Sultan Khan, a mistery

Born in a part of India, now part of Pakistan, he was brought to England by his master in 1929. There he won the British Chess Championship in 1929, 1932 and 1933 and played for England in the Chess Olympiads of 1930,1931 and 1933.

In less than four years, he rose to the top of the chess world, playing with the world's great masters, such as Alexander Alekhine, José Raúl Capablanca, Max Euwe, Aaron Nimzowitsch, and Akiba Rubinstein.

He was one of a few players who had a plus record against Capablanca. He also had a plus record against Frank Marshall and Savielly Tartakower. His most notable victory was the game he won against former world championHastings tournament of 1930.

How this uneducated man, who did not speak english, defeated experienced players like Capablanca, Marshall or Tartakower???

Alleghedly, he has a natural talent, and played by intuition and had a very few knowledge of openings.

But I'm very skeptical about it (the excessive talent or intution without study).

To reach that level of Grandmaster you need thousands of hours of deliberate training and deep study in the game, without any exception.

There is a mistery behind this man, anyway.

If you grew up in India at that time, you probably knew English.

Tony, what I mean being skeptical, is that even he had the greatest natural talent, he needed deliberate training and deep study of the game, at least at some point, to reach his level of play.

The fact is that he played at GM level over the board.

What we don't know is how he studied ot trained, if alleghedly did not know the english language (and we assume that neither other european one).

That's the real mistery, in my opinion...

so, what's the point, besides obvious mutual admiration?

"mystery"  

His mastery of Indian chess served him pretty well I imagine. As I recall, his openings were timid and his middlegame a bit plodding due to the pawns moving just one square and the queen being very weak in the Indian game. At least that's what I recall. His endgame was excellent.

Nevertheless he belonged to the Menchik Club, losing to the most formidable

female player before J.Polgar. Still, he was 5-1 v. her with no draws (and both

of them drew plenty).