Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, February 1936, p. 33
Hans Kmoch, The Hague, November 24
Again in Hotel Witteburg (like in games 4 and 11). It became silent again pretty fast (<war sehr rasch Ruhe eingetreten>) after the great agitation on the 20th. The <"Incident"> was discussed for not even one day in the press and then it was quiet (<Der "Incident" wurde kaum noch einen Tag lang in der Presse besprochen,...>). Alekhine had stayed in bed for 4 days and now came in company with his physician. Dr. Bernstein was among the kibitzers. Game 22, November 24, The Hague, Hotel Wittebrug. White 1 h 15 min, Black 50 min. (p. 34: Alekhine offered a draw after 17...Qh4).

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, February 1936, pp. 34-35
Amsterdam, November 26.
Back again in the Amsterdam stock market (like game 12). About 1,000 spectators. It was said before that 26 was Alekhine's lucky number. Game 23, November 26, Amsterdam, Effektenbörse. Adjourned after 40 moves, White 2 h 11 min, Black 2 h 18 min. P. 35: Resumption on November 27, Amsterdam, Effektenbörse. White 3 h 4 min, Black 3 h 12 min.

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, February 1936, p. 36
Delft, November 28
Unlike game 5, playing venue was today the Societeis Eensgezindheit. Game 24, November 28, Delft, Societeit Eensgezindheit. White 1 h 56 min, Black 2 h 13 min.

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, February 1936, pp. 38-40
Amsterdam, December 1.
Back again in the Militiezaal (like games 2, 8, 18 and 20). Game 25, December 1, Amsterdam, Militiezaal. Adjourned after move 40, White 2 h 37 min, Black 2 h 3 min. P. 41: Amsterdam, Militiezaal, December 2. Good atmosphere in holland, as Euwe was about to take the lead. Even non-chessplayers were drawn into it. The gmae was resumed but lasted only a few minutes. P. 42: Resumption, December 2, Amsterdam, Militiezaal. White 2 h 38 min, Black 2 h 4 min (compare with time after adjournment). Alekhine's goal for the match cannot be a win any longer but retaining his title with 15:15 score (<Der weitere Kampf kann für ihn kaum noch um den Sieg gehen, sondern um die Rettung des Titels bei einem Schlußstand 15:15.>). Alekhine said to feel comfortable so far, but he suffers from the psychological effect of unexpected losses (<Aljechin erklärte, er fühle sich soweit ganz wohl, leide jedoch unter dem seelischen Eindruck unerwarteter Niederlagen.>). He said that it should be considered that this could happen to the strongest man. Kmoch was estranged by Alekhine's quiet disheartenment as an Alekhine who doesn't fume after losses was no Alekhine. This is to be explained by attrition through the opponent (<Zermürbung durch den Gegner>).

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, March 1936, pp. 67-68
Hans Kmoch, Zandvoort, December 3. The large hall of the Hotel Metropole was densely filled. Game 26, December 3, Zandvoort. Adjourned after move 40, White 2 h 40 min, Black 2 h 28 min. P. 70: Amsterdam, Militiezaal, December 4. The Zandvoort playing venue was not available, so the 2nd part of game 26 was relocated to Amsterdam. Although nobody expected the game to last long, there was terrible affluxion/crush (<fürchterlicher Andrang>, much too many people)).

Resumption, December 4, Amsterdam, Militiezaal. White 2 h 45 min, Black 2 h 40 min. It lasted only 17 min. As compensation, Euwe explained the game on the <Wandschach> (kind of chess board on the wall). Page 71: Kmoch explains that Alekhine can hardly catch Euwe who leads +2 with 4 games to play. Reiterating that a draw means that Alekhine would retain his title (<Wohl genügt dem Weltmeister gleicher Schlußstand um den Titel zu retten, aber selbst um sich mit 15:15 aus der Affaire zu ziehen, müßte er im Endspurt eine übermenschliche Leistung vollbringen.>). Euwe's overall condition is still improving, while the World Champion is in gloom. Great chess enthusiasm in the whole of holland.

< Winning again in games 5, 6, 8, and 10 the Fischer juggernaut had become unstoppable.>

Semmering, Hotel Panhans , February 23, 1936. Present are representatives of the Panhans AG, Alekhine and Kmoch (for Dr. Euwe). Chairman was Zimdin, president of Panhans AG. So the Panhans AG is willing to fnance the rematch in the Panhans hotel. Now they'd to find a date, Euwe can't play prior to October 1, 1937 while the hosts don't want a later date than August 20, 1937. Both parties cite vitally important reasons. Yet, they are optimistic with regards to the written negotiations and the match is close to safe.

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, March 1936, pp. 83-85
Hans Kmoch, The Hague, December 6.
P. 83: After a rest day, the match was continued in Hotel Wittebrug (like games 4, 11 and 22) but today's game almost became a catastrophe for the hotel - the audience was soon overcrowded, about 600 people who couldn't gain access were in the public rooms and hallway, hundreds had to be repelled at the hotel entrance. the telephone rang without a pause for long until late night and again from early morning on as the the game was adjourned and only when the broadcasting company reported the next day that euwe had resigned, it stopped. Page 84: Game 27, December 6, The Hague. White 2 h, Black 2 h 5 min. (on a sidenote: <Jess>, it's interesting that skinner & verhoeven don't mention the Lasker/Grigoriew anaylsis as it is mentioned by Kmoch in his anlysis on p. 85). P. 85: The game was adjourned after with 41.b6 being the sealed move, and Euwe called Alekhine the next day and resigned (<nächsten Tages nach Tisch> which may mean after lunch).

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, April 1936, pp. 105-109.
P. 105: Amsterdam, Militiezaal, December 12.
As the committee wants the players to be well-rested for the alst 2 games, 2 rest days were inserted (December 10 and 11). Additionally, a rest day between game 29 and 30 (December 14). Should Euwe win game 29, he would be WC with 15 1/2 points. Yet the 30th game would still have to be played, as an informal/friendly game though. P. 106: Reiterated that, if Alekhine won game 29, he would only need a draw in game 30 to retain his title. Great surprise when Euwe played 1...Nf6 and most people criticised that choice. Game 29, December 12, Militiezaal. Adjourned afetr 41.Ra3. White 1 h 47 min, Black 2 h 29 min.

<Kmoch> was "match director"-

<Match Director: <Hans Kmoch>

Seconds: <Gez Maroczy> (for Euwe) <Salo Landau> (for Alekhine)>

Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, May 1936, pp. 133-139
P. 133: Hans Kmoch, Amsterdam, Bellevue, December 15. Who would have thought at the beginning of the match taht the 30th game would be decisive? Again reiterating: If Alekhine wins, the match is drawn, the WC not beaten

P. 134: and like in Lasker - Schlechter 1910, veverything stays the way it was. The committee rented the biggest hall available, but the capacity of 2,000 people was not enough. a strong platoon of ploicemen on horses had to keep the people seeking entrance at bay. Snow fell, yet the enthusiast stood in the queue for hours. It was Sunday, or else the press would have printed a special for every phase of the game, but this way the resorted to posting the moves with chessplayers explaining them. One newspaper rented a hall for 1,000 people (completely full) wherein an international grandmaster explained the moves, as they didn't want the people to have to wait outside in the cold.

