This was the first of four great Karlsbad tournaments, the others being Karlsbad (1911), Karlsbad (1923), and Karlsbad (1929). It featured a number of younger players who would take leading roles in the chess world over the next quarter of a century facing a strong group of more established Masters. Here is a list of the participants, arranged by age:Johann Nepomuk Berger (1845-1933)
Mikhail Chigorin (1850-1908)
Georg Salwe (1862-1920)
Jacques Mieses (1865-1954)
Adolf Georg Olland (1867-1933)
David Janowski (1868-1927)
Richard Teichmann (1868-1925)
Geza Maroczy (1870-1951)
Carl Schlechter (1874-1918)
Heinrich Wolf (1875-1943)
Frank James Marshall (1877-1944)
Paul Saladin Leonhardt (1877-1934)
Fyodor Ivanovich Dus Chotimirsky (1879-1965)
Oldrich Duras (1882-1957)
Akiba Rubinstein (1882-1961)
Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942)
Erich Cohn (1884-1918)
Milan Vidmar (1885-1962)
Aron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935)
Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956)
Paul F Johner (1887-1938)
Looking at this list today, some of the younger players would seem to be the favorites. At this time, however, though most of them had been active for several years, they probably would have still been considered "promising young players" rather than top-class masters. My hunch is that the smart Chessbucks would have been riding on Maroczy and Schlechter, with Marshall and Janowski picking up their fair share as well.
The time control was 30 moves in two hours, followed by 15 moves per hour therafter. A more modern provision forbade agreed draws before move 45 without the permission of the tournament director. This had the usual effect, with only 40 of the 210 games ending in this manner.
Round 1: Tuesday, August 20
1 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Wolf
2 Vidmar 1 Olland
3 Dus Chotimirsky 0 Chigorin
4 Janowski 1 Cohn
5 Tartakower 0 Maroczy
6 Duras 1/2 Schlechter
7 Mieses 1 Marshall
8 Salwe 1 Leonhardt
9 Berger 1/2 Spielmann
10 Johner 0 Teichmann
Rubinstein - BYE
The established players got off to a good start, Vidmar being the only winner under age 30. Maroczy was the star, as his win over Tartakower would be awarded the first prize for beauty. Rubinstein started with a bye in the 21-player field; this will be indicated by an "*" following the player's name.
1.0: Chigorin, Janowski, Maroczy, Mieses, Teichmann, Vidmar; <0.5>: Berger, Duras, Leonhardt, Nimzowitsch, Salwe, Schlechter, Spielmann, Wolf; <0.0>: Cohn, Dus Chotimirsky, Johner, Olland, Marshall, Rubinstein*, Tartakower
Round 2: Thursday, August 22
11 Spielmann 1 Johner
12 Leonhardt 1/2 Berger
13 Marshall 1/2 Salwe
14 Schlechter 1 Mieses
15 Maroczy 1 Duras
16 Cohn 0 Tartakower
17 Chigorin 0 Janowski
18 Olland 1 Dus Chotimirsky
19 Wolf 0 Vidmar
20 Rubinstein 0 Nimziwitsch
Teichmann - BYE
Three leaders emerged today. Janowski needed 99 moves before his mighty rook pair overcame Chigorin's queen. (It might be coincidence, but Janowski would lose his next four games and never be a factor thereafter.) Duras, warming up for bigger and better things, held out for 63 moves against Maroczy's extra pawn and mighty knight pair. Vidmar sacrificed a piece against Wolf, eventually winning with a mighty connected passed pawn trio in the endgame. And that's not s typo at the end of the standings: Rubinstein was still in the cellar after a loss to Nimzowitsch. Our copy of the game includes Nimzo's notes, and the game is well worth looking at as a classic example of using hanging pawns effectively.
