World Chess Championship 1927
The longest world championship match in history — Alekhine defeats Capablanca in 34 games over 73 days in Buenos Aires.
- Year
- 1927
- Format
- First to 6 wins (draws not counted)
- Venue
- Club Argentino de Ajedrez
- Prize fund
- $10,000
- Cycle
- classical
Alexander Alekhine’s victory over José Raúl Capablanca in Buenos Aires from 16 September to 29 November 1927 was the most unexpected championship result of the first half of the twentieth century. Capablanca had been world champion for six years and was widely considered the strongest player in the world by a clear margin. Alekhine was 35 years old, had never beaten Capablanca in a single tournament game before the match, and entered as a clear underdog in the betting.
The Match
The match was contested under the same first-to-six-wins format as Capablanca’s own 1921 victory — but Alekhine’s preparation was deeper than any challenger had brought to a championship match before. He had analysed Capablanca’s openings exhaustively, identified specific weaknesses in the champion’s queen-pawn repertoire, and prepared sharp responses he could execute under pressure. The match took 34 games and 73 days — the longest in championship history.
The Aftermath
Alekhine held the title for 18 of the next 19 years (Euwe interrupted the reign in 1935–37) and never agreed to a rematch with Capablanca, despite repeated requests. The refusal soured the chess world’s perception of his title and contributed to the eventual creation of the FIDE championship system after his death in 1946.