The game began at 7 pm, the committee had delayed the game for half an hour to lower the excitement. Euwe arrived at 6:30 pm and was hailed frenetically by the audience. In the last minute, Alekhine arrived. The WC was very elegantly dressed, though pale but glancing like during his lordliest/proudest days and welcomed with applause. he bowed down and said they meant his opponent (<Der Weltmeister trug Festkleidung: Frack, weiße Binde, Lackschuhe - eine blendend elegante Erscheinung. Wohl war sein Antlitz bleich, aber er hielt den Kopf hoch und blickte drein wie in seinen stolzesten Tagen. Die Menge klatschte. Da trat er an die Rampe, verneigte sich tief und sagte lächelnd: "Ich weiß, daß der Beifall meinem Gegner gilt". Es war eine wehmütige Ablehnung.>). P. 135: Game 30 (last), December 15, Hotel Bellevue, Amsterdam. White 2 h 10 min, Black 1 h 50 min. P. 136: Euwe offered a draw after 25.Rf2 but Alekhine declined, showing signs of earnest regret. P. 137: After move 34, Euwe repeated his draw offer but Alekhine rejected with tortured mien (<gequälter miene>) <"Ich muß, ich muß weiterspielen!"> (i must, i must to play on). After Euwe had made his 40th move and prepared to sealhis following move, Alekhine understood that everything was over. <"Werden sie ihren nächten Zug abgeben?"> (are you going to seal your next move?) alekhine asked with low voice, Euwe shrugged <Wir haben es doch immer so getan.> (we always did it that way). The WC lowered his head for the fraction of a second, composed himself immediately and declared to be willing to accept the draw offer. Euwe gladly did, they stood up and Alekhine was the first one to congratulate him.

Kmoch has a hard time decribing what happened then as exaltation was breaking out. 40 guards stormed the hall. cohorts of filmmakers appeared (<Scharen von Filmoperateuren>). Euwe got a huge laurel crown around his neck and flowers, flowers, flowers. Mr and Mrs Alekhine got a lot (<wurden reichlich bedacht>). Alekhine congratulated chess-holland. Euwe managed to esape outside but he was spotted and carried on shoulders to Hotel Carlton, wherein an improvised victory party took place <wobei es derart toll zuging, daß sogar Euwe ein Glas Whisky an die Lippen hob> (it was so great/mad a party that even Euwe put a glass of whisky at his lips). The celebrations went on for some days. P. 138: Euwe slept at most 3-4 h per night. This is how his vacancies went by (he was granted 3 additional weeks). last great obeisanc on january 19 in Delft, the <Unterrichtsminister> awarded him the <Offizierskreuz des Oranje-Nassau-Ordens>. Now the chess company (most attended the official closing banquette) : Lasker & Mieses had left earlier, then followed Maroczy. Tartakower left, Flohr stayed longer and then left for Hastings.

Game Collection: WCC: Fischer- Spassky 1972

<< Winning again in games 5, 6, 8, and 10 the Fischer juggernaut had become unstoppable.>

I don't care for that. Spassky came out and won the next game. Fischer wasn't unstoppable for long.>

I strongly agree, and logged. There is still around 120 words of space left to complete this intro properly.

I think much of that space might be devoted to a fuller account of the course of the actual chess match, not just the controversy? Certainly it should be added to. The intro ends both abruptly and inaccurately.

Might you consider writing a paragraph from the point of your EDIT suggestion?

If you did do that, I would guarantee we'd keep your contribution.

In fact if you felt like it, you could even re-edit/write the whole intro, in which case we'd mark the mirror

<DRAFT EDIT in progress: <OhioChessFan>>

I have some excellent sources on this event and I'd be happy to type up anything you might need and post it on the mirror.

It's up to you of course, no pressure. We are doing this for fun.

P. 65: Apparently, Alekhine arrived in Vienna on February 23, which was also the day of the negotiations.

Alekhine declared openly that he lost the match deservedly and that his opponent had won deservedly. No excuses or palliation. The Alekhine-Euwe committee behaved quite correct and the whole match was conducted in the spirit of true sportsmanship and fairness. (<Mit wirklich nobler Beherrschung und tapferem Freimut erklärte Aljechin ohne jede Verklausulierung, daß er den Wettkampf verdient verloren und daß ihn der Gegner verdient gewonnen habe. Es gebe keinerlei Ausrede und keinerlei Beschönigung. Auch das Aljechin-Euwe-Komitee habe sich durchaus korrekt benommen und der ganze Wettkampf sei im Geiste echter Sportlichkeit und Fairness geführt worden.> pp. 65-66).