2.0: Janowski, Maroczy, Vidmar; <1.5>: Nimzowitsch, Schlechter, Spielmann; <1.0>: Berger, Chigorin, Leonhardt, Mieses, Olland, Salwe, Tartakower, Teichmann*; <0.5>: Duras, Marshall, Wolf; <0.0> Cohn, Dus Chotimirsky, Johner, Rubinstein*
Round 3: Friday, August 23
21 Vidmar 1/2 Rubinstein
22 Dus Chotimirsky 1/2 Wolf
23 Janowski 0 Olland
24 Tartakower 1 Chigorin
25 Duras 1 Cohn
26 Mieses 1/2 Maroczy
27 Salwe 1 Schlechter
28 Berger 1/2 Marshall
29 Johner 0 Leonhardt
30 Teichmann 1 Spielmann
Nimzowitsch - BYE
No perfect scores survived the day. Janowski's descent began when Olland sprang a combination winning queen and two pawns for rook and knight. Maroczy was fortunate to survive against Mieses in a B+P ending, while Vidmar and Rubinstein avoided each other's traps and quickly exchanged down to a barren equality. Among the two-pointers, Teichmann was in good shape (having already had the bye) and Salwe powerfully outplayed Schlechter. The long draw Berger - Marshall is worth looking at for Marshall's ingenious play and a knight that apparently began life on the wrong square.
2.5: Maroczy, Vidmar; <2.0>: Janowski, Leonhardt, Olland, Salwe, Tartakower, Teichmann*; <1.5>: Berger, Duras, Mieses, Nimzowitsch*, Schlechter, Spielmann; <1.0>: Chigorin, Marshall, Wolf; <0.5>: Dus Chotimirsky, Rubinstein*; <0.0>: Cohn, Johner
Round 4: Saturday, August 24
31 Leonhardt 1/2 Teichmann
32 Marshall 1 Johner
33 Schlechter 1 Berger
34 Maroczy 1 Salwe
35 Cohn 0 Mieses
36 Chigorin 0 Duras
37 Olland 0 Tartakower
38 Wolf 1 Janowski
39 Rubinstein 1 Dus Chotimirsky
40 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Vidmar
Spielmann - BYE
Maroczy took the sole lead with a nice positional crush of Salwe. Vidmar was fortunate to draw with Nimzowitch; after an opening which only Nimzo could have thought up, Black was close to being Samisched but managed to randomize the position and survive after an error by White. Rubinstein got his first win, blasting open the center after a slow opening to win material with a persistent attack. The wins by Mieses and Marshall were typical, and you can guess what that means.
3.5: Maroczy; <3.0>: Tartakower, Vidmar; <2.5>: Duras, Leonhardt, Mieses, Schlechter, Teichmann*; <2.0>: Janowski, Marshall, Nimzowitsch*, Olland, Salwe, Wolf; <1.5>: Berger, Rubinstein*, Spielmann; <1.0>: Chigorin; <0.5>: Dus Chotimirsky; <0.0>: Cohn, Johner
Round 5: Monday, August 26
41 Dus Chotimirsky 1 Nimzowitsch
42 Janowski 0 Rubinstein
43 Tartakower 0 Wolf
44 Duras 1 Olland
45 Mieses 1 Chigorin
46 Salwe 1 Cohn
47 Berger 1/2 Maroczy
48 Johner 0 Schlecther
49 Teichmann 1/2 Marshall
50 Spielmann 1/2 Leonhardt
Vidmar - BYE
Maroczy's quiet draw with Berger was enough to keep the lead, as Tartakower was eaten alive by Wolf and Vidmar received the bye. Moving up with victories were Duras (despite missing a mate-in-three which has appeared in every combination book written since the day it was not played), Mieses (after a massive battle with Chigorin), and Schlechter (with a fine all-around performance against Johner). Rubinstein reached and won a rook ending against Janowski with some subtle play. Dus Chotimirsky's win over Nimzowitsch was a very powerful performance.
