Lasker Resigns the Match

One hundred years ago today, Emanuel Lasker submitted his resignation in the world championship match with José Raúl Capablanca. The referee also submitted to Lasker acceptance of his resignation. These two letters were printed in the May-June 1921 issue of American Chess Bulletin (101). They were then reprinted in Capablanca's book on the match, which ACB published in a limited edition of 600 copies.

Lasker's name was left off in ACB, but included in Capablanca's book.

There was no closing ceremony. It is reported in Miguel A. Sánchez, José Raúl Capablanca: A Chess Biography (2015) that Capablanca refused to attend any ceremony. The new champion felt "outraged" by Lasker's behavior (251).

The two contestants would continue to dispute certain aspects of the match well into 1922, while also praising one another's play in their respective books on the match.

This post is number 26 in my centennial series on the match. I plan at least one more.