World Chess Championship 1907
Lasker crushed Marshall without losing a game.
The 1907 World Chess Championship saw Emanuel Lasker defend his title against Frank J. Marshall across six U.S. cities. Lasker dominated, winning eight games and drawing seven without a single loss, keeping his crown.
Quick Facts
- Champion
- Emanuel Lasker (Germany)
- Challenger
- Frank J. Marshall (United States)
- Dates
- January 26 to April 6, 1907
- Host cities
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Washington
- D.C.
- Baltimore
- Chicago
- Memphis
- Result
- Lasker won 8 games
- Marshall 0
- with 7 draws
- Wins required
- 8
Facts from the source article.
Background
Lasker had played little chess since retaining the championship in 1896–1897, partly due to his doctoral studies in mathematics. He agreed to defend his title against Marshall in the United States from January 26 to April 6, 1907. Because Lasker requested $5,000, Marshall sought sponsorship from chess associations in various cities, leading to games in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Memphis. This was the last world championship on American soil until 1990.
Games
In one game, Marshall played the obscure 5.0-0 and reached a balanced middlegame, but Lasker gained an endgame advantage and put White in zugzwang with 35...a6, eventually promoting after 50...b2. In another, Marshall had better winning chances but lost them after a piece trade, entering a losing knight and pawn endgame. Marshall went up the exchange in one game, but Lasker seemed to hold a drawn position until Marshall blundered checkmate in six with 42.Rf1. Marshall also made a blunder with 39.Kg2?? that Lasker missed; 39...gxf4 would have capitalized, leading to two connected passed pawns.
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