Max Euwe's match record was bad. It was defeat after defeat after defeat. This is what happens if you take seriously the idea of playing stronger opponents. The outcome was that Max Euwe raised his level of play very high and even won the world championship. Normally nothing like that happens. Normally too much defeat means discouragement, lack of motivation, and permanent decline. But Max Euwe had very unusual strength of character, so in his case the theory of taking on superior opponents to become a better player worked. Boris Spassky also encountered hard and demotivating setbacks, but he too raised his standard and won the world chess championship, even from the great player who had defeated him before. People don't like this kind of example, and Max Euwe and Boris Spassky are among the least "legendary" world champions. There are not many books about them and they are almost forgotten. People much prefer to imagine themselves in the role of someone like Paul Morphy, who never encountered any opposition he couldn't blow away with his great play. It seems to me that the chess stories of Max Euwe and Boris Spassky, earning high standards of play and ultimate victory even at the cost of many discouraging defeats, are valuable. (And they need to be backed up by analysis showing how well they played at their peaks.)
I totally agree with Timman. There was a time I studied many Euwe's games, and it became clear that if he hadn't been Alekhine's opponent, he would've been considered by the chess world mainly as an attacker. His attacks are like a dagger - sharp and fast.
Great review!❤ I humbly request that you would make a video or even a mini series on the Sicilian Najdorf. Since most people consider it to be for GMs only I can't really find any good resources on RU-vid for it. HOWEVER our good Coach recommends it for chess improvement (your video on which opening to play) If you would guide us through its complexity it would be most pleasant! Thx ❤
