José Raúl Capablanca

Capablanca, known as the "Human Chess Machine," was not only one of the first champion chess players to gain international recognition, but was noted for his intuitive style and impeccable endgame tactics. He won the World Chess Championship in 1921, representing Cuba, and retained it until 1927. Capablanca's games are still studied for their simplicity and grace, as he made complex tactics appear effortless. Because of his natural understanding of positional play, many consider him one of the greatest chess players of all time. He also wrote Chess Fundamentals, which is still considered mandatory reading for serious players.