4.0: Marcczy; <3.5>: Duras, Mieses, Schlechter; <3.0>: Leonhardt, Salwe, Tartakower, Teichmann*, Vidmar*, Wolf; <2.5>: Marshall, Rubinstein*; <2.0>: Berger, Janowski, Nimzowitsch*, Olland, Spielmann*; <1.5>: Dus Chotimirsky; <1.0>: Chigorin; <0.0>: Cohn, Johner
Round 6: Tuesday, August 27
51 Marshall 1/2 Spielmann
52 Schlechter 0 Teichmann
53 Maroczy 1 Johner
54 Cohn 1/2 Berger
55 Chigorin 1/2 Salwe
56 Olland 0 Mieses
57 Wolf 1 Duras
58 Rubinstein 1 Tartakower
59 Nimzowitsch 1 Janowski
60 Vidmar 1 Dus Chotimirsky
Leonhardt - BYE
More flip-flopping at the upper levels. Maroczy held his spot by refuting a faulty pawn sacrifice from Johner, and Mieses pulled off a brilliancy against Olland. Schlechter blundered a pawn to Teichmann, who finished with a brilliant breakthrough. Wolf - Duras culminated in an ending that has been marvelled at ever since. Rubinstein continued to move methodically up the ladder.
Standings after round 6 (* indicates player has had the bye):
5.0: Maroczy; <4.5>: Mieses; <4.0>: Teichmann*, Vidmar*, Wolf; <3.5>: Duras, Rubinstein*, Salwe, Schlechter; <3.0>: Leonhardt*, Marshall, Nimzowitsch*, Tartakower; <2.5>: Berger, Spielmann*; <2.0>: Janowski, Olland; <1.5>: Chigorin, Dus Chotimirsky; <0.5>: Cohn; <0.0>: Johner
Round 7 (Thursday, August 29)
61 Janowski 1 Vidmar
62 Tartakower 1 Nimzowitsch
63 Duras 0 Rubinstein
64 Mieses 1 Wolf
65 Salwe 1 Olland
66 Berger 1 Chigorin
67 Johner 0 Cohn
68 Teichmann 1/2 Maroczy
69 Spielmann 1/2 Schlechter
70 Leonhardt 1/2 Marshall
Dus Chotimirsky - BYE
Mieses drew even with Maroczy with yet another fine win. Pulling within a point of the leaders were Rubinstein and Teichmann (who were well-placed, as both had recorded their bye) and Salwe (whose victory Marco attributed to the sparkling mineral water of the spa). Janowski finally got back on track with an interesting win over Vidmar.
Standings after round 7 (* indicates player has had the bye):
5.5 Maroczy, Mieses; <4.5>: Rubinstein*, Salwe, Teichmann*; <4.0>: Schlechter, Tartakower, Vidmar*, Wolf; <3.5>: Berger, Duras, Leonhardt*, Marshall; <3.0>: Janowski, Nimzowitsch*, Spielmann*; <2.0> Olland; <1.5>: Chigorin, Cohn, Dus Chotimirsky*; <0.0>: Johner
Round 8 (Friday, August 30)
71 Schlechter 1 Leonhardt
72 Maroczy 1 Spielmann
73 Cohn 0 Teichmann
74 Chigorin 1 Johner
75 Olland 1 Berger
76 Wolf 1/2 Salwe
77 Rubinstein 1/2 Mieses
78 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Duras
79 Vidmar 1 Tartakower
80 Dus Chotimirsky 1 Janowski
Marshall - BYE
A draw between Mieses and Rubinstein allowed Maroczy to go back in front with a quiet positional win over Spielmann, while Teichmann pulled into clear third with a destructive win over Cohn.
