King: Sultan Khan - The Indian Servant Who Became Chess Champion of the British Empire

Autor: King, Daniel
Verlag / Hersteller: New in Chess
Erscheinungsjahr: 2020
Sprache: Englisch
Seiten: 372

The Remarkable Rise of an Indian Chess Prodigy in 1920s Britain

Sultan Khan arrived in London in 1929 as an unlikely chess champion. Daniel King's biography traces the extraordinary journey of a man who learned Western chess rules only three years earlier, yet quickly rose to defeat the era's strongest players, including world champions Alekhine and Capablanca.

King combines historical research with detailed game analysis to reveal Khan's unconventional style and the political backdrop of his meteoric rise. This book uncovers previously unknown games and facts, telling for the first time the full story of how Khan navigated the European chess world as an outsider before returning to obscurity in 1933.

Highlights

• Detailed annotations of key games against world champions and leading British players
• Newly discovered games and biographical facts about Khan's chess career
• Context on British championship tournaments (1929–1933) and 1920s–30s chess culture
• Examination of Khan's unorthodox playing style and the tactics that caught opponents off-guard
• Historical account of Khan's time in Europe, his reception, and his departure back to India

Essential reading for chess historians and anyone interested in how an outsider challenged the establishment of early 20th-century competitive chess.

FAQ

What makes Sultan Khan's story historically significant in chess?
Khan's rapid ascent from learning Western chess in 1926 to becoming British Empire champion in 1929 was unprecedented. His unorthodox style troubled established masters, and he competed against the strongest players of the era—world champions Alekhine and Capablanca among them. His career also illuminates the political dynamics of India under British rule during the independence movement.

Does the book include analysis of Khan's games?
Yes. Daniel King provides detailed annotations of Khan's key games and tournaments, including matchups against world champions and other leading players. The book also features dozens of previously unknown games that have been uncovered by the author.

What time period does the biography cover?
The book focuses on Khan's chess career in Europe from his arrival in London in April 1929 through his departure for India in 1933. It also briefly covers his learning of chess in the years before 1929 and touches on the broader historical context of British rule in India.