José Raúl Capablanca

Born on 19 November 1888 in Havana, Cuba.

Learned chess at age four by watching his father play; he reportedly beat his father within days of learning the rules.

Pablo Morán said of him: "For Capablanca, chess was as easy as breathing."

Studied at Columbia University in New York, though he did not graduate; his chess career soon took precedence.

He was a natural genius who absorbed the game intuitively, later developing a deep theoretical understanding.

Third World Chess Champion, reigning from 1921 to 1927 after defeating Emanuel Lasker.

Known as "The Chess Machine" for his almost invincible play; he lost only 35 out of approximately 700 serious games in his career.

His 1927 loss to Alexander Alekhine was a massive upset; he never got a rematch, which remained a bitter point for the rest of his life.

After losing the title, he continued to play brilliantly, winning many tournaments in the 1930s.

Capablanca's endgame technique was legendary; Mikhail Botvinnik considered Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals the best chess book ever written.

He was also a diplomat, serving as Cuba's ambassador to the League of Nations.

His 1921 world championship match against Lasker was played in Havana; Lasker resigned the title after 14 games, citing ill health.

"A good player is always lucky."

"You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win."

My Chess Career (1920) — his autobiography and game collection.

Chess Fundamentals (1921) — a foundational instructional text.

A Primer of Chess — a beginner's guide.