World Chess Championship 1929

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The World Chess Championship 1929 was contested in Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, and Berlin (Germany) between reigning champion Alexander Alekhine (France) and challenger Efim Bogoljubov (Germany). Alekhine retained the title by 15½–9½ (Alekhine +11 −5 =9).

World Chess Championship 1929, Alexander Alekhine, Efim Bogoljubov
Alexander Alekhine possibly 1924
Library of Congress George Grantham Bain Collection Public domain License Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Winner/Reigning Champion: Alexander Alekhine

Born: 1892, Moscow, Russian Empire
Died: 1946, Estoril, Portugal

By 1929, Alekhine was defending the crown he had taken from José Raúl Capablanca in 1927. Having established himself as the dominant force in world chess, he approached his first title defense with meticulous preparation and firm control over the match arrangements. His opening repertoire—especially in the Queen’s Gambit Declined and Slav Defense—was designed to create rich, fighting positions while minimizing risk. The match revealed Alekhine’s growing professionalism and his belief that preparation could outweigh natural talent. Between games, he spent long hours analyzing with seconds and refining novelties that would appear years later in tournament play. It was a display of both calculation and willpower, and a statement that the new champion intended to rule on his own terms.

«I consider chess a struggle in the full sense of the word.» – Alexander Alekhine

Challenger: Efim Bogoljubov

Born: 1889, Stanislavschtschina, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
Died: 1952, Triberg, West Germany

Efim Bogoljubov earned his title chance through major victories in Bad Kissingen and Berlin in 1928, achievements that established him among the world’s elite. A player of sharp instincts and bold imagination, he favored open battles where calculation and courage could outweigh theory. In the 1929 match he struck back in several games, demonstrating creative resourcefulness even when the odds turned against him. Although Alekhine’s consistency ultimately decided the outcome, Bogoljubov’s fighting spirit and inventive play secured his place among the great personalities of the interwar chess scene. He would earn a second championship rematch in 1934, again facing the same formidable opponent.

«The board is never quiet when Alekhine plays.» – Efim Bogoljubov

Match Overview

Match Dates: September 6 – November 12, 1929
Location: Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Berlin (Germany)
Format: First to 6 wins, with 15½ points required to win the title
Time Control: 40 moves in 2½ hours, followed by 16 moves per hour
Prize Fund: Not precisely recorded; mix of private and local sponsorships
Main Sponsors: German Chess Federation, local chess clubs, and private patrons

Historical and Cultural Significance

The match took place in Weimar Germany, a period marked by political tension and economic uncertainty but also by cultural vitality. Bogoljubov’s German citizenship gave the event a national resonance, and chess clubs across the country helped host the stages in Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, and Berlin. The German and Soviet press covered the contest extensively, with Deutsche Schachzeitung providing detailed analysis and Soviet journals following Alekhine’s form closely. The organization of the match demonstrated Germany’s continued commitment to international chess after World War I and reflected the game’s growing professional standards. Alekhine’s clear victory emphasized the increasing importance of preparation and discipline at the highest level.

World Chess Championship 1929, Alexander Alekhine (FRA), Efim Bogoljubov (GER)

World Chess Championship 1929 Games

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Game 7

Game 8

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Game 18

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Game 21

Game 22

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Game 24

Game 25

World Chess Championship 1929

Alexander Alekhine, France

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World Chess Championship 1929 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Photo Credits

Alexander Alekhine (portrait, possibly 1924)
Library of Congress (George Grantham Bain Collection): Public domain (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.