Señor Capablanca's proposed alterations in the game of chess, won the championship of the world from Steinitz in 1894 and held it for the next 27 years. He is by general consent one of the greatest players that the game has ever known. In 1902 he was an assistant lecturer in mathematics at Manchester University.]

To the Editor of the Manchester Guardian.
Sir,—In considering Señor Capablanca's proposals it is well to distinguish between three points which the Cuban master does not clearly differentiate from each other. They are (1) the question of the draw; (2) its consequences; (3) the means of forestalling them.
Though Señor Capablanca does not mention it, it was an essay of mine which appeared in the Hungarian chess magazine “Sak Villag” about ten years ago that opened the discussion on the question of the draw. I there explained that chess is menaced by what I called “the death of the draw.” Not that this danger is imminent. When this menace will become effective can only be a matter for conjecture, but, that it is a reality cannot be doubted. The game of chess lives by the secret that surrounds its problems. The full light of truth would kill the fervour of the player who feels himself as a discoverer, and who loves the venture and adventure that goes with the search for the unknown truth. On the other hand, chess, unlike a science or an art, is finite. At some time, therefore, the inventive mind of the masters will succeed, at least during a progressive epoch, in unraveling the last mysteries of the game, and in that moment the example of the masters will educate the world of chess amateurs to a full understanding of the game and bring its evolution to an end.
This argument is a purely theoretical one. It applies to any game. History gives us enough instances of games once popular that have completely faded away. One must not mix it up with arguments concerning the masters of this period whether they refer to Alekhine, Capablanca, Bogoljubov, or others. The style and faculties of living masters can only be surmised; they are an unfit argument in a question which can be settled by deduction. As conjecture I should venture to say that the young masters of this period, before all Alekhine and Bogoljubov, embody such a spirit of search and invention as would guarantee the game of chess a full and healthy life for another generation.
But even if the danger of “the death of the draw” were imminent the proposals of Señor Capablanca would be inadequate. If chess, to gain another spell of vitality, has to change its rules that change has to observe the utmost economy. Señor Capablanca's proposition is arbitrary and clumsy. The ancient board need not be enlarged, nor need new pieces be added to attain the purpose of adding new problems to the game. Perhaps the abolition of castling would be a step in the right direction, and I rather think it would; castling was unknown to the ancient game, which had a deep wisdom that was, perhaps, underrated by the Italian masters who introduced castling in comparatively recent times. The chess world will have to decide. But there is no doubt that Señor Capablanca's proposition is cheap and inartistic.—Yours,&c,
Emanuel Lasker.
Berlin, December 26.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1941

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January 12 1941

Dr. Emanuel Lasker 12 Jan 1941, Sun Daily News (New York, New York) Newspapers.com

Obituary - Dr. Emanuel Lasker
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, 75, world's chess champion from 1894 to 1921 and once publisher of Lasker's Chess Magazine, died yesterday at Mt. Sinai Hospital of uremic poisoning. His home was at 619 W. 139th St.

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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Sunday, January 12, 1941 - Page 11 ★

Emanuel Lasker, Chess Champion
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, 72, noted chess expert who was chess champion of the world from 1894 to 1921, died yesterday at Mr. Sinai Hospital, 5th Ave. and 100th St., Manhattan.
The great chess master was well known in this borough which was the scene of some of his notable triumphs. He had long been prominent in the Brooklyn Chess Club, where on one occasion he faced 28 players in an exhibition of simultaneous play. He made his home for a short time in Hollis.
Dr. Lasker was born in Germany and was educated at the universities of Berlin, Goettingen and Heidelberg. At the age of 12 he learned to play chess and he became a professional in 1890. His fame soon spread and he came to this city for the first time in 1893. Shortly afterwards he defeated William Steinitz for the world championship and held the title for 27 years, yielding to Jose R. Capablanca in 1921.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Martha Lasker. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1926

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April 04 1926

B. G. Adams and Dr. Emanuel Lasker play chess as others watch at the L.A.A.C., Los Angeles, March 1926. This photograph appears with the Column, “Expert Chess-Player Here,” Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 1926. The L.A.A.C. (Los Angeles Athletic Club) was a chess club active in the 1920s and 1930s. Text from newspaper caption: D. Emanuel Lasker, expert chess player, was here last week, and demonstrated his skill before several of the “rook hounds” of the city. In the group, from left to right, are B. G. Adams, of the L.A.A.C.; John Dougherty, chess and checker editor of The Times; G. S. G. Patterson, chess editor of the Mercury; Clarence Webber of the L.A.A.C., and Dr. Lasker, who is regarded as one of the world's best chess players. G. S. G. Peterson, Clarence Webber, Dr. Emanuel Lasker. (Source: UCLA/Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection)

