A history of the oldest chess tournament in the world, subtitled “Stories and Games of the Oldest Chess Tournament in the World.” By Jürgen Brustkern and Norbert Wallet, published by New in Chess in 2022. Paperback, 384 pages.
Seven chapters carry the narrative from the beginnings of the English tournament tradition at London 1851 through the first super-tournament, the Christmas series, the postwar revival, the Fischer boom and the British chess explosion, to the uncertain later years. Interleaved with these are seven Highlight sections on individual tournaments, from Hastings 1895 to 1987/88, and dozens of short player portraits with games: Menchik, Sultan Khan, Flohr, Alexander, Tartakower, Tal, Kortchnoi, Larsen, Short, Polgar and many more, each given a phrase rather than a title.
Best for: readers who like chess history with the games attached. Any level.