When Sultans played Chess

When Sultans played Chess
Compiled by Open Defence

Mir Sultan Khan is a chess enigma. The servant of a Maharaja who stayed in England for some time, he proved to be a very strong player and probably the first Asian player to be noticed of GM strength.

Some play down his achievements by stating that he was already a very strong player of the "Indian" variety of Chess.

However, there are many of us who play chess but only few who master it.

No doubt further analysis reveals flaws in technique and also reveals "improvements." However, to deny Mir Sultan Khan his rightful place in the Chess world as a player of incredible ability and genius is to do the game of Chess a disservice.

I hope the games in this collection give one a glimpse of this man's chess prowess.

The Sultan versus The King
Sultan Khan vs Capablanca, 1930
(E12) Queen's Indian, 65 moves, 1-0
Against the technician
Euwe vs Sultan Khan, 1932
(D70) Neo-Grunfeld Defense, 60 moves, 1/2-1/2
Drawing the technician again
Euwe vs Sultan Khan, 1931
(D53) Queen's Gambit Declined, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
The Sultan puts Black to the sword
Sultan Khan vs H K Mattison, 1931
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 22 moves, 1-0
The Knights of the Sultan
Tylor vs Sultan Khan, 1932
(C46) Three Knights, 60 moves, 0-1
The Sultan's Siege!
Sultan Khan vs Marshall, 1930
(C22) Center Game, 26 moves, 1-0
Against the End Game Genius
Rubinstein vs Sultan Khan, 1930
(A47) Queen's Indian, 80 moves, 1/2-1/2
Clear and Lucid
Sultan Khan vs Flohr, 1932
(B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 70 moves, 1-0
We are the Sultans
Sultan Khan vs E Andersen, 1933
(E17) Queen's Indian, 26 moves, 1-0

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