Expert Chess Player Here 04 Apr 1926, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com

Expert Chess Player Here
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, expert chess player, was here last week and demonstrated his skill before several of the “rook hounds” of the city. In the group, from left to right, are B. G. Adams, of the L.A.A.C.; John Dougherty, chess and checker editor, of The Times; G. S. G. Patterson, chess editor of the Mercury; Clarence Webber of the L.A.A.C., and Dr. Lasker, who is regarded as one of the world's best chess players.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1914

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April 21 1914

Chess tournament in St. Petersburg 1914. José Raúl Capablanca vs. Emanuel Lasker.

Original b/w photo via Ullstein Collection. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://best-in-chess.blogspot.com/p/emanuel-lasker.html https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/emanuel-lasker24-11-1868-philosoph-mathematiker-news-photo/545678693

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Five finalists of the St. Petersburg tournament, April 21, 1914-May 22, 1914. Seated from left to right: Emanuel Lasker, Alexander Alekhine, Jose Capablanca, Frank Marshall and Siegbert Tarrasch. One of the strongest chess players in the world, Alexander Alekhine, deprived of nobility and fortune, left the country seven years later, receiving permission to travel to Latvia, from where he headed to Berlin.

Original b/w photo source unknown. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://best-in-chess.blogspot.com/p/emanuel-lasker.html

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Emanuel Lasker, 1901

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May 14, 1901

Boston Evening Transcript, Boston, Massachusetts, Tuesday, May 14, 1901

LASKER'S WONDERFUL CHESS
Champion Plays Fifteen Boards and Wins All the Games
New York, May 14—Dr. Emanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world, gave an exhibition of simultaneous chess play at the New York Athletic Club in this city last evening, when he was opposed to fifteen members of the club on fifteen boards. Lasker played blindfolded at one of the boards and won all of the fifteen games.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1900

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June 18 1900

Evening star, Washington, District of Columbia, Monday, June 18, 1900

Lasker Chess Champion.
In the international chess masters' tournament at the Grand Cercle et Cercle des Echecs, Paris, yesterday Emanuel Lasker beat Harry N. Pillsbury of New York and secured the first prize, as none of the other competitors can now reach his total of fourteen games won. Maroczy and Tschigorin drew. Rosen beat Mason and Mieses beat Schlechter.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1910

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1910

Emanuel Lasker, circa 1910: Dr Emanuel Lasker (1868 - 1941) of Germany, World Champion Chess player between 1894 and 1921. He also wrote works on mathematics and philosophy. Original b/w photo by Hulton Archive/Stringer. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://best-in-chess.blogspot.com/p/emanuel-lasker.html

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December 29 1910

The South Bend Tribune South Bend, Indiana Thursday, December 29, 1910

Emanuel Lasker Chess Champion
“Emanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world, will return to America to meet all challengers for the title.”

Emanuel Lasker Chess Champion 29 Dec 1910, Thu The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) Newspapers.com

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Emanuel Lasker, 1909

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1909

St. Petersburg 1909
Upper Row: Erich Cohn, Leo Forgács, Eugene Alexandrovich Znosko-Borovsky, Rudolph Spielmann.
Middle Row: Sergey Nikolaevich von Freymann, Oldrich Duras, A. M. Levin, S. Znosko-Borovsky, J. Sossnitsky, E. P. Fuerst Demidow San Donato, P. P. Saburow, V. Tschudowski, Dr Julius Perlis, Savielly Tartakower, Richard Teichmann.
Front Row: Milan Vidmar, Dr. Ossip Bernstein, Dr. Emmanuel Lasker, Amos Burn, Carl Schlecter, Akiba Rubinstein, Jacques Mieses, Georg Salwe, Abraham Speijer.
Not Pictured: Fyodor Dus Chotimirski, Vladimir Nenarokow. (Identification source)

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January 17 1909

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Sunday, January 17, 1909

Record By Capablanca
Cuban Wonder Won Thirty Chess Games in Exhibition at Schenectady.
A record for simultaneous chess play was established by Jose R. Capablanca, in Schenectady, N.Y., where he played against thirty players at the same time and made a clean sweep on all the boards. This performance opened the eyes of the natives, who had never witnessed the like before. The local press was unanimous referring to the young Cuban as the most likely successor to Dr. Emanuel Lasker, the champion.
Playing in Troy, he won altogether twenty-five games without losing one.”

