St. Sebastian 1911 – Capablanca's triumphant entry into Europe
On Saturday 6 September, the first presentation was given by Georges Bertola on the 1911 San Sebastian tournament. This was Capablanca's first tournament in Europe, and he made a big impression.
Georges is a Capablanca specialist, and I also refer you to the first volume of the biography of the brilliant Cuban player:
Capablanca, the prodigious ascent (1888-1920) - by Georges Bertola
Read more … St. Sebastian 1911 – Capablanca's triumphant entry into Europe
New essay on Spanish chess bibliography
The programme for Friday 5 September included a title that was somewhat mysterious to me:
Collector's Corner: NEBEA, Spanish Chess Bibliography: Genesis, contributions and curiosities
With a presentation by José A. Garzón.
In fact, it allowed me to discover a remarkable work on the origins of modern chess in Spain. The acronym NEBEA finally found an explanation: Nuevo Ensayo de Bibliografia Espanola de Ajedrez 1238-1938, or in English, New Essay on Spanish Chess Bibliography.
Co-authors: Miquel Artigas, José A. Garzón and Josep Alió.
Rodrigo (Ruy) LÓPEZ DE SEGURA and his reception in Europe
The second speaker on Friday, 5 September 2025, in Valencia (A memorable meeting in a historic location – CH&LS annual meeting in Valencia) was Herbert Bastian with his presentation on Ruy Lopez.
Read more … Rodrigo (Ruy) LÓPEZ DE SEGURA and his reception in Europe
Spain as the cradle of modern chess
Here is the presentation given by José A. Garzón in Valencia (Spain) on Friday, September 5, 2025.
This was part of the General Assembly of the CH&LS Chess History and Literature Society (A memorable meeting in a historic location – CH&LS annual meeting in Valencia.
A memorable meeting in a historic location – CH&LS annual meeting in Valencia
by Herbert Bastian
It was a special occasion that drew organised European chess historians to this year's meeting of the Chess History & Literature Society (CH&LS) in Valencia, Spain's third-largest city in the province of the same name at the mouth of the Turia River where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, and they came in large numbers. While the city had been deeply concerned last year due to severe weather that claimed many lives, this time the weather was at its best, with temperatures around 30 degrees and plenty of sunshine.
Read more … A memorable meeting in a historic location – CH&LS annual meeting in Valencia
Invitation to the CCI Meeting in Nuremberg, October 31 – November 2, 2025
Thomas Thomsen, member of Chess Collectors International (CCI), has informed us about the upcoming CCI meeting, which will take place from October 31 to November 2, 2025, in Nuremberg, Germany. Once again, all members of CH&LS are warmly invited to participate.
Attached you will find the official invitations in English.
Further information is also available on the CCI website:
https://chesscollectorsinternational.org/news/coming-up-german-chess-collectors-meeting-from-october-31st-november-2nd-2025-in-nuremberg/
New Member: Michael Wiltshire
Our new member, Michael Wiltshire from Great Britain, introduces himself in the members area (you must be logged in to read).
Esteban Canal - Birth pains
by Alan McGowan
The mystery surrounding Esteban Canal’s date and place of birth has already been described on this website by CH & LS member Luca D’Ambrosio; before offering an addition to the story, it is worthwhile reviewing the different versions that have been offered.
Neue Wiener Schachzeitung 1923, page 286
Canal is 26, born Peru 1897. When he was 13, he went to Spain as a student,
Sahovski Glasnik 1926, page 203
Canal was born on April 19, 1897, on a ship in the Ocean on its way to Peru, where his parents had emigrated from Spain. He spent his childhood in Chiclayo, and in 1909, his restlessness compelled him to secretly leave his parental home and go to Europe.
Chronicle of the chess society “Roland” Weißenfels a.d.S.
by Siegfried Schönle
[Original article in German is here. Translation with DeepL.com (free version)]
Anyone who wants to know where Weißenfels is located must turn to p. 351 of the latest local history work by the brothers Konrad and Markus Reiß. A comprehensive work of 502 pages, color print, numerous facsimiles, photos and various illustrations.
With this book, the Löberitz Chess Museum wants to make the handwritten documents accessible to a larger group of people as annotated and transcribed facsimiles and thus preserve their content more securely for posterity.
For the Löberitz Chess Museum, the minutes contain important documents for completing the chess history in Saxony-Anhalt, which is a stroke of luck. The Löberitz Chess Museum is committed to preserving the chess tradition in Central Germany.
Read more … Chronicle of the chess society “Roland” Weißenfels a.d.S.
New Capablanca and Alekhine book in Spanish
Las historias, partidas e intrigas de Capablanca y Alekhine, the new book in Spanish by Luis Fernández Siles, offers a fascinating journey into the intellectual and human rivalry between two titans of the XXᵉ century, José Raúl Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine.
Over 400 richly documented pages, the author paints an accurate historical portrait of the turn of the century, tracing the rise of the two geniuses, their first duel and then the evolution of an unlikely relationship, combining respect, admiration and then growing enmity.
At the heart of the book are dozens of commented chess games, selected to illustrate the key moments of their confrontation on the chessboard. The author examines not only the strategies, but also the psychological tensions, the official negotiations and the off-field intrigues that punctuated their careers.
You can purchase it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9BPRTDQ
Under this link you will find some information and sample pages to download: https://capakhine.es/index.php/blog/238-las-historias-partidas-y-enigmas-de-capablanca-y-alekhine