Chess 21 Jun 1923, Thu Brooklyn Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) Newspapers.com
Dr. Lasker Will Not Retire; Through With Chess Title
By Hermann Helms
That Dr. Emanuel Lasker has no thought of retiring permanently from the chess arena, but, on the contrary, retains all of his old-time enthusiasm for the game which made him famous and gave him the title of world's champion for 27 years, was the interesting information brought back by Jacob Bernstein, New York State champion, who has returned from Carlsbad. So far as concerns the world's championship, which Capablanca wrested from him two years ago, Dr. Lasker is entirely content to let the title remain in the hands which he regards of all the most worthy. The privilege of challenging for the title he will leave to younger men, inasmuch as his own ambition in that direction has been fully satisfied.
According to Bernstein, Dr. Lasker is quite prepared to participate in a masters' tournament, provided satisfactory conditions are made for him by the management. Just what these conditions are does not as yet appear. Dr. Lasker was present throughout the entire chess congress at the Hotel Imperial for the purpose of reporting the proceedings for several European newspapers. This he did in most thorough style, and he took the keenest interest in the various games which he was constantly analyzing.
Aside from this, Dr. Lasker played innumerable off-hand or “skittle” games. Moreover, he participated in all three of the rapid transit tournaments, wherein most of the leading masters took a hand. Dr. Lasker was the winner in each case.
Bernstein relates that, on one of the bye days, Dr. Lasker and Alekhine had a session which lasted for 12 hours. Bernstein himself was watching them for fully four hours, for he considered this an unusual treat of which he felt he must avail himself. So well were these famous experts matched that they would up with an even score.
Bernstein, whose health benefited greatly by his trip abroad, said that he was treated royally and received an invitation to take part in the next congress to be held in Carlsbad, most likely in 1925. He hopes to be able to go, in which case he confidently expects to do even better than on this occasion, when he defeated Rubinstein and Bogoljubov, among others. In the meantime he is prepared to play in the masters' tournament of the Ninth American Chess Congress, planned for August.
It is his view that American chess players have little to fear from European experts. Rubinstein, he says, has about given up hope of being able to find the backing for his match with Capablanca by next January and is prepared to give way to Alekhine. The latter, according to Bernstein, is ready with half of the amount required and desires to come to America in order to raise the balance.