Standings after round 8 (* indicates player has had the bye):
6.5: Maroczy; <6.0>: Mieses; <5.5>: Teichmann*; <5.0>: Rubinstein*, Salwe, Schlechter, Vidmar*; <4.5>: Wolf; <4.0>: Duras, Tartakower; <3.5>: Berger, Leonhardt*, Marshall*, Nimzowitsch*; <3.0>: Janowski, Olland, Spielmann*; <3.5>: Chigorin, Dus Chotimirsky*; <1.5> Cohn; <0.0> Johner
Round 9 (Saturday, August 31)
81 Tartakower 1 Dus Chotimirski
82 Duras 0 Vidmar
83 Mieses 0 Nimzowitsch
84 Salwe 0 Rubinstein
85 Berger 1/2 Wolf
86 Johner 0 Olland
87 Teichmann 0 Chigorin
88 Spielmann 1 Cohn
89 Leonhardt 1 Maroczy
90 Marshall 1/2 Schlechter
Janowski - BYE
There was a reshuffling at the top as the three leading players all lost. Rubinstein resumed his advance by knocking Salwe back, with Leonhardt and Nimzowitsch also moving up. Johner may have missed a chance to get on the board.
6.5: Maroczy; <6.0>: Mieses, Rubinstein*, Vidmar*; <5.5>: Schlechter, Teichmann*; <5.0>: Salwe, Tartakower, Wolf; <4.5>: Leonhardt*, Nimzowitsch*; <4.0>: Berger, Duras, Marshall*, Olland, Spielmann*; <3.5>: Chigorin; <3.0>: Janowski*; <2.5>: Dus Chotimirsky*; <1.5>: Cohn; <0.0>: Johner
Round 10 (Monday, September 2)
91 Maroczy 1 Marshall
92 Cohn 1 Leonhardt
93 Chigorin 1 Spielmann
94 Olland 1/2 Teichmann
95 Wolf 1/2 Johner
96 Rubinstein 1 Berger
97 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Salwe
98 Vidmar 1 Mieses
99 Dus Chotimirsky 0 Duras
100 Janowski 1 Tartakower
Schlechter - Bye
A crucial game between Vidmar and Mieses went the younger man's way, while Maroczy and Rubinstein also won excellent games to retain their places. Chigorin's win over Spielmann was particularly exciting, as might have been expected. And most everyone was happy to see Johner finally get on the board, though Wolf filed a strong minority opinion in the matter.
Standings after round 10 (* indicates player has had the bye):
7.5: Maroczy; <7.0>: Rubinstein*, Vidmar*; <6.0>: Mieses, Teichmann*; <5.5>: Salwe, Schlechter*, Wolf; <5.0>: Duras, Nimzowitsch*, Tartakower; <4.5>: Chigorin, Leonhardt*, Olland; <4.0>: Berger. Janowski*, Marshall*, Spielmann*; <2.5>: Cohn, Dus Chotimirsky*; <0.5>: Johner
Round 11 (Tuesday, September 3)
101 Duras 1 Janowski
102 Mieses 0 Dus Chotimirsky
103 Salwe 1/2 Vidmar
104 Berger 1/2 Nimzowitsch
105 Johner 0 Rubinstein
106 Teichmann 1 Wolf
107 Spielmann 1 Olland
108 Leonhardt 1/2 Chigorin
109 Marshall 1 Cohn
110 Schlechter 1/2 Maroczy
Tartakower - BYE
Rubinstein's fine play in an opposite-colored bishop ending enabled him to tie for first as Maroczy drew with Schlechter. Vidmar also drew, and Teichmann was fortunate to keep up when Wolf could not convert his advantage. Mieses' slide continued with a loss to Dus Chotimirsky.
Standings after round 11 (* indicates player has had the bye):
8.0: Maroczy, Rubinstein*; <7.5>: Vidmar*; <7.0>: Teichmann*; <6.0>: Duras, Mieses, Salwe, Schlechter*: <5.5>: Nimzowitsch*, Wolf; <5.0>: Chigorin, Leonhardt*, Marshall*, Spielmann*, Tartakower*; <4.5>: Berger, Olland; <4.0>: Janowski*; <3.5>: Dus Chotimirsky*; <2.5>: Cohn; <0.5>: Johner
Round 12 (Thursday, September 5)
111 Cohn 0 Schlechter
112 Chigorin 1 Marshall
113 Olland 0 Leonhardt
114 Wolf 1 Spielmann
115 Rubinstein 1 Teichmann
116 Nimzowitsch 1 Johner
117 Vidmar 1/2 Berger
118 Dus Chotimirsky 1 Salwe
119 Janowski 1 Mieses
120 Tartakower 0 JoingDuras
Maroczy - BYE
Maroczy's bye allowed Rubinstein to go into the sole lead for the first time, having scored nine points from his last ten games. Vidmar joined Maroczy with a quiet draw, while Schlechter and Duras picked up important wins against Teichmann and Mieses.
