«¡Max Euwe, campeón del mundo!», de Erwin L'Ami y Paul van der Sterren (tapa blanda)

This Max Euwe World Champion! by Erwin L'Ami and Paul van der Sterren is an English-language chess book that re-examines Max Euwe’s 1935 World Championship victory through historical sources, tournament results and modern engine analysis.

What the book is about

When Euwe won the world title, many observers were surprised. The quiet Dutch mathematics teacher had beaten one of the most formidable champions in chess history, and doubts soon followed about whether he belonged alongside names such as Anderssen, Morphy, Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca and Alekhine.

Erwin L'Ami and Paul van der Sterren revisit that question through contemporary sources, tournament results and games checked with modern engines. The result is not a recycled opinion, but a historically grounded assessment of Euwe’s playing strength and his place in chess history.

The authors’ conclusion is clear: Max Euwe was not only a world champion, but a player who could match the very best in the mid-1930s and, at times, surpass them. This makes the book a strong choice for readers interested in chess history, World Championship matches and serious historical analysis.

Why read it?

This is a measured, factual study rather than a myth-making biography. Euwe himself was known for his calm attitude to victory and his respect for his opponents, and the book shows how that understated style shaped the way his career was later remembered.

For the reader, that means more than a straightforward life story. It is also an attempt to set the record straight and to look at chess history without simplification. If you want a book about Max Euwe, the history of the World Championship or a title that combines game analysis with historical context, this is an excellent fit.

The authors

Paul van der Sterren is a grandmaster, a two-time Dutch champion and a Candidates participant. He is also a respected chess author; in 2024 he received the ECF Chess Book of the Year award for his autobiography In Black and White. He has also written Mindful Chess and Fundamental Chess Openings.

Erwin L'Ami is a grandmaster, former Dutch champion and winner of Reykjavik Open 2015. He specialises in openings, publishes Chessable courses and has worked as a second for players including Veselin Topalov and Anish Giri.

Edition information

• Language: English
• Binding: paperback
• Page count: 192

Key details

• Product type: chess book
• Title: Max Euwe World Champion! by Erwin L'Ami and Paul van der Sterren
• Subject: Max Euwe and his 1935 World Championship victory
• Approach: historical analysis with modern engine review
• Language: English
• Binding: paperback
• Page count: 192