CAPABLANCA, JOS RAL

born Nov. 19, 1888, Havana died March 8, 1942, New York City Chess master who won the world championship (1921) from Emanuel Lasker and lost it (1927) to Alexander Alekhine. Capablanca learned the moves at the age of four by watching his father play and defeated Cuba's best player in 1901. He attended Columbia University, New York City, in 190607 and in 1913 joined the Cuban diplomatic service, an occupation that facilitated his Chess career by permitting travel. From 1916 until 1924 he did not lose a game. He also played baseball, Bridge, and tennis well. He was felled by a stroke while watching a game at the Manhattan Chess Club and died the next day. His Chess style had a deceptive appearance of simplicity; at his best, he could make the defeat of another master look easy.