Standings after round 12 (* indicates player has had the bye):
9.0: Rubinstein*; <8.0>: Vidmar*, Maroczy*; <7.0>: Duras, Schlechter*, Teichmann*; <6.5>: Nimzowitsch*, Wolf; <6.0> Chigorin, Leonhardt*, Mieses, Salwe; <5.0>: Berger, Janowski*, Marshall*, Spielmann*, Tartakower*; <4.5>: Dus Chotimirsky*, Olland; <2.5>: Cohn; <0.5> Johner
Round 13 (Friday, September 6):
121 Mieses 1 Tartakower
122 Salwe 1 Janowski
123 Berger 0 Dus Chotimirski
124 Johner 1 Vidmar
125 Teichmann 1/2 Nimzowitsch
126 Spielmann 1 Rubinstein
127 Leonhardt 1/2 Wolf
128 Marshall 1 Olland
129 Schlechter 1/2 Chigorin
130 Maroczy 1 Cohn
Duras - BYE
Not a very fortunate round for two of the leaders, as Vidmar suffered Johner's first win and Rubinstein found himself on the wrong side of Spielmann's beauty prize winner. Mieses also took home a beauty prize for his victory, while more mundane matters saw Maroczy climb back into a tie for first while Schlechter and Teichmann missed chances to close the gap.
Standings after round 13 (* indicates player has had the bye):
9.0: Maroczy*, Rubinstein*; <8.0>: Vidmar*; <7.5>: Schlechter*, Teichmann*; <7.0>: Duras*, Mieses, Nimzowitsch*, Salwe, Wolf; <6.5>: Chigorin, Leonhardt*; <6.0>: Marshall*, Spielmann*; <5.5>: Dus Chotimirsky*; <5.0>: Berger, Janowski*, Tartakower*; <4.5>: Olland; <2.5>: Cohn; <1.5>: Johner
Round 14 (Saturday, September 7)
131 Chigorin 0 Maroczy
132 Olland 0 Schlechter
133 Wolf 1/2 Marshall
134 Rubinstein 1/2 Leonhardt
135 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Spielmann
136 Vidmar 1 Teichmann
137 Dus Chotimirsky 1 Johner
138 Janowski 1 Berger
139 Tartakower 1/2 Salwe
140 Duras 1 Mieses
Cohn - BYE
The two-thirds mark saw Maroczy creep to the top again, while Vidmar kept pace with an important win over Teichmann. Janowski, at least according to the tournament book, made something out of nothing and was awarded a share of the third Beauty prize.
Standings after round 14 (* indicates player has had the bye):
10.0: Maroczy*; <9.5>: Rubinstein*; <9.0>: Vidmar*; <8.5>: Schlechter*; <8.0>: Duras*; <7.5>: Nimzowitsch*, Salwe, Teichmann*, Wolf; <7.0> Leonhardt*, Mieses; <6.5>: Chigorin, Dus Chotimirsky*, Marshall*, Spielmann*; <6.0>: Janowski*; <5.5> Tartakower*; <5.0>: Berger; <4.5>: Olland; <2.5>: Cohn*; <1.5>: Johner
Round 15 (Monday, September 9)
141 Salwe 1 Duras
142 Berger 1/2 Tartakower
143 Johner 0 Janowski
144 Teichmann 1/2 Dus Chotimirsky
145 Spielmann 0 Vidmar
146 Leonhardt 1/2 Nimzowitsch
147 Marshall 0 Rubinstein
148 Schlechter 1/2 Wolf
149 Maroczy 1 Olland
150 Cohn 1 Chigorin
Mieses - BYE
The top three held their serve, while Schlechter fell another half-point behind. I'll give away a little of the story to say that one of those three won't up there six rounds from now. You might take a look at the standings and guess who will catch up. The most famous game of the round saw Cohn lose a pawn in the opening, but he made something out of less than nothing and was awarded a share of the 2nd Beauty prize.
