Alexander Alekhine did not play alone. Every important game played by the world chess champion had a third participant: his Siamese cat Chess, who walked across the board before every move as if approving the strategy.
During the 1935 World Championship against the Dutchman Max Euwe, Alekhine kept Chess on his lap while playing. Euwe, who was rumored to be allergic to cats, never objected. Many historians believe it was no coincidence: to them, it was Alekhine’s own psychological warfare tactic.
His devotion went so far that, at a border crossing without the feline at hand, he replied to the authorities: “I am Alexander Alekhine, world chess champion. This is my cat Chess. I don’t need a passport”. He ended up arrested. Chess was not the only one: along with his wife Grace Wishaar, they also traveled with two other Siamese cats, Shamat and Lobeidah.
