Alexander Alekhine vs Duke Ellington
Two child prodigies, compared on what is actually documented: field, era, country and record. No invented numbers.
The record, side by side
| Alexander Alekhine | Duke Ellington | |
| Field | Sports | Music |
| Sub-field | Chess | Composer |
| Born | 1892 | 1899 |
| Died | 1946 | 1974 |
| Country of birth | France | United States |
| Star sign | Scorpio | Taurus |
Who they are
Alexander Alekhine
When Alexander Alekhine arrived in Buenos Aires in September 1927 to challenge José Raúl Capablanca for the World Championship, the chess world expected a formality. Capablanca had not lost a competitive game in eight years. Grandmasters whispered that chess had reached its apex in the Cuban — that the game, played perfectly, would always draw, and that Capablanca was the player who played perfectly. Alekhine, a Russian émigré living in France, was a fine attacking player, perhaps the best combinational talent of his generation, but attacking chess against someone who never made errors was considered…
Full biography of Alexander Alekhine →
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C., into a middle-class family that prized dignity and elegance. His mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington, was a pianist who gave him his first music lessons. His stylish bearing in youth earned him the nickname "Duke" from a friend who felt the young Edward carried himself with the air of aristocracy — a name that would prove prophetic. He began serious piano study at age seven, fell away from it during adolescence, then returned with furious dedication in his teens, playing in local Washington venues…
Full biography of Duke Ellington →
What they share
- Near contemporaries - 7 years apart.
- Their lifetimes overlap.
Where they part
- Different fields: Sports for Alexander Alekhine, Music for Duke Ellington.
- Born in different countries: France and United States.
Questions people ask
- Who came first, Alexander Alekhine or Duke Ellington?
- Alexander Alekhine. Alexander Alekhine was born in 1892, Duke Ellington in 1899.
- What field is each of them in?
- Alexander Alekhine is filed under Sports (Chess). Duke Ellington is filed under Music (Composer).
- Were they contemporaries?
- Yes - their lifetimes overlap.