Standings after round 15 (* indicates player has had the bye):
11.0: Maroczy*; <10.5>: Rubinstein*; <10.0>: Vidmar*; <9.0>: Schlechter*; <8.5>: Salwe; <8.0>: Duras*, Nimzowitsch*, Teichmann*; Wolf; <7.5>: Leonhardt*; <7.0>: Dus Chotimirsky*, Janowski*, Mieses*; <6.5>: Chigorin, Marshall*, Spielmann*; <6.0>: Tartakower*; <5.5>: Berger; <4.5>: Olland; <3.5>: Cohn*; <1.5>: Johner
Round 16 (Tuesday, September 10)
151 Olland 1 Cohn
152 Wolf 1/2 Maroczy
153 Rubinstein 1/2 Schlechter
154 Nimzowitsch 0 Marshall
155 Vidmar 0 Leonhardt
156 Dus Chotimirsky 1 Spielmann
157 Janowski 1/2 Teichmann
158 Tartakower 1 Johner
159 Duras 1 Berger
160 Mieses 0 Salwe
Chigorin - BYE
Maroczy drew when he wanted to, the tournament book noting that Wolf "played energetically for the draw". Rubinstein took no chances with Schlechter, but bot players were able to pick up ground on Vidmar whose loss to Leonhardt was a sign of things to come.
Standings after round 16 (* indicates player has had the bye):
11.5: Maroczy*; <11.0>: Rubinstein*; <10.0>: Vidmar*; <9.5>: Salwe, Schlechter*; <9.0>: Duras*; <8.5>: Leonhardt*, Teichmann*, Wolf; <8.0>: Dus Chotimirsky*, Nimzowitsch*; <7.5>: Janowski*, Marshall*; <7.0>: Mieses*, Tartakower*; <6.5>: Chigorin*, Spielmann*; <5.5>: Berger, Olland; <3.5>: Cohn*; <1.5>: Johner
Round 17 (Thursday, September 12)
161 Berger 1 Mieses
162 Johner 1 Duras
163 Teichmann 1 Tartakower
164 Spielmann 1 Janowski
165 Leonhardt 1 Dus Chotimirsky
166 Marshall 1 Vidmar
167 Schlechter 0 Nimzowitsch
168 Maroczy 1/2 Rubinstein
169 Cohn 1/2 Wolf
170 Chigorin 1 Olland
Salwe - BYE
Maroczy could have taken a big step toward the first prize by winning. He gave it a good try, building a strong attack, but Rubinstein found a fine resource by sacrificing the exchange for a pawn and a strong defensive position. Maroczy counter-sacrificed in an attempt to win, but an even endgame was the result. Meanwhile, yet another loss by Vidmar left the race for third place wide open.
Standings after round 17 (* indicates player has had the bye):
12.0: Maroczy*; <11.5>: Rubinstein*; <10.0>: Vidmar*; <9.5>: Leonhardt*, Salwe*, Schlechter*, Teichmann*; <9.0>: Duras*, Nimzowitsch*, Wolf; <8.5>: Marshall*; <8.0>: Dus Chotimirsky*; <7.5>: Chigorin*, Janowski*;, Spielmann*; <7.0>: Mieses*, Tartakower*; <6.5>: Berger; <5.5>: Olland; <4.0>: Cohn*; <2.5>: Johner
Round 18 (Friday, September 13)
171 Wolf 1 Chigorin
172 Rubinstein 1 Cohn
173 Nimzowitsch 1/2 Maroczy
174 Vidmar 1/2 Schlechter
175 Dus Chotimirsky 0 Marshall
176 Janowski 0 Leonhardt
177 Tartakower 1 Spielmann
178 Duras 1 Teichmann
179 Mieses 0 Johner
180 Salwe 1 Berger
Olland - BYE
The tension increased as Rubinstein overtook Maroczy with just three rounds to go. Vidmar was joined in third place by Leonhardt and Salwe, while three other players lurked but a half-point behind.
