Zürich 1934 was an international chess tournament held in Zürich from 14 to 29 July 1934 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Schachgesellschaft Zürich (the Zürich Chess Society). Alexander Alekhine won, followed by Max Euwe and Salo Flohr tied for second-third.[1][2] The tournament also served as the 1934 Swiss Championship, won by Hans Johner as the highest-ranking Swiss player.
The tournament pitted seven Swiss players against nine internationals, including six of the world's leading players.[3] The major omissions were José Raúl Capablanca (Cuba) and Samuel Reshevsky (United States). There were no Soviet players either, and they would not return to international competition until the next year.[2] This type of international tournament in which one third to one half of players were from the host country was first used at Moscow 1925, and later at Moscow 1935 and Kemeri 1937.[4]
The tournament field featured the world championAlexander Alekhine (France), former world champion Emanuel Lasker (Germany), two-time championship challenger Efim Bogoljubov (Germany), future champion Max Euwe (Netherlands), and championship contender Salo Flohr (Czechoslovakia). Alekhine won with 13/15 points, his only loss being to Euwe who finished tied for second with Flohr at 12. Alekhine again demonstrated his superiority over his contemporaries, although his winning margin of 1 point was much narrower than at Bled 1931 (5½ points) or San Remo 1930 (3½ points).[2][3]
About a month before the tournament began, Euwe had accepted Alekhine's terms for a championship match to be held in the autumn of the next year.[5] Euwe would win that 1935 World Championship match, becoming the fifth world chess champion. The Czech master Flohr was considered a worthy championship challenger for many years in the 1930s,[6] but the Great Depression and German occupation of Czechoslovakia made it impossible for Flohr to arrange a match.[7] Flohr was leading after 11 rounds, but Alekhine caught up in round 12 when they each had 10 points, a half point ahead of Euwe and a full point ahead of Bogoljubov. Alekhine took the lead in round 13 with a win over Gideon Ståhlberg (Sweden) while Flohr drew with Bogoljubov.[2]
One month earlier Bogoljubov had lost the 1934 World Championship match, his second attempt to challenge Alekhine.[5] At Zurich he finished fourth at 11½, a half point behind Euwe and Flohr. Lasker was returning to competition for the first time since Moscow 1925—a nine-year layoff.[3] Lasker started strong, beginning the tournament with a fine win playing black against Euwe in round 1.[1][3] After 7 rounds Lasker was tied for the lead with Flohr at 5½ points.[2] At age 65 and being out of practice, Lasker was at a disadvantage in a long tournament and lost in rounds 8, 10 and 12 to Bogoljubov, Nimzowitsch, and Alekhine to finish at a very creditable fifth with 10 points.[1] This was the only time that Alekhine, Bogoljubov and Nimzowitsch beat Lasker. Earlier in round 5 Ståhlberg and Lasker played for the first time in their careers, with the younger Swede victorious.[8]
Aron Nimzowitsch (Denmark) was formerly a world championship contender, but in 1934 his health was declining and he would die just a year later at age 48.[9] He finished tied for sixth with Ossip Bernstein (France). Bernstein was a tournament veteran who would be in the inaugural group of grandmasters when FIDE created the title in 1950.[10] According to a well-known anecdote, after missing a winning line against Fritz Gygli (Switzerland), Bernstein is reported to have asked "Am I not a chess idiot?" When Lasker agreed, Bernstein had the former world champion sign an affidavit attesting to that fact.[10]
In round 1 Lasker defended a Queen's Gambit Declined against Euwe. After 35. Ng3-e4 (see diagram) Euwe's knight forked Lasker's queen and rook. Lasker turned the tables by trading his queen for a rook, knight and pawn, winning with 35...Qxe5! 36. Nf6+ Qxf6 37. Rxf6 Nxf6 38. Rc1 Ne4 39. Be2 Nd4 40. Bf3 Nxf2 41. Qc4 Nd3 42. Rf1 Ne5 43. Qb4 Nexf3+ 44. gxf3 Ne2+ 45. Kh2 Nf4+ 46. Kh1 R2d4 47. Qe7 Kg7 48. Qc7 R8d5 49. Re1 Rg5 50. Qxc6 Rd8 0–1.[1][11]
