Alekhine

[Jim Uselton]

When one reads about Alekhine, one sees the title Dr Alekhine. Did he have a doctorate?

[Grayling Hill]

Hello Jim,

According to Wikipedia,

"In 1925, he became a French citizen and entered the Sorbonne Faculty of law. Although sources differ about whether he completed his studies there, he was known as "Dr. Alekhine" in the 1930s.[9][10][32] His thesis was on the Chinese prison system. "He received a degree in law in Saint Petersburg in 1914 but never practiced."[33]."

The full article is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Alekhine.

What I have seen in other places is that the degree was a Doctor of Law.  In modern times I don't believe that lawyers use the Dr. prefix, but it may have been common practice back then.

All the best,
Grayling

[Wim van Vugt]

Hi Jim and Grayling,

In The Oxford Companion to Chess by David Hooper and Kenneth Whyld there also isn't any sign of an official doctorate degree.
His "title" might be of the same degree as dr. Alban's. See for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Alban

Best wishes,
Wim

[Jim Uselton]

I read that Adolf Anderssen was awarded an honorary doctorate by Breslau University in 1865. Is it acceptable to use the title Dr. Anderssen? Botvinnik had a doctorate but I dont ever remember reading "Dr. Botvinnik" in books or magazines.

Do you think its best to give all your time and energy to chess when you are a young teen (Fischer) or get a good education which you will never use (Alekhine) who had a law degree but never practiced law?

[Grayling Hill]

Jim,

Tough choice you give there!  In todays environment, players at the very top make a very good living.  If there is potential to be in the top 20 - 30 I would say go for it.  A degree can always be achieved later in life and begin a second career then if you like.

All the best,
Grayling

I read that Adolf Anderssen was awarded an honorary doctorate by Breslau University in 1865. Is it acceptable to use the title Dr. Anderssen? Botvinnik had a doctorate but I dont ever remember reading "Dr. Botvinnik" in books or magazines.

Do you think its best to give all your time and energy to chess when you are a young teen (Fischer) or get a good education which you will never use (Alekhine) who had a law degree but never practiced law?

[Jim Uselton]

Something that isnt often discussed is chessmasters earnings. One sees a top 50 earnings list in tennis, golf and other sports but never a chess masters earnings list. I wonder what such a list would have looked like during the golden age of chess (whenever that was). What would such a list have looked like in 1909, or 1920, or 1930? Maybe most people are not interested in such things but I think it would be fascinating. Take the case of Oldrich Duras, one of the leading players in the world of the early twentieth century. He played his last tournament game in 1914 at 32 yrs of age. He was one of the premier players, at his peak, and never played again in an international tournament. He chose to pursue his civil service career What kind of money did he earn as a chessmaster? Was he married, did he have children? Did his wife tell him---You're going to have to start bringing  home more bacon?

What did the Cuban government pay Capablanca yearly? What was a world championship worth to a chessplayer? How much money did a good selling chess book put in the pocket of the author. Some questions you dont ordinarily hear or get the answers to.