Jose Capablanca
(1888-1942)
The 'Mozart of Chess', learned to play at 4 years old and already competed at 5 years of age - a Cuban chess prodigy. After capturing the world championship in 1921, Capablanca was for a time regarded as practically invincible. Although he surprisingly lost his title to Alexander Alekhine in 1927, Capablanca remained a leading player until his death in New York in 1942.