born Dec. 24, 1868, Berlinchen, Prussia
died Jan. 11, 1941, New York, N.Y., U.S.
German chess master and mathematician.
He first won the world chess championship in 1894 and retained the title until his defeat by Jose Capablanca in 1921; his term remains the longest reign as champion. As the first chess master to demand high fees, he helped strengthen the financial status of chess professionals. He wrote the classic Common Sense in Chess (1896) as well as books on mathematics and philosophy. As a Jew, he was forced to leave Nazi Germany in 1933. With the loss of his property, he ended his eight-year retirement from chess, once again competing at the highest level.