You won't find many pictures of the match between Capa and Alekhine. It was played in front of a few witnesses and no more. Here is the photo from the commencement of the match in Argentina.

The second photo is the table, pieces, and one of the clocks used by the famous rivals in this match. Preserved lovingly by the Argentine Chess Club. Top-notch Jaques clock and pieces and a table to admire.

young sammy and old sammy

“He examined the chess problem and set out the pieces. It was a tricky ending, involving a couple of knights. 'White to play and mate in two moves.' Winston looked up at the portrait of Big Brother. White always mates, he thought with a sort of cloudy mysticism. Always, without exception, it is so arranged. In no chess problem since the beginning of the world has black ever won.” (1984, George Orwell)

bronstein, blessed by cassia... cursed with male pattern baldness

 the young and old of Bobby Fischer

great photos....thanks

Forget Kaspy and Tal stares, that Young Reshevsky is stone cold!!! There is absolutely no 'play' in that kids game.... dang.

 isnt that the truth!

this is a young Nimzowitsch!  i think he looks like John Candy!

Bronstein, he could use a little more coverage. Did I say that!?

Zurich 1953.

Nice (don't remember seeing either one of those).

Some very famous people were/are keen chess players, like Bogart, Boyer, Chaplin, Sinatra, Madonna, Woody Allen, Ben Affleck, Sting. I believe that is the reason why we have chess scenes (with pieces well placed) in their movies. Here is a nice picture of a famous movie star that was also a good chess player.

Bobby visits Mikhail in hospital 1962

Fischer met Botvinnik one time otb, here in the Varna 1962 Olympiad, when Botvinnik was still world champ. Fischer had a winning advantage but the game ended in a draw.

botvinik vs Lasker...botvinik bridged the old school to the modern masters

Charlie's Angels

2 nice photos of Karpov, one of him observing a match at the 1978 World Championship, the other of him looking quite sinister in 1977.

Arpad Elo, inventor of the Elo rating system

The lesser known Polgar brothers

Petrosian & Fischer