Euwe was again on the white side of a Queen's Gambit Declined in round 5 against Alekhine. Euwe won a pawn and the game with 31. Nf7!. After 31...Kxf7 32. Qh5+ Ke7 33. Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Re1+ Kd6 35. Qc5+ Kd7 36. Qf5+ Black will be mated. Instead Alekhine gave up a pawn with 31...Qe8 32. Rxe6 Qxe6 33. Nd8 Qe4 34. Nxc6 but was forced to resign on his 53rd move.[1][12]
In round 12 Alekhine defeated Lasker for the only time in yet another Queen's Gambit Declined. After 25. Nd6-f5+ Kg7-h8 (see diagram), Alekhine forced Lasker to resign at once with 26. Qxg6! as Black has no defense against the threat of Qg7# (26...hxg6 27. Rh3+ Nh6 28. Rxh6#).[1][13]
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Zurich 1934 was an international chess tournament held in Zurich from 14 to 29 July 1934 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Schachgesellschaft Zurich the Zurich Chess Society Alexander Alekhine won followed by Max Euwe and Salo Flohr tied for second third 1 2 The tournament also served as the 1934 Swiss Championship won by Hans Johner as the highest ranking Swiss player Contents 1 The tournament field 2 Selected games 3 Crosstable 4 Notes 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksThe tournament field editThe tournament pitted seven Swiss players against nine internationals including six of the world s leading players 3 The major omissions were Jose Raul Capablanca Cuba and Samuel Reshevsky United States There were no Soviet players either and they would not return to international competition until the next year 2 This type of international tournament in which one third to one half of players were from the host country was first used at Moscow 1925 and later at Moscow 1935 and Kemeri 1937 4 The tournament field featured the world champion Alexander Alekhine France former world champion Emanuel Lasker Germany two time championship challenger Efim Bogoljubov Germany future champion Max Euwe Netherlands and championship contender Salo Flohr Czechoslovakia Alekhine won with 13 15 points his only loss being to Euwe who finished tied for second with Flohr at 12 Alekhine again demonstrated his superiority over his contemporaries although his winning margin of 1 point was much narrower than at Bled 1931 5 points or San Remo 1930 3 points 2 3 About a month before the tournament began Euwe had accepted Alekhine s terms for a championship match to be held in the autumn of the next year 5 Euwe would win that 1935 World Championship match becoming the fifth world chess champion The Czech master Flohr was considered a worthy championship challenger for many years in the 1930s 6 but the Great Depression and German occupation of Czechoslovakia made it impossible for Flohr to arrange a match 7 Flohr was leading after 11 rounds but Alekhine caught up in round 12 when they each had 10 points a half point ahead of Euwe and a full point ahead of Bogoljubov Alekhine took the lead in round 13 with a win over Gideon Stahlberg Sweden while Flohr drew with Bogoljubov 2 One month earlier Bogoljubov had lost the 1934 World Championship match his second attempt to challenge Alekhine 5 At Zurich he finished fourth at 11 a half point behind Euwe and Flohr Lasker was returning to competition for the first time since Moscow 1925 a nine year layoff 3 Lasker started strong beginning the tournament with a fine win playing black against Euwe in round 1 1 3 After 7 rounds Lasker was tied for the lead with Flohr at 5 points 2 At age 65 and being out of practice Lasker was at a disadvantage in a long tournament and lost in rounds 8 10 and 12 to Bogoljubov Nimzowitsch and Alekhine to finish at a very creditable fifth with 10 points 1 This was the only time that Alekhine Bogoljubov and Nimzowitsch beat Lasker Earlier in round 5 Stahlberg and Lasker played for the first time in their careers with the younger Swede victorious 8 Aron Nimzowitsch Denmark was formerly a world championship contender but in 1934 his health was declining and he would die just a year later at age 48 9 He finished tied for sixth with Ossip Bernstein France Bernstein was a tournament veteran who would be in the inaugural group of grandmasters when FIDE created the title in 1950 10 According to a well known anecdote after missing a winning line against Fritz Gygli Switzerland Bernstein is reported to have asked Am I not a chess idiot When Lasker agreed Bernstein had the former world champion sign an affidavit attesting to that fact 10 Selected games editThis