José Raúl Capablanca
Cuban chess player (1888-1942) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (Havana, Cuba, 19 November 1888 – New York, 8 March 1942) was a Cuban chess player who was World Chess Champion from 1921 to 1927.
José Raúl Capablanca | |
---|---|
Full name | José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera |
Country | Cuba |
Born | (1888-11-19)19 November 1888 Havana, Cuba, Spanish Empire |
Died | 8 March 1942(1942-03-08) (aged 53) New York City, U.S. |
World Champion | 1921–1927 |
Capablanca was a child prodigy with an astonishing natural talent for the game. He grew up into a cultured and charming man, whom the Cuban government made its roving ambassador-at-large. He was a media celebrity: his travels round the world were reported in newspapers, radio and movie newsreels. In his lifetime, he was probably the Cuban best known to the rest of the world.[1][2][3]
In December 1921, shortly after becoming World Champion, Capablanca married Gloria Simoni Betancourt. They had a son, José Raúl Jr., in 1923 and a daughter, Gloria, in 1925.[4] According to Capablanca's second wife, Olga, his first marriage broke down fairly soon.[4][5]