Standings after round 18 (* indicates player has had the bye):
12.5: Maroczy*, Rubinstein*; <10.5>: Leonhardt*, Salwe*, Vidmar*; <10.0>: Duras*, Schlechter*, Wolf; <9.5>: Marshall*, Nimzpwitsch*, Teichmann*; <8.0>: Dus Chotimisky*, Tartakower*; <7.5>: Chigorin*, Janowski*, Spielmann*; <7.0>: Mieses*; <6.5>: Berger; <5.5>: Olland*; <4.0>: Cohn*; <3.5>: Johner
Round 19 (Saturday, September 14)
181 Johner 1/2 Salwe
182 Teichmann 1/2 Mieses
183 Spielmann 0 Duras
184 Leonhardt 1 Tartakower
185 Marshall 0 Janowski
186 Schlechter 1/2 Dus Chotimirsky
187 Maroczy 1/2 Vidmar
188 Cohn 0 Nimzowitsch
189 Chigorin 0 Rubinstein
190 Olland 1 Wolf
Berger - BYE
The leaders both reached equal positions. Maroczy and Vidmar agreed to a draw, and Rubinstein offered one to Chigorin. However, the Old Russian apparently spotted a winning chance, and probably figured he could draw with Rubinstein when he wanted to. This was a misjudgment.
Leonhardt moved into sole third place with his fourth win a row, and took home a share of the 2nd Beauty prize to boot. Duras lulled Spielmann to sleep in a sprightly 99-mover, while Cohn launched what might be The Worst Kingside Attack of All Time.
Standings after round 19 (* indicates player has had the bye):
13.5: Rubinstein*; <13.0>: Maroczy*; <11.5>: Leonhardt*; <11.0>: Duras*, Salwe*, Vidmar*; <10.5>: Nimzowitsch*, Schlechter*; <10.0>: Teichmann*, Wolf; <9.5>: Marshall*; <8.5>: Dus Chotimirsky*, Janowski*; <8.0>: Tartakower*; <7.5>: Chigorin*, Mieses*, Spielmann*; <6.5>: Berger*, Olland*; <4.0>: Cohn*, Johner
Round 20 (Monday, September 16)
191 Rubinstein 1 Olland
192 Nizmowitsch 1 Chigorin
193 Vidmar 0 Cohn
194 Dus Chotimirsky 1/2 Maroczy
195 Janowski 0 Schlechter
196 Tartakower 1 Marshall
197 Duras 0 Leonhardt
198 Mieses 0 Spielmann
199 Salwe 0 Teichmann
200 Berger 1/2 Johner
Wolf - BYE
For the third straight round Rubinstein won while Maroczy only drew. This gave the former a full-point lead with only a game versus Wolf, the tournament's drawing master. The struggle seemed over for all intents and purposes. Meanwhile, Leonhardt won his fifth straight game to all but nail down third place.
Standings after round 20 (* indicates player has had the bye):
14.5: Rubinstein*; <13.5>: Maroczy*; <12.5>: Leonhardt*; <11.5>: Nimzowitsch*, Schlechter*; <11.0>: Duras*, Salwe*, Teichmann*, Vidmar*; <10.0>: Wolf*; <9.5>: Marshall*; <9.0>: Dus Chotimirsky*, Tartakower*; <8.5>: Janowski*, Spielmann*; <7.5>: Chigorin*, Mieses*; <7.0>: Berger*; <6.5>: Olland*; <5.0>: Cohn*; <4.5>: Johner
Round 21 (Tuesday, September 17)
201 Teichmann 1/2 Burger
202 Spielmann 1 Salwe
203 Leonhardt 1 Mieses
204 Marshall 1/2 Duras
205 Schlechter 1 Tartakower
206 Maroczy 1 Janowski
207 Cohn 0 Dus Chotimirsky
208 Chigorin 0 Vidmar
209 Olland 0 Nimzowitsch
210 Wolf 1/2 Rubinstein
Johner - BYE
Rubinstein did get his draw in a fashion that became legendary. Hans Kmoch and Fred Reinfeld later* told the story that Wolf promised prior to the game to beat the "Polish upstart" to help his friend and compatriot Maroczy to win first prize in their home country. However, already after about 10 moves, Wolf made clear that he wasn't adverse to a draw. Rubinstein played on and quickly built up a crushing attack. When the winning continuation became obvious, Rubinstein forced a draw, explaining "Against Wolf I draw when I want to, not when he wants to!".
