World Chess Championship 1907

Lasker had played little chess since retaining the World Championship in 1896–1897, in part due to his doctoral studies in mathematics. However, Lasker agreed to defend his title against American challenger Frank Marshall from January 26 to April 6, 1907, in the United States, with the games being played in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chicago, and Memphis. Because Lasker had requested the significant sum of $5,000 (over $170,000 today), Marshall turned to chess associations in various cities to sponsor the game, which is what led to it being held in so many cities. On March 2, Lasker and Marshall met with then-president of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, and had their Washington game in the Northern Liberty Market. Despite three World Championship matches in the previous 30 years having been held at least partially in the United States, this would be the last championship on American soil until 1990. ==Results==

The first player to win eight games would be World Champion. Games : Lasker won the first three games, then scored one win and seven draws in games 4–11 before winning the last four games. Lasker retained his title. Game 1: Marshall-Lasker, 0-1 In this game, Marshall played the obscure 5.O-O!? and played into a balanced middlegame, trading queens and one pair of rooks. Lasker began to get the better of the endgame, and put white in zugzwang with 35…a6. Marshall found it impossible to save the endgame, and was unable to prevent promotion after 50…b2. Game 2: Lasker-Marshall, 1-0 In this game, Marshall had better winning chances, but managed to lose his attacking chances after a significant piece trade, and entered a losing knight and pawn endgame, which Lasker converted. Game 3: Marshall-Lasker, 0-1 Though Marshall went up the exchange at a point in this game (31. Qxc8+), Lasker seemed to be getting the better of a largely drawn position. The game seemed likely to draw until Marshall blundered checkmate in 6 with 42. Rf1??. Game 4: Lasker-Marshall, 1/2-1/2 Game 5: Marshall-Lasker, 1/2-1/2 Game 6: Lasker-Marshall, 1/2-1/2 Game 7: Marshall-Lasker, 1/2-1/2 Game 8: Lasker-Marshall, 1-0 Game 9: Marshall-Lasker, 1/2-1/2 Marshall made a blunder that was surprisingly missed by Lasker with 39.Kg2??. 39…gxf4 would capitalise on this, as 40. Kxh2 leads to 40…fxg3 and the creation of two connected passed pawns. 40. gxh4 also fails here to 40…Bg3. Game 10: Lasker-Marshall, 1/2-1/2 Game 11: Marshall-Lasker, 1/2-1/2 Game 12: Lasker-Marshall, 1-0 Game 13: Marshall-Lasker, 0-1 Game 14: Lasker-Marshall, 1-0 Game 15: Marshall-Lasker, 0-1 ==References==