English Chess Forum

After watching a mishmash of footage from the 1930s, I wondered what the oldest surviving chess footage actually is. Does anyone know?

The earliest I have come across is the 1925 Soviet feature film, "Chess Fever", made at the time of the 1925 Moscow tournament and which features shots of most of the players in the tournament and of course a cameo performance by Capablanca.

Yeah, I know that one but assumed there must be something a bit older. I have a feeling I once saw something filmed around 1910 but can't quite remember what it was.

There's a you-cannot-be-serious "chess dispute" from 1903 -

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0000430/

There must be something classified as, or considered to be, the oldest surviving chess footage though?

"Which was the first occasion when chess masters were filmed? The earliest case that comes to mind is the New York, 1915 tournament..." (Ed. Winter)

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/film.html

The footage may no longer exist.

Some pretty ancient stuff to be seen by following the YouTube link given here.