Lasker Vs. Schlechter. “Dr. Lasker and Carl Schlechter have come to the following tentative understanding with regard to their match for the championship of the world, to be played by them in the fall and winter of 1909. The match to consist of thirty games, and the victor to be the winner of a majority of at least two games. The stakes to be the same as in the Lasker-Marshall match. Dr. Lasker to fix place and date of meeting, after giving a month's notice, and he to carry on all negotiations, in return for which ownership in the games to be vested solely in him.”

Brooklyn vs. Manhattan
The Manhattan Chess Club has accepted the challenge of the Brooklyn Chess Club to play a return match at the rooms of the latter, 4 Court square, on February 12. There will be sixteen players on a side.

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November 26 1909

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Friday, November 26, 1909

Lasker Still Supreme Among Chess Masters
Janowski of Paris Added to the Champion's List of Redoubtable Victims.
Once again has Dr. Emanuel Lasker, the chess champion, proven that he is practically invincible by defeating D. Janowski, the French champion, in the series of ten games which has been concluded at Paris, resulting in a one-sided victory for the former by the score of 7 games to 1, with 2 drawn. The only game won by Janowski was the sixth, and in this the champion, playing black, experimented with the defense to the Four Knights' opening. However, he adopted the same fourth move in the eighth game, and succeeded in drawing it. The result of the series was a surprise and disappointment to the admirers of Janowski, who had been much encouraged by the result of the series of four games played in Paris last winter, and which gave each two wins.
Interest will now center upon the forthcoming match for the world's championship with Dr. Lasker and Carl Schlechter of Vienna, Austrian champion, which will be played in sections at Vienna, Berlin, Munich, St. Petersburg, and, possibly, also at London. Thirty games will be contested, according to the conditions which the principals have signed.
Dr. Lasker has now defeated decisively Steinitz, Marshall, Dr. Tarrasch and Janowski, although the encounter with the Parisian was not in the nature of a match, and not for the title, as in the case of each of the other opponents. Other possible aspirants for the title are G. Maroczy of Hungary, A. Rubinstein of Russia, and, in due course, Jose R. Capablanca, Cuban champion and conqueror of Marshall.
In the seventh Lasker-Janowski game, details of which are at hand, honors were even throughout the middle game, Janowski making a number of tricky moves with his rook, which required care on the part of the champion. On the fifty-second move the latter in turn initiated a combination with a move of his rook, the effects of which his opponent failed to appreciate. The outcome was that Dr. Lasker won a pawn prettily three moves later, and then got his adversary into a mating-net, from which he could not escape without a further sacrifice of the exchange. In the eighth game Dr. Lasker was again cramped in the opening, but freed his game by energetic measures. Finally, he gave up a bishop, and, occupying the open KB file with both rooks, forced a draw by perpetual check.
With the intention, no doubt, of publishing the entire set of games for the United States championship in book form, F.J. Marshall, the Brooklyn master, who has been recovering some of the laurels lost to Capablanca, by his success against J.W. Showalter in Lexington, has permitted only a few of the scores of the game to see the light of day. While everyone concedes the right to Marshall to create a possible source of revenue for himself, yet opinion is divided as to whether his course is beneficial to chess in general, and therefore, to his own interests or not. One of the best contested series with Showalter was the second of the series played at the rooms of the Louisville Chess and Whist Club. Marshall had the white pieces and offered the king's gambit, so seldom seen in match play. Showalter declined to accept the pawn with 2. B-B4, and queens were exchanged on the fourteenth move. The Kentuckian played excellent chess throughout the middle game, and succeeded finally in drawing after thirty-nine moves.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1907

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1907

Frank Marshall challenged Emanuel Lasker for the title in 1907, in a tournament played within several U.S. cities. This image comes from Chicago, Illinois.

