"How can such a talented man devote his life to something like chess?" Einstein on Lasker

"How can such a talented man devote his life to something like chess?" Albert Einstein on Emanuel Lasker.

Lasker and Einstein: Two names that are firmly anchored in the annals of history. But what connects these two outstanding personalities of the 20th century?

Aside from their extraordinary intellectual abilities, Emanuel Lasker and Albert Einstein demonstrated a shared passion for the mathematical and logical thinking of their time. Their spectacular successes in their respective disciplines not only shaped the scientific and intellectual fabric of their era, but also laid the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries.

In this blog post, we take a closer look at the fascinating interaction between chess grandmaster Emanuel Lasker and the brilliant physicist Albert Einstein to explore how their way of thinking and problem-solving influenced their respective fields.

Emanuel Lasker and Albert Einstein were two outstanding personalities of the 20th century who excelled in different fields.

Lasker was a famous chess player and the second official world chess champion, while Einstein was a renowned physicist and one of the greatest thinkers of his time.

Although their areas of expertise were different, they had a remarkable relationship and shared a deep admiration for one another.

How they met:

The connection between Lasker and Einstein began in the 1920s when they met in Berlin.

Lasker was fascinated by Einstein's revolutionary theory of relativity and admired his intellectual brilliance. On the other hand, Einstein admired Lasker's strategic thinking and ability to solve complex chess problems.

Although they lived in different worlds, Lasker and Einstein found common ground in their ways of thinking. Both men were deep thinkers who deeply engaged with abstract concepts.

Lasker viewed chess as a kind of intellectual battle that required strategic thinking and creativity. Einstein, on the other hand, saw the world through the lens of physics and sought to understand the fundamental laws of the universe.

Einstein theories in Laskers games:

The two men met regularly to exchange ideas and discuss their respective areas of expertise.

Lasker was fascinated by Einstein's theories and tried to apply them to the game of chess. He developed new game strategies based on the principles of relativity and tried to take the dynamics of the game to a new level.

Einstein on Lasker and chess:

Einstein, in turn, was impressed by Lasker's analytical mind and viewed chess as a kind of intellectual challenge. He occasionally played chess with Lasker and tried to sharpen his own thinking skills.

Despite their different areas of expertise, Lasker and Einstein shared a deep appreciation for intellectual achievement and a passion for the pursuit of knowledge.

They inspired and motivated each other to push their boundaries and explore new ideas.

Leaving Germany beacause of Nazism:

Unfortunately, their relationship ended abruptly with the rise of Nazism in Germany.

Lasker, who was of Jewish descent, had to flee the Nazis in 1933 and emigrated to the USA.

Einstein, also Jewish, left Germany that same year and settled in the USA.

Although they never met in person again, they remained in touch by letter and supported each other during this difficult time.

Conclusion:

The relationship between Emanuel Lasker and Albert Einstein was an extraordinary bond between two outstanding thinkers of the 20th century.

Their admiration for one another and their shared pursuit of intellectual excellence are an inspiring example of the power of the human spirit.