BERLIN CALENDAR: CHECK, MATE, BERLIN WALL - EMMANUEL LASKER'S DEFENCE
Today in Berlin: 26 May, 1894
On May 26, 1894 in Montreal, for this is where today’s Berlin story begins, German mathematician and superbly talented chess player, Emanuel Lasker, won the last match against the then ruling chess world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz.
Lasker challenged Steinitz after he having been snubbed by another chess deity of the time, Siegbert Tarrasch. Tarrasch warned Lasker not even to bother the master - not without going to win some international tournament first.
Duly, this was precisely what Lasker did…