HistoryData
sports1927

World Chess Championship 1927 — chess championship

January 1, 1927

Alekhine defeated Capablanca in Buenos Aires to claim the World Chess Championship, ending Capablanca's six-year reign as champion.

Quick Facts

Year
1927
Category
sports

Key Facts

Match dates
September 16 – November 29, 1927
Champion before match
José Raúl Capablanca
New champion
Alexander Alekhine
Challenger's entry fee
10000 USD (1927)
Alekhine's naturalization
Became French citizen on November 5, 1927

By the Numbers

16
Match dates
10,000USD (1927)
Challenger's entry fee
51,927
Alekhine's naturalization

Location

Map of Buenos Aires, ArgentinaMap of Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBuenos Aires, Argentina

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Under the London rules of 1922, which Capablanca himself had proposed, any challenger was required to contribute $10,000 to play for the world title. Alekhine successfully raised this sum in 1927, qualifying him to challenge the reigning champion Capablanca.

Event

The 1927 World Chess Championship was contested in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between reigning champion José Raúl Capablanca and challenger Alexander Alekhine from September 16 to November 29. Alekhine defeated Capablanca to become the new World Chess Champion, also acquiring French citizenship during the match on November 5.

Consequence

Alekhine's victory ended Capablanca's six-year reign as world champion. Alekhine subsequently demanded that Capablanca meet the same $10,000 entry requirement to earn a rematch, a condition Capablanca was never able to fulfill, preventing him from reclaiming the title.

Result

Alexander Alekhine
Alekhine wins championship
José Raúl Capablanca

at Buenos Aires, Argentina

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19271927192419251926192819291930UK recognized the independence of Ibn Saud and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hejaz & Nejd1927 South American Championship — 1927 football championship1st Chess Olympiad — FIDE chess tournament for national teamsDavisson–Germer experiment — experimentPetrushka — 1911 ballet by Igor Stravinsky, Michel Fokine and Alexandre Benois, Ballets Russes1927 anti-foreigner riots in Nanking1927 Italian battle in Libya1927 riot in a Japanese concession in Chinaworld-chess-championship-1927-chess-championship-1927