Original b/w photo via Chicago History Museum/Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Inc. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://best-in-chess.blogspot.com/p/emanuel-lasker.html Lasker vs Marshall 1907, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, Memphis https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=54097

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January 13 1907

The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Sunday, January 13, 1907 ★

Dr. Emanuel Lasker — Dr. Emanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world.
Dr. Lasker's Task. — Will Have to Defeat Marshall for the Chess Championship in Philadelphia Soon.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker is to meet Robert Marshall in a series of championship chess matches in Philadelphia soon. Dr. Lasker is the present world's champion, and has defeated most every one of any consequence. In Marshall he meets a worthy opponent, and some believe the challenger will win. Dr. R. B. Griffiths of Los Angeles once played Dr. Lasker in San Francisco, making a draw of the game.

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June 05 1907

The Topeka State Journal Topeka, Kansas Wednesday, June 05, 1907

Lasker Is Coming — Chess Champion of the World Will Be Here June 13.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world, will be in the city next week as the guest of the chess club of the Y.M.C.A., and Thursday evening, June 13, will deliver a lecture in the Y.M.C.A. building and meet all who desire to play chess. He will not devote all of his attention to any single player but will play from ten to one hundred games simultaneously.
Dr. Lasker made his appearance in Topeka the last day in January, 1906, remaining until the 3d of February during the Kansas Chess tournament and met all comers. During this visit to the city he played 24 games simultaneously as well as numerous individual games, winning every game played singly and either drew or defeated all of the contestants in the simultaneous match excepting W. W. Harvey.
This match lasted for several hours and on the seventy-fourth move was decided in favor of Mr. Harvey. The contest was not confined to local players but the devotees of the game from over the state were in the city contesting for the state championship which fell to Major A. M. Harvey.
Since his appearance in this city Dr. Lasker has met a number of the best chess players in the world, defeating all of them with ease. He accepted a challenge from Frank Marshall, one of the best known chess experts, for the championship of the world and a purse of $2,000 and defeated him with ease without the loss of a single game.
The approaching visit of the world's champion to the city has aroused considerable interest in the game and there will be a number of chess enthusiasts from over the state in the city to enter the list of players who will enter the simultaneous contest. During the past year a number of chess experts have been developed from the membership of the Y.M.C.A. and they are particularly anxious to meet Dr. Lasker.
An invitation has been sent to Mr. Harvey, who now lives at Ashland, and it is probable that he will come to Topeka for another series of games with Dr. Lasker.

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August 01 1907

The Spanish Fork Press Spanish Fork, Utah Thursday, August 01, 1907

Great Chess Master — Emanuel Lasker, Peer Of Present-Day Players. — His Aim Is to Make Game Most Popular of Indoor Pastimes — Is an Exponent of the Simple Life.
New Orleans.—Emanuel Lasker, the chess champion of the world, is a genius.
There is more truth than poetry in this deduction of the man who is recognized throughout the civilized world as the peer of all the masters of the present day, and yet withal a plain, every-day German-American, who is an exponent of the simple life, quiet, retiring, yet cheerful and affable at all times. And yet withal he is a student, one who still carefully pursues the study of mathematics in all its branches, who is a strategist as well as a tactician, which is the solution of the problem of his being the master of masters of the present day in the art of chess-playing.
Emanuel Lasker has an aim and purpose as the champion chess player of the world, and that aim and purpose is to make the game not only as popular as it used to be in the time of Paul Morphy, but the great national indoor game of America, contending that on account of its cleanness and its wholesomeness it is entitled to such recognition. To this end he has not only edited for the past three years Lasker's Chess Magazine, a national organ devoted to chess, but also edits weekly the chess column for two widely read papers.
Love of mathematics was the cornerstone of his success as a chess player. A close student of mathematics since he mastered the rule of three, he has taught mathematics and received his degree of doctor of philosophy at Erlangen, Bavaria, though like Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and others, he prefers to be known as Emanuel Lasker, the world over, regardless of titles and degrees that have been conferred upon him. He was born in Germany in 1868 and has been a devotee of the chess game since he was 12 years of age, 18 years of which he has spent in mastering the game, and for 13 years of this time has been recognized as the chess champion of the world.
In following the simple life Emanuel Lasker drinks a good deal of water, for the simple reason he has discovered water has a good taste and is a healthy drink. Smoking is perhaps the only habit that he has that borders on intemperance, for he is an abstainer as far as alcoholic stimulants is concerned. He enjoys a good cigar, and, according to his own figures, he usually smokes six cigars a day, sometimes more, but never less than this number.
In habits and dress, like many another genius, Emanuel Lasker is exceedingly careless. Clothes are not an important factor in his every-day life, and he prefers a soft shirt with a turn-down collar attached to any-thing in the starched variety. His wealth of black, curly hair is usually unkempt, for while in repose he has a habit of running his hands through it. His luxuriant mustache is conspicuous by the absence of any of the wax or grease used in the modern tonsorial parlor. His dark eyes are keen and penetrating, and his head under the wealth of curly black hair is worth more than a passing glance.
To see him seated at the chess table one would take him for an ordinary man, one who was simply playing for pastime, instead of having mastered the game. His own deductions of how he defeated F. J. Marshall recently are indeed interesting.
“F. J. Marshall recently challenged me for the world's championship and I readily assented to meet him in a series of eight games,” said Mr. Lasker. “I won all eight games because I outplayed him. I outmaneuvered him in strategy, and, although he is a fine tactician, he never had sufficient tactics at any stage of any game to win.”

