Voting Station

Jose Raul Capablanca

Please vote to return to collections.

Chess Champ

The Resume

    (November 19, 1888-March 8, 1942)
    Born in Havana, Cuba
    World chess champion (1921-27)
    Wrote 'My Chess Career' and 'Chess Fundamentals'

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of Columbia to play chess full time.
    He found financial security after the Cuban Foreign Office gave him a job with no specific duties.
    He delayed defending his title for six years by demanding a $10,000 purse, then lost his first defense to Alexander Alekhine.
    According to his wife Olga, he resented chess dominating his life and wished he had studied music or medicine instead.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He used his diplomatic status to help several Jewish refugees escape Europe before WWII.
    Alekhine said of him, 'He was always good-humoured, the darling of the ladies, and enjoyed wonderful good health – really a dazzling appearance.'
    He played a simultaneous exhibition against 103 opponents, ending up with 102 wins and one draw (1922).
    Emmanuel Lasker said, 'I have known many chess players, but only one chess genius: Capablanca.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying