Alekhine, Alexander: - Alexander Alekhine, the 4th world chess champion, was born in Moscow in 1892. He rose quickly through the ranks of the chess world and by 1922 he ranked among the top three or four in the world. He became world champion in 1927, defeating Jose Capablanca in a match in Buenos Aires. As a chess writer, his books included the tournament books of New York 1924 and Nottingham 1936, both considered classics. He briefly lost the title to the Dutchman Max Euwe in 1935, but won it back in 1937. He died in Portugal in 1946 while still holding the title.