P. 66: Alekhine is looking forward to the return match (<Rückkampf>), which will likely take place next year (Semmering negotiations) but he would be ready to start tomorrow. He lost to Dr. Euwe because he sinned against the steadfast law of chessgoddess Caissa: He regarded Euwe only as the solid mathematician and correct scientist, who could be disarranged inwardly by irrational and paradoxical. (<er habe in Euwe zunächst nur den soliden Mathematiker und korrekten Wissenschaftler gesehen, den man mit Irrationalismen und Paradoxen in innere Unordnung bringen könne.>). This worked in the beginning, as Euwe played weakly during the first 10 games, putting up much less resistance than Bogoljubov, for example. But this alleged psychological superiority ended in Alekhine's doom. Suddenly, Euwe became an energetic fighter (<energischer Kämpfer>). Now the psychological inferiority from the beginnig, became a psychological superiority. From game 14 onwards, Alekhine didn't have the feeling he could win, because he didn't deserve to win, as he wasn't the most worthy recently (gegenwärtig>). In fact, he played well gain in the last games and fought determined against his fate but fate was just. Alekhine considers this match to be the greatest lesson of his life and wants to take it to his heart for the whole future (<Aljechin betrachte den Wettkampf als die größte Lehre seines Lebens und er wolle diese Lehre beherzigen für alle Zukunft.>).

Game Collection: WCC: Euwe-Alekhine Rematch 1937

That's just marvelous thank you!

<P. 92 of the March 1936 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung'>: A new plan is in consideration, 15 games in summer 1937 in the Hotel Carlton, Amsterdam and then, after a short break, the rest in Panhans Hotel in Semmering, Austria.

<P. 121 of the April 1936 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung'>: The Semmering project finally broke down. The return match (<Retourmatch>) will take place in autumn 1937 in the Netherlands. In beginning of May, Alekhine will travel to Amsterdam to sign the contract.

<Tal often sacrificed material in search for the initiative in chess.>

This is grammatically incorrect. “…in a search” would be okay. “in chess” seems redundant. I would suggest maybe “Tal often sacrificed material in a relentless search (or maybe quest) for the initiative.”

<though deeper post-game analysis found flaws in some of his conceptions.>

I’d prefer “sometimes” or “often” before “found”.

<Although this playing style was scorned by ex-World Champion Vasily Smyslov as nothing more than "tricks", Tal convincingly beat every notable grandmaster with his trademark aggression.>

Game Collection: WCC: Botvinnik-Tal 1960

<<Tal often sacrificed material in search for the initiative in chess.>

This is grammatically incorrect. “…in a search” would be okay. “in chess” seems redundant. I would suggest maybe “Tal often sacrificed material in a relentless search (or maybe quest) for the initiative.”>

You are correct. I'm going to enact <Annie's> choice: "sacrificed material in search <of> the initiative"

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<<though deeper post-game analysis found flaws in some of his conceptions.>

I’d prefer “sometimes” or “often” before “found”.>

Agree. I like this sentence even less than you do, because it's an "assertion in the air" that hasn't actually been sourced. This makes it difficult to choose the adverb modifier. Did "someone" take a frequency poll? In the absence of hard information, I'd say <sometimes> is the most neutral, and thus safest, bet.

Enacted.

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<<Although this playing style was scorned by ex-World Champion Vasily Smyslov as nothing more than "tricks", Tal convincingly beat every notable grandmaster with his trademark aggression.>

I think it worth increasing the word count to note that it wasn’t only Smyslov who held that view. Maybe “Although this playing style was disdained by a number of strong players (ex-World Champion Vasily Smyslov ridiculed Tal’s sacrifices as nothing more than "tricks)", Tal convincingly beat every notable grandmaster with his trademark aggression.>

Agree. It's also an invitation to find sources to show who the other masters were who shared this opinion, and what they actually said.

Enacted.

#################

We'd certainly like to see more of you in these parts, if you ever have the inclination to help with editing, fact checking/fact adding, or writing draft edits. We could use all the help we can get.

