Just Like Gambling and Firearms. Chess an alcohol don't mix!
Name Some Famous Drunk Chess Players?
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Almost any Russian from the good old days, I'd imagine.
fischer really should have boozed more.
He was quiet, but in good spirits. We spoke French and English. I'm not sure if he was a Canadian citizen yet when we played. Both of us spoke French as a second or third language.
Sergeant-Pepper wrote:
fischer really should have boozed more.
Rum-and-colas would have gotten him to 2800
Those Russians drank a lot of alcohol ...Alekhine the most famous probably...
The great Tal also drank a lot..at least that is what is being told about him.....
when Tal was sober, he played like any other ordinary gm.
Alexander Alekhine
Alekhine was a notorious drunk. I've heard rumors that Tal liked to drink a bit. The Russians had tons of alcoholic players.
Max Eeuwe .Aljechin has the name but Max did it secretly.
Treesong wrote:
Max Euwe. Aljechin has the name but Max did it secretly.
Max Euwe was interviewed by Pal Benko. Here is one exchange, regarding the 1935 world championship match:
Benko: I have heard many rumors that Alekhine was drinking heavily during the match and was behaving strangely sometimes. Can you comment?
Euwe: I don’t think he was drinking more then than he usually did. Of course he could drink as much as he wanted: at his hotel it was all free. The owner of the Carlton Hotel, where he stayed, was a member of the Euwe Committee, but it was a natural courtesy to the illustrious guest that he should not be asked to pay for his drinks. I think it helps to drink a little, but not in the long run. I regretted not having drunk at all during the second match with Alekhine.
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/alekhinealcohol.html
I've heard Bogulyobow referred to as "the jovial, beer drinking Russian"
I have read a story about a newspaper sending their photographer to a Bogo simul. He returned to the slightly more chess knowledgeable editor with lots of photos, but no one of Bogo himself could be found. When asked about it the photographer said that was impossible, he had taken photos of every chessplayer there. Then there was also some short, round, drunk guy that was walking around there, but he thought it best not to take any photos of him, whoever that could have been. Sounds totally made up, but not a bad story :-)