But I have to wonder if there is more (or less) to the story. In the tournament book, Georg Marco (a chatty soul who never missed a good story) doesn't refer to it at all. He attributed Rubinstein's missing the win as a case of him not trying his hardest to win when a draw would be sufficient. I haven't looked at contemporary sources, but it would be interesting to know what their take is. If our only source for the incident is Hans Kmoch's memory rather than documentary evidence, it might be needed to be taken with a grain of salt.
Elsewhere, Maroczy and Leonardt secured their places with wins. Nimzowitsch's =4th with Schlechter established him as a player to be watched. And the presence of many established stars in the middle to bottom of the crosstable indicated that the new generation needed to be taken serioiusly.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
1 Rubinstein * = = 0 = = 1 1 1 = 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 15.0
2 Maroczy = * 0 = = = = 1 1 = 1 = 1 1 1 = 1 = 1 1 1 14.5
3 Leonhardt = 1 * = 0 1 = 1 = = = 1 = 1 1 = = 1 1 0 1 13.5
4 Nimzowitsch 1 = = * 1 = = = = = 0 0 = 0 1 = 1 1 1 1 1 12.5
5 Schlechter = = 1 0 * = 0 = 0 = = = = 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 12.5
6 Vidmar = = 0 = = * 1 1 = 1 0 1 1 1 0 = 1 1 1 0 0 12.0
7 Teichmann 0 = = = 1 0 * 0 1 1 = = 1 1 = = 0 = = 1 1 11.5
8 Duras 0 0 0 = = 0 1 * 0 0 = 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 11.5
9 Salwe 0 0 = = 1 = 0 1 * = = 0 0 = 1 1 = 1 1 1 = 11.0
10 Wolf = = = = = 0 0 1 = * = = 1 1 1 = 1 0 0 = = 10.5
11 Marshall 0 0 = 1 = 1 = = = = * 1 = 0 0 = 0 0 1 1 1 10.0
12 Dus Chotimirsky 0 = 0 1 = 0 = 0 1 = 0 * 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 10.0
13 Spielmann 1 0 = = = 0 0 0 1 0 = 0 * 0 1 = 0 1 1 1 1 9.5
14 Tartakower 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 1 1 * 0 = 1 0 1 1 1 9.0
15 Janowski 0 0 0 0 0 1 = 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 * 1 1 1 0 1 1 8.5
16 Berger 0 = = = 0 = = 0 0 = = 0 = = 0 * 1 1 0 = = 7.5
17 Chigorin 0 0 = 0 = 0 1 0 = 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 * 0 1 0 1 7.5
18 Mieses = = 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 * 1 1 0 7.5
19 Olland 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 * 1 1 6.5
20 Cohn 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 = 0 0 0 0 0 = 1 0 0 * 1 5.0
21 Johner 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 = = 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 0 0 * 4.5
Saource: Hans Kmoch and Fred Reinfeld, Chess Review, October 1950, pp. 299-301. In John William Donaldson and Nikolay N Minev, The Life & Games of Akiva Rubinstein - Volume 1: Uncrowned King, 2nd edition, McFarland, 2007.Original collection: Game Collection: Karlsbad 1907, by User: Phony Benoni.
Kibitzing