section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves Euwe Lasker Zurich 14 July 1934abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghLasker wins with 35 Qxe5 Euwe Alekhine Zurich 18 July 1934abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghEuwe wins a pawn 31 Nf7 Alekhine Lasker Zurich 25 July 1934abcdefgh8 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 877665544332211abcdefghAlekhine wins at once with 26 Qxg6 In round 1 Lasker defended a Queen s Gambit Declined against Euwe After 35 Ng3 e4 see diagram Euwe s knight forked Lasker s queen and rook Lasker turned the tables by trading his queen for a rook knight and pawn winning with 35 Qxe5 36 Nf6 Qxf6 37 Rxf6 Nxf6 38 Rc1 Ne4 39 Be2 Nd4 40 Bf3 Nxf2 41 Qc4 Nd3 42 Rf1 Ne5 43 Qb4 Nexf3 44 gxf3 Ne2 45 Kh2 Nf4 46 Kh1 R2d4 47 Qe7 Kg7 48 Qc7 R8d5 49 Re1 Rg5 50 Qxc6 Rd8 0 1 1 11 Euwe was again on the white side of a Queen s Gambit Declined in round 5 against Alekhine Euwe won a pawn and the game with 31 Nf7 After 31 Kxf7 32 Qh5 Ke7 33 Rxe6 Kxe6 34 Re1 Kd6 35 Qc5 Kd7 36 Qf5 Black will be mated Instead Alekhine gave up a pawn with 31 Qe8 32 Rxe6 Qxe6 33 Nd8 Qe4 34 Nxc6 but was forced to resign on his 53rd move 1 12 In round 12 Alekhine defeated Lasker for the only time in yet another Queen s Gambit Declined After 25 Nd6 f5 Kg7 h8 see diagram Alekhine forced Lasker to resign at once with 26 Qxg6 as Black has no defense against the threat of Qg7 26 hxg6 27 Rh3 Nh6 28 Rxh6 1 13 Crosstable editZurich 1934 1 2 Player 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Score1 nbsp Alexander Alekhine France Does not appear 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 132 nbsp Max Euwe Netherlands 1 Does not appear 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 123 nbsp Salo Flohr Czechoslovakia Does not appear 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 124 nbsp Efim Bogoljubov Germany 0 Does not appear 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 5 nbsp Emanuel Lasker Germany 0 1 0 Does not appear 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 106 nbsp Aron Nimzowitsch Denmark 0 1 Does not appear 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 97 nbsp Ossip Bernstein France 0 0 0 Does not appear 1 1 1 1 1 1 98 nbsp Gideon Stahlberg Sweden 0 0 1 0 Does not appear 1 0 1 1 1 89 nbsp Hans Johner Switzerland 0 0 0 0 1 Does not appear 0 1 1 1 1 7 10 nbsp Walter Henneberger Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Does not appear 0 0 1 0 1 1 5 11 nbsp Fritz Gygli Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Does not appear 0 1 512 nbsp Stefano Rosselli del Turco Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Does not appear 1 1 4 13 nbsp Henri Grob Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Does not appear 0 1 414 nbsp Hans Muller Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Does not appear 0 1 415 nbsp Oskar Naegeli Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Does not appear 316 nbsp Hermann Joss Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Does not appear 2Notes edit a b c d e f g Forster amp Rohrer 2009 a b c d e f Pachman 1972 pp 97 99 a b c d Golombek 1977 p 353 Golombek 1977 p 205 a b Horowitz 1973 p 102 Horowitz 1973 p 98 102 Golombek 1977 pp 118 9 Lasker Hangs His Queen and Euwe at Chess com Golombek 1977 p 213 a b Hooper amp Whyld 1992 p 37 Max Euwe vs Emanuel Lasker Zurich 1934 at chessgames com Max Euwe vs Alexander Alekhine Zurich 1934 at chessgames com Alexander Alekhine vs Emanuel Lasker Zurich 1934 at chessgames comSee also editZurich 1953 chess tournament Zurich Chess ChallengeReferences editForster Richard Rohrer Christian 14 July 2009 The World s Oldest Chess Club Part II 1914 1945 ChessBase com retrieved 17 August 2012 Golombek Harry ed 1977 Golombek s Encyclopedia of Chess Crown Publishing ISBN 0 517 53146 1 Hooper David Whyld Kenneth 1992 The Oxford Companion to Chess 2 ed Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 280049 3 Horowitz Al 1973 The World Chess Championship A History Macmillan LCCN 72 080175 Pachman Ludĕk 1972 English trans 1975 Dover ed 1987 Decisive Games in Chess History Dover ISBN 0 486 25323 6External links editZurich 1934 game scores at chessgames com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zurich 1934 chess tournament amp oldid 1212499797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
