Emanuel Lasker

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 36

Emanuel Lasker

Emanucl Lnskcr was born December 24, 18U8, in Bcrlinchen, a small down in Prussia, so that he is now in his 24th year. He learned the moves of the game at the age of 12 years, hia brother, Dr Lasker, being his tutor. At the age of 15 he began to practise the game more scientifically. His name was first heard of in 1839, when in June of that year he carried off the first prize in a tournament held at the Kaiscrhof, of Berlin, without losiug a single game. In. July, 18S:>, he competed in the minor tournament of the German Chess Association at Brcalau, when he carried oft" the first prize after tying with Jlerr V. Feycrfcil, whom he defeated in the tie match. This, according to German rule, entitled him to rank as a master. In August, 18S9, he played in the Slaster Tournament at Amsterdam, winning second piize (A.. Burn, of Liverpool, being first,), with the score of 6 out of S, Van Vliet being the only player who defeated him, while Burn and Mason drew. In July, 1890, he played in the Berlin National Tournament, and tied with his brother, Dr Lasker, for first and second prizes, with 6i out of 8. In August, 1890, he won the third prue at the Graz International Tournament with a score of i out of 6. His recent successes in winning the British Chess Association Tournament and also the "riuintaisgular" match will ho fresh in tho memory of players. The che^s editor of the Birmingham Weekly Mercury says that the British chews masters do not know what to do with Linker. "At all points of the game he is armed as with triple steel. They have tried close game.?, open games, waiting K'unis, ancient fctyle, modern style, irregular opening's, hackneyed openings— but all iv \ain. They have tried to out-rnanosu vre him with Drcdalinn complications, to best him in the opening, the middle game, and the enrl. And whatever style of chess he is actually playing one is apt to think his strongest point. He is as ingenious as Bird, as imaginative aa Blaclcbunie, as subtle as Gunsberg, as original as Stuinitz, o.s brilliant as Tchigorin, as solid and tenacious as Mason, asj safe as Tarrasch, as scientific as half a doicn oidinary matter* rolled into one. In Inline he must be clashed with Ntein.it/, Bl.tckI'iiinc, Tchigorin, Uunshers, and Vei'jS. Tho last-named i-j noi often bpi.-keu of, but as a matchplaycr his pla^e is in the first three. The only question as to Liibker'o staying power relates lo physique. Chess matches and (ournejs aie a severe test of •i itality, and being of .slight and deiicritc appeiranco he may not