Fact checking sounds dull but it can be fun. It gives one the opportunity to type things like

Game Collection: WCC: Alekhine-Euwe 1935

During the <Alekhine-Bogoljubov World Championship Match> Alekhine accepted a title challenge from Max Euwe .<1> Jose Raul Capablanca regarded this agreement to be "unjustifiable," insisting that Alekhine first "play the promised return-match with himself."<2> Alekhine held Capablanca, but not Euwe, to the $10,000 purse requirement guaranteed by the London rules of 1922.<3> The champion felt justified to play Euwe for a lower purse because Euwe never signed the London rules.<4> Capablanca did not regard Euwe to be a "serious competitor" for the title,<2> and Alekhine also indicated he might not take his new opponent too seriously. According to Alexander Munninghoff, Alekhine first approached Euwe in 1933 to play a match on a cruise ship to the Dutch Indies "for the world championship if need be."<5> When Euwe accepted this offer in June 1934, his friend Hans Kmoch suggested Holland as a more appropriate venue, since the world chess championship was not a "variety act."<5>

Euwe's record suggests he was a serious competitor for the title. Chessmetrics ranks him 2d in the world in Dec. 1934.<6> Though he had never beaten Capablanca, he had finished ahead of him at Hastings in 1930/31 and 1934/35. He boasted victories over Mikhail Botvinnik, Efim Bogoljubov, Salomon Flohr, and most importantly Alekhine himself, including their <last encounter> at <Zurich 1934>- Euwe vs Alekhine, 1934. The match began 3 October in Amsterdam, with an initial limit of 30 games to be played in 13 different Dutch cities. The first to 15 1/2 points with 6 wins would triumph, with Alekhine enjoying draw odds.<7> If Euwe led after 30 games without 6 wins, the match would continue until he made 6 wins or Alekhine equaled his score.<4> Alekhine would also receive the entire purse of 10,000 guilders ($6,700) win or lose, and the right to a rematch within one year.<4,8> Hans Kmoch was arbiter and the seconds were Geza Maroczy (Euwe) and Salo Landau (Alekhine).<9>

Alekhine did appear to be in somewhat poor condition and lost the <game>-Alekhine vs Euwe, 1935, handing Euwe a momentum he would never relinquish.<12> Euwe struck twice more to lead by 1 1/2 points with only 4 games to play. Alekhine responded magnificently by winning <game 27>- Alekhine vs Euwe, 1935, a performance Emanuel Lasker called "a brilliant achievement... It is the more to be acclaimed, as he was obviously getting through a mental/psychological crisis."<13> Euwe led by a 1/2 point heading in to the final game, meaning Alekhine had to win to retain his title. Euwe established a winning position, and after offering Alekhine a draw 3 times, he finally accepted. Max Euwe had become the 5th world chess champion.<7>

At the victory celebration, Alekhine announced "I am proud and happy that the world has as a chess champion, a gentleman.” Euwe replied that "from my birth I've been your friend and admirer... I will always be." Alekhine then interrupted Euwe with a spontaneous remark, "Mister World-Champion, you were always my friend, and will always stay my friend." This triggered a thunderous burst of applause, and Euwe, visibly moved, walked over to Alekhine to shake his hand, as the ex-champion finished by murmuring "I have always respected you."<14>

1 "American Chess Bulletin" April 1934, p.66. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" (McFarland 1989), pp.233-234

2 "British Chess Magazine" April 1935, p.189. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.234

3 "American Chess Bulletin" May-June 1934, p.75. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.234

4 Leonard Skinner and Robert Verhoeven, "Alexander Alekhine's Chess Games 1902-1946" (MacFarland 1998), pp.534-535

5 Alexander Munninghoff, "Max Euwe, The Biography" (New in Chess 2001), pp.101-103

6 Chessmetrics http://chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/Mont...

7 "Neue Wiener Schachzeitung" May 1936, pp.133-139

8 Munninghoff, p.174

9 "The Times" 18 February 1978, p.13. In Edward Winter, "Ernst Ludwig Klein" http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...

10 "Neue Wiener Schachzeitung" October-November 1935, pp.309-310

11 "Chess" 14 Dec. 1935, p.124. In Edward Winter, Chessnote 7937 http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...

12 Neue Wiener Schachzeitung, Jan 1936, pp.17-20

13 "Neue Wiener Schachzeitung" January 1936, pp.8-10

No, the explanation is much simpler. I can't do maths.