World Chess Championship 1907

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The FIDE World Chess Championship 1907 was contested between reigning champion Emanuel Lasker (Germany) and challenger Frank J. Marshall (United States). Held across multiple cities in the United States, this match marked Lasker’s third successful title defense.

World Chess Championship 1907, Emanuel Lasker, Frank J. Marshall
📸 Emanuel Lasker Frank Eugene Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Winner: Emanuel Lasker

Born: 1868, Berlinchen, German Empire
Died: 1941, New York City, USA

By 1907, Emanuel Lasker had reigned as world champion for thirteen years. A mathematician and philosopher, Lasker combined psychological mastery with positional depth. Although criticized for inactivity, he silenced doubters with a dominating performance against Frank Marshall. Lasker’s adaptability neutralized Marshall’s tactical aggression. He embraced preparation rooted in scientific and philosophical discipline. The match revealed Lasker’s ability to stay ahead of his era, even as theoretical norms evolved. Lasker’s reputation soared following this comprehensive win. His meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt during the match further reflected the growing cultural prestige of chess in the U.S.

Opponent: Frank J. Marshall

Born: 1877, New York City, USA
Died: 1944, Jersey City, USA

Frank James Marshall earned his shot at the world title after triumphs including Cambridge Springs 1904, where he defeated elite opponents and proved himself the strongest American master. Known for his brilliant sacrifices and attacking flair, Marshall entered the match full of ambition. But his romantic style clashed with Lasker’s scientific method. Despite bold intentions, he lost eight games and drew seven. The lopsided result highlighted the distance between brilliance and world championship resilience. Nevertheless, Marshall would become a titan in U.S. chess, holding the national title from 1909 to 1936 and founding the Marshall Chess Club.

«The grim business of wearing down your opponent has never appealed to me very much.» — Frank J. Marshall, My Fifty Years of Chess (1942).

Match Overview

🗓️ Match Dates: January 26 – April 6, 1907
📍 Location: New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, Memphis (USA)
✅ Format: First to 8 wins (draws not counted)
⏱️ Time Control: 15 moves per hour (standard at the time)
💰 Prize Fund: Approx. $5,000 total, winner-takes-most
📄 Main Sponsors: Local chess clubs and private patrons

Historical and Cultural Context

The 1907 Championship was the first official world title match held entirely in the United States, signifying the global spread of chess. It marked Lasker’s return to competitive form after a long absence, quieting critics who questioned his commitment. Media coverage peaked when both players were received by President Roosevelt in Washington—a symbolic milestone for the sport. In Soviet chess literature, particularly later issues of Shakhmaty v SSSR, this match is cited as a prime example of how positional play could triumph over speculative brilliance. The clear-cut victory shaped the theoretical debates of the pre-WWI chess world, influencing the next generation of positional masters.

World Chess Championship 1907, Emanuel Lasker (GER), Frank J. Marshall (USA)

World Chess Championship 1907 Games

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Game 15

World Chess Championship 1907

Emanuel Lasker, Germany

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World Chess Championship 1907 Sources

Sources for Quotes

General Sources

Photo Credits

📷 Emanuel Lasker and his brother Berthold (1907)
Photographer: Frank Eugene (License: Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons

Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.