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Emanuel Lasker, 1938

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January 16 1938

Evening star, Washington, District of Columbia, Sunday, January 16, 1938

A Golden Opportunity
YEA, the opportunity of your lifetime. The privilege of sitting across a chessboard in simultaneous play against the great chess grandmaster, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, world champion from 1894-1920, the oldest and probably the shrewdest of the living ex-world chess champions—Capablanca, Euwe and Lasker.
Col. George P. Northrop, chess columnist for the Newark Evening News, describes Dr. Lasker as “one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the day on chess, contract bridge and one of the foremost professors of mathematics.”
Dr. Lasker has arrived from Europe, visited Chicago and now is lecturing and exhibiting his marvelous chess skill in New York City.
The local Metropolitan Chess Association has been advised that Dr. Lasker will be available for an exhibition in Washington probably the latter part of this week, but prompt action must be taken, for the grandmaster may embark for Europe very soon.
To bring Dr. Lasker to the Nation's Capital will entail a maximum expense of only $125.
Would you like to be an exclusive patron of such an event? It was 30 years ago that the then-world champion played here.
In all probability he never will be so near as to consider a proposal to visit again the Nation's Capital.
Under the auspices of the Metropolitan Chess Association, Parkside Hotel, you may reserve today a chess table for the fee of $5. Only 25 tables will be offered.
Write at once and reserve your table, enclosing check, and if by Wednesday the total amount of $125 has been subscribed, Dr. Lasker will be called on long-distance telephone and arrangements made pronto.
After Wednesday we make no commitment, for the deadline will be passed.
If you would like to be a “spectator” at this event write the Metropolitan Chess Association, Parkside Hotel, today and enclose $1 for spectator's patron ticket.
Among the chess fans of Washington are Senators, Ambassadors, ranking Government officials and many well-to-do chess enthusiasts.
In the past one or two local men have subscribed the fund essential to bringing a world champion here.
Here is the opportunity of your lifetime. The privilege of having played the redoubtable Emanuel Lasker, for 26 years the acknowledged and undefeated chess champion of the world, and the greatest author among the living world champions.
Write now. Don't delay.
It is probable that Edward Lasker, chess expert, will also accompany Dr. Lasker and the two exhibit the Chinese game of “go.”

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Emanuel Lasker, 1906

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1906

Emanuel Lasker sits behind chessboard, concentrating. Unknown date, estimated between 1906-1907. Original b/w photo by Frank Eugene Smith/Ullstein Bild. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/emanuel-lasker24-11-1868-philosoph-mathematiker-news-photo/545682321

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December 24 1906

This Is My 38th Birthday 24 Dec 1906, Mon The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina) Newspapers.com

'THIS IS MY 38TH BIRTHDAY.'
Emanuel Lasker.
Emanuel Lasker, the recognized champion chess player of the world, was born in Berlin, December 24, 1868. As a mere boy he was greater at chess than most great players and early learned to calculate results far ahead of the game. His boyhood education was received in the gymnasium at Landsberg, and he later studied mathematics, in its higher branches, at Berlin and at Heidelberg. At the age of 12 Lasker first became aware of his genius for chess. His first tutor in the game was his brother, whom he readily outstripped. In 1889 he entered the Haupt-Turnier at Breslau and surprised his friends and competitors by carrying off all the honors. Since that time he has been the admitted master of the science. In 1895 he scored a great triumph at St. Petersburg, in which he defeated Steinitz, Pillsbury and Tschigorin. The following year at Noremberg he met and defeated the greatest players of the world. Early in the coming year he is to try his skill against that of Frank Marshall, of Brooklyn, who is admittedly the foremost American expert at the game since the death of Pillsbury.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1905

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1905

Chess Champion Lasker Ponders A Move. Half-length portrait of Dr. Emanuel Lasker. German born world chess champion, sitting at a chess table in a room with many chess tables in Chicago, Illinois, 1905. From the Chicago Daily News collection. Original b/w photo from Chicago History Museum. For fair use, all credits must be kept intact. Color photo version created by the developer (me, yours truly) of https://best-in-chess.blogspot.com/p/emanuel-lasker.html https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/half-length-portrait-of-dr-emanuel-lasker-german-born-world-news-photo/86201380

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Emanuel Lasker, 1927

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January 26 1927

The Herald Statesman, Yonkers, New York, Wednesday, January 26, 1927

Chess Scandal Now Threatens Life of International Games
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, of Germany, The Former World's Champion, Charges Illegal Use of Clocking System—Dr. Lederer Makes Reply
By the Associated Press
New York, Jan. 26.—With peace barely reestablished in major league circles and with “dirty football” charges still an issue, a new scandal today surrounds the international game of chess.
Complaints of brutality, crooked timing of moves, palming of gate receipts, regulation of ventilation to disturb an opponent—almost everything except game sloughing and ring impression on noses—are being heard in the new upheaval.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker of Germany, former world's chess champion, and N. L. Lederer, secretary of committee in charge of the International grand masters' chess tournament next month are the principals in the new scandal.
The disturbance broke today with publication, in the Times of charges by Dr. Lasker in a letter to the New Amsterdam Telegraph, that in the 1924 tournament here he had been clocked by a capricious timepiece that robbed him of 15 minutes and that his share of the “gate” had not been delivered to him. Because of these reasons, the German master has rejected all overtures to enter the coming contest. He also alleges that arrangement for the coming petitions were designed to prevent his participation.
Dr. Lasker was not formally invited to enter the coming tourney, Lederer states, because the committee felt that an invitation would only lead to renewal of charges made originally by the former title holder in a letter to the Manhattan Chess Club. In his letter Dr. Lasker also complained that he did not receive his share of the “surplus of the gate receipts.”
Lederer declares all of the former champion's charges are false. Lederer claims Dr. Lasker was invited to the tournament informally, but the invitation was not accepted, within the prescribed limit. Rather than a surplus in gate receipts, Lederer maintains that the committee had to meet a $400 deficit from its own pockets. Dr. Lasker forgot to stop his clock after one of his moves, the tournament secretary says, and the time running against it.
Counter charges that Dr. Lasker resorts to “anything to win” are made by Lederer. “Chess is not a game or a sport with him,” the secretary states. “It is a battle.” And as part of the “battle,” Lederer charges that Dr. Lasker smoked “long, black, five-cent cigars” and “indulges in virtual gas attacks on his opponents.” At other times he said, Dr. Lasker smoke good Havanas.
Dr. Lasker denies the smoke screen allegation and also the charges that he disturbed opponents by shouting for ventilation. He adds that the 1924 committee had been partial to Capablanca, the present champion and that “the leader of the tournament is only a tool in the hands of Mr. Capablanca.” He suggests that a proper match would be one between Capablanca and himself.

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Emanuel Lasker, 1933

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November 20 1933

Reading Times, Reading, Pennsylvania, Monday, November 20, 1933

Dr. Lasker Unconquerable
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, world champion from 1894 to 1921, is reported to have played against a strong team of 25 opponents at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Lasker Chess club of Utrecht, named after him. The famous veteran, now in his 65th year, went through the performance without a defeat, winning 20 games and drawing the remaining five. J. van den Bosch, one of the best players in Holland, was among the defeated opponents.
A couple of specimens of Dr. Lasker's play follow:

Emanuel Lasker vs Johannes van den Bosch
Simul, 26b (1933) (exhibition), Utrecht NED, Oct-24
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation (B01) 1-0

Emanuel Lasker vs Gijsbertus Anne Fehmers
Simul, 26b (1933) (exhibition), Utrecht NED, Oct-24
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. Beverwijk Variation (C65) 1-0

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Emanuel Lasker, 1902

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October 13 1902

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York Monday, October 13, 1902

