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Alexander Alekhine, Russia-France, 1927-35, 1937-46

Alekhine was born in Moscow to noble and wealthy parents. Interestingly it was his mother who first taught him chess, and he quickly developed into a formidable player. Chess became his life and all-absorbing passion, but not before he received his doctorate in law from the Sorbonne in Paris.

His first international tournaments yielded mixed, lackluster results. But that changed when he tied with Nimzowitsch in an all_Russian tournament at St. Petersburg in 1914.

When WW I broke out, Alekhine was in the middle of a tournament in Germany that of course was discontinued, and he was held captive since he was Russian. Later released, he was allowed to return home. He served in the Red Cross on the Austrian front, was wounded, and during his hospitalization is supposed to have played an amazing queen sacrifice against Feld.

He became an incredibly strong, formidable player, and won tournament after tournament, finally defeating Capablanca for the world title. He avoided playing Capablanca ever after.

Strong drink got the best of him in his match against Euwe, and he lost his world title. After swearing off drink, and applying himself to the task of regaining his former champion status, he defeated Euwe in a rematch.

His game are considered among the most attractive games played by a world champion. They are for the most part brilliant when they needed to be, and positional when tactics were less necessary.