The rivalry between Alexander Alekhine – The Immortal Attacker and José Raúl Capablanca – The Endgame Machine was one of the most dramatic in chess history. Their styles could not have been more different: Capablanca’s effortless clarity versus Alekhine’s fierce imagination. Their 1927 World Championship match in Buenos Aires shocked the chess world, and the echoes of their clash continue to inspire debate today.
Capablanca’s games often feel like minimalist works of art, where simplicity is beauty. Alekhine’s games, by contrast, resemble explosive canvases filled with bold strokes, brimming with energy and invention. Together, they represented two poles of chess mastery.
In 1927, Capablanca was the reigning champion and overwhelming favorite. He had never lost to Alekhine in a serious game. Yet, after 34 grueling games, Alekhine emerged victorious with +6 −3 =25. It was one of the greatest upsets in chess history.
Capablanca’s inability to win in sharp positions and Alekhine’s relentless pressure in long games proved decisive. Alekhine’s fitness, determination, and preparation gave him the edge.
Before 1927, Capablanca often finished ahead of Alekhine in top tournaments, most notably New York 1924, where Capablanca came second behind Lasker, and Alekhine placed third. After 1927, however, Alekhine dominated the tournament scene, winning events like San Remo 1930 and Bled 1931 by massive margins, cementing his superiority.
After Buenos Aires, Alekhine promised Capablanca a rematch – but on the same steep financial terms Capablanca had once demanded of challengers: a $10,000 purse. Negotiations dragged on for years, complicated by Alekhine’s title defenses against Efim Bogoljubov (1929 and 1934). Despite repeated attempts, the rematch never materialized. When Capablanca died in 1942, the rivalry ended unresolved.
The “London Rules,” established in 1922, allowed the reigning champion to demand exorbitant financial conditions. Capablanca had insisted on them; Alekhine used the same rules to avoid giving him a return match.
Capablanca influenced Fischer and Karpov, who admired his clarity. Alekhine inspired Kasparov, who praised his universality and imaginative attacks. Their clash echoed through the games of every champion who followed.
The rivalry between the Immortal Attacker and the Endgame Machine remains iconic. It was not just about two individuals but about two visions of chess itself – one grounded in simplicity, the other in imagination. Their 1927 match, their failed rematch, and their contrasting legacies still capture the imagination of chess lovers worldwide.
👉 Explore more rivalries in our Chess History Guide.