Chess Champion Lasker Here To Tour America
Famous Expert Likes This Country Well Enough to Make It His Home.
DISLIKES ENGLISH CLIMATE.
Will Remain Until January and Then Compete in Monte Carlo Tourney.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, the chess champion of the world, arrived here this morning on board the Anchor liner Columbia. He was met by a reporter at quarantine and seemed to be pleased to see a friendly face before landing.
The champion said that he had had a pretty rough passage, but otherwise he found the trip rather pleasant. He intends making a professional tour of the United States and Canada, beginning at the Manhattan Chess Club, in this city, where he will fulfill a fortnight's engagement, playing five days a week.
Mr. Lasker stated that he had received a very flattering special invitation from Prince Dadian of Mingrelia to take part in the next international chess masters' tournament at Monte Carlo, and that he had accepted. He will, therefore, be obliged to limit his stay in the United States to about the middle of next January.
When asked why he hail resigned his professorship at Owens College, Manchester, England, where he had been teaching mathematics, he said that the English climate did not agree with him. He had much trouble with his health and was most reluctantly obliged to give up the position. Should he succeed in getting a similar position in this country he would be delighted to stay here altogether.
“The late Captain Mackenzie.” he added, “always used to say, after spending some time in Europe, that the country seemed small to him and that he always felt a longing to get back to America. I have a similar feeling, the more so as I have a great number of friends in New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans and in the West, whom I want to see again.”
Chess in Germany and England is, according to Dr. Lasker, at present making great strides and the game was never before so popular as now. This is due in no small measure to the American champion, Pillsbury, who is astounding everybody with his wonderful blindfold exhibitions, to the return of Tarrasch, who had absented himself for years from the active chess arena, and to the great many international and national masters' tournaments.
Asked his opinion on the exhibitions given by Pillsbury, he said: “His performance in playing against twenty-one strong players without sight of boards or men, as he did at Hanover, is simply phenomenal, but I am afraid that such extraordinary feats of memory must be hurtful, and it seems to me, that it would be wise for him to place himself in the care of a competent medical man for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not he is actually exerting himself beyond the breaking point. It would be an irreparable loss to the chess world if Pillsbury's health were to break down as a consequence of these exhausting efforts.”
The champion said further that he had not been challenged for the world's championship by Pillsbury, and that nothing had been said on the subject, when the two met last in Berlin, about a month ago.
In the course of his remarks he said that one of the most difficult questions of the match would be the matter of stakes, heretofore it had been the custom of amateurs to back a player, and in return that amateurs would get half the winnings, in addition to the amount put up by him. This is equivalent to backing his man at the odds of two to one, which is, of course, against all rules of sport.
A match between Pillsbury and Lasker should be of interest to chess players the world over, and if they are desirous of bringing about such a contest, the stakes should be subscribed for freely.
Another question should arise as to where the match should be played. It would then be in order for the club wanting the contest to put up a sufficient guarantee as an inducement to the principals.
When asked as to who he considered the eight greatest players of the present, Mr. Lasker unhesitatingly answered that Maroczy, Janowski, Pillsbury, Schlechter, Tarrasch, Atkins, Tschigorin and himself should be considered as such. He did not give the names of these men in the order of merit, but just as he recalled the names.
Napier and Marshall, he added, are highly talented, and, while the former cannot be properly judged from his work in the two tournaments in which he has played, it is a pity that Marshall is not sufficiently robust to always give a good account of himself.
When informed that Walbrodt of Berlin had died, he expressed himself as greatly shocked. Walbrodt, he said, was a very ingenious player. He had been ailing of late and he could not, therefore, devote himself with the same amount of enthusiasm to his studies as he was formerly accustomed to do.
The champion considers the recent death of the chess master, Rosenthal, of France, a great loss to the chess community. he was not only a brilliant player, but he deserves great credit for his talents as an organizer. He proved to be an excellent manager of the last Paris international tournament and, above all, it should be mentioned that it was due to his efforts that chess found favor in aristocratic circles at the French capital.
The visitor attributed the downfall of the British Chess Club, of London, whose amalgamation with the Pall Mall Club was reported last week, to the fact that it was primarily a social organization and paid too little attention to the encouragement or the development of the game at home, although it figured in several of the international events.
Dr. Lasker will rest a few days before opening his engagement at the Manhattan Chess Club. The exact dates for his early performance have not yet been given out.

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