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Are Karpov and Kasparov reincarnations of Capablanka and Alekhine? Thoughts on how reincarnation works.
In my youth I was very fond of chess – I played myself and, of course, watched the rivalry between the two great chess players of the time, Karpov and Kasparov.
About 70 years before that, the chess world was following the rivalry between two other great chess players – Capablanca and Alekhine.
There was no FIDE to organize world championships at the time, and champions had to decide for themselves whether to accept a challenge, and what amount to claim for it. This sum was often rather substantial, and it was not easy for applicants to find the money…
Capablanca requested $ 10,000 – a huge amount for those times. Alekhine had almost no chance to raise it, but the government of Argentina agreed to sponsor the match. Alekhine won – and, in turn, asked for the same amount for the rematch. Capablanca could not find a sponsor, and the match, which Capablanca and the entire chess world was interested it (and, I believe, Alekhine wanted it too, at heart), did not take place.
Those who understand chess can see the striking similarity of these two matches, held 70 years apart.
Kasparov’s style is surprisingly similar to Alekhine’s style – and for good reason, as Alekhine was his hero.
Karpov’s style is surprisingly similar to Capablanca’s.
Perhaps, upon meeting each other after death, Capablanca and Alekhine had agreed to be born again in order to finish the matches that had not been played out – and had asked the Higher Powers to arrange it.
Then it would seem they succeeded. This time they played enough.
Of course, would be better to accept challenges in this life, so as not to leave them hanging till the next one.
Otherwise, we have to be reborn.
