Emmanuel Lasker, chess champion of the world, once said in reference to Rudolf Charousek, "I shall have to play a championship match with this man some day." But his career was all too brief.
Born in 1873 in Czechoslovakia, he began playing chess at age 16 (1889). Between 1896 and 1899, he was one of the most formidible names in chess. Everyone who faced him across the table conceded his genius.
In 1896, he defeated Emanuel Lasker at Nuremberg and in many minds was considered his successor.
At The 11th Congress of the German Chess Association, 1897, Charousek shone like a firey comet. He started with two losses - to Walbrodt and Burn; he gradually gained tempo with two draws - to Marco and Schlechter; from then on, he was undefeated, beating von Bardeleben, drawing against Blackburne, defeating Teichmann and Suchting, then drawing Englisch and Metger; now he proceded winning nine straight games! Janowski, Albin, Cohn, Schiffers, Alapin, Winawer, Caro, Zinkl and finally Chigorin!!
Unfortunately, Lasker, Tarrasch, Steinitz and Pillsbury were not in that tournament.
Early the next year he contracted tuberculosis which adversely affected his chess for the next year and a half, until he died, April 19, 1900 at age 26. He played in tournaments during that time, but his debilitation was apparent....the comet was burning out fast.
