Unveiling Jose Rizal: The Renaissance Man and Chess Enthusiast

Jose Rizal, the Philippines' revered national hero, is widely celebrated for his extraordinary intellect and diverse talents. An ophthalmologist, linguist, poet, philosopher, sculptor, and novelist, Rizal’s brilliance knew no bounds. Yet, amidst his many accomplishments, one lesser-known facet of his personality stands out: his passion for chess. Rizal engaged in games with nearly everyone he encountered, from local players to foreign acquaintances, and, strikingly, even the Spanish Guardia Civil.

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A Glimpse into Rizal's Chess World

Proof of Rizal's avid chess playing comes from the lecture of Angel R. Hidalgo, delivered on the 74th anniversary of Rizal’s martyrdom in 1970. Hidalgo recounted the reminiscences of his Uncle Leoncio (Dr. Leoncio Lopez Rizal, Rizal's nephew), offering a poignant snapshot of the hero's final days in Manila:

“But in 1896, as we very well know, his exile at Dapitan was terminated. He arrived in Manila on August 6, 1896. Continuing his narration, Tio Leoncio said: ‘This afforded me an opportunity to see him personally. Eagerly, I went to the steamer Espana, which was moored at the foot of the Puente de Espana. I found him on deck seated near a square table, conversing with a lieutenant of the Guardia Civil. He greeted me, and then he asked me if I could get a set of chess from the house of his aunt Concha Leyba. I eagerly performed the task and watched him later as he played with the lieutenant. This was the last time that I personally saw him.’ ” (Hidalgo, Angel R. “Reminiscences of the Only Three Living Nearest Kins of our National Hero.” Selected Rizal Day Lectures. 1st ed. National Historical Institute. Manila: Philippines, 2002. 113-114.)

This account sparks many intriguing questions for any chess enthusiast: How many games did they play? Who emerged victorious? What opening did Rizal favor? Was he a strategist or a tactician? What was his unique playing style?

Rizal: A Chess Master in the Making?

While no official records of Rizal’s games exist, it's safe to assume that his intellectual prowess would have given him a significant edge on the chessboard. Hailed as a genius, Rizal possessed an uncanny ability to conceptualize and recreate intricate details, as evidenced in his vivid descriptions in "Noli Me Tángere," particularly of Capitan Tiago's house. This meticulous attention to detail would be a formidable asset in chess, allowing him to identify effective continuations in complex positions. It's highly probable that he would have effortlessly defeated the Guardia Civil, whose primary training was in military combat. If, by chance, he did lose a game, it might have been a deliberate gesture of camaraderie.

Given the era, it's plausible that Rizal, playing as White, would have opted for classic openings like the Giuoco Piano or the Ruy Lopez. These openings, known for promoting immediate development and centralization, were popular in 1896 and often seen in casual games.

Furthermore, considering that the reigning World Champion from 1894 onwards, Emanuel Lasker, frequently began his games with "e4", it's a reasonable assumption that Rizal, a voracious reader and well-traveled individual, would have been abreast of the latest chess trends and perhaps mimicked Lasker's preferred opening.

Tactical Brilliance in "Noli Me Tángere"

Rizal's understanding of chess tactics is subtly revealed in Chapter XXIV of "Noli Me Tángere," titled "The Social Cancer," where a game between Capitan Basilio and Crisostomo Ibarra is depicted: “The meal ended, and while the tea and coffee were being served, both old and young scattered about in different groups. Some took the chessmen, others the cards, while the girls, curious about the future, chose to put questions to a Wheel of Fortune.

‘Come, Senor Ibarra,’ called Capitan Basilio in a merry mood, ‘we have a lawsuit fifteen years old, and there isn’t a judge in the Audiencia who can settle it. Let’s see if we can’t end it on the chessboard.’

‘With the greatest pleasure,’ replied the youth. ‘Just wait a moment, the alferez is leaving.’

Upon hearing about this match all the old men who understood chess gathered around the board, for it promised to be an interesting one, and attracted even spectators who were not familiar with the game. The old women, however, surrounded the curate in order to converse with him about spiritual matters, but Fray Salvi apparently did not consider the place and time appropriate, for he gave vague answered and his sad, rather bored, looks wandered in all directions except towards his questioners.

The chess-match began with great solemnity. ‘If the game ends in a draw, it’s understood that the lawsuit is to be dropped,’ said Ibarra.

In the midst of the game, Ibarra received a telegram which caused his eyes to shine and his face to become pale. He put it into his pocket-book, at the same time glancing toward the group of young people, who were still with laughter and shouts putting questions to Destiny.

‘Check to the king!” called the youth.

Capitan Basilio had no other recourse than to hide the piece behind the queen.

Check to the queen! Called the youth as he threatened that piece with a rook which was defended by a pawn. Being unable to protect the queen or to withdraw the piece on account of the king behind it, Capitan Basilio asked for time to reflect.” (Derbyshire, Charles. The Social Cancer A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere from the Spanish of JOSE RIZAL. New York: World Book Company, 1912.) [www.gutenberg.org].

This passage highlights several key aspects: chess was a popular pastime, used for both serious and lighthearted disputes, and served as a means of socialization. More importantly, Ibarra's threat to Basilio's queen with a rook defended by a pawn, leaving the queen unable to move due to the king behind it, is a classic example of an absolute pin—a clear indicator of Rizal's grasp of fundamental chess tactics.

Strategist or Tactician? The "El Filibusterismo" Connection

While the "Noli Me Tángere" excerpt hints at Rizal's tactical awareness, it doesn't definitively prove whether he was more of a tactician or a strategist. However, a deeper dive into "El Filibusterismo," specifically the chapter "La Ultima Razon" (The Last Argument), offers compelling evidence for Rizal as a master strategist:

“Simoun, meanwhile, screwed on a solidly curious and complicated mechanism, put in place a glass chimney, then the bomb, and crowned the whole with an elegant shade. Then he moved away some distance to contemplate the effect, inclining his head now to one side, now to the other, thus better to appreciate its magnificent appearance.

Noticing that Basilio was watching him with questioning and suspicious eyes, he said,

‘Tonight there will be a fiesta and this lamp will be placed in a little dining-kiosk that I’ve had constructed for the purpose. The lamp will give a brilliant light, bright enough to suffice for the illumination of the whole place by itself, but at the end of twenty minutes the light will fade, and then when someone tries to turn up the wick a cap of fulminate of mercury will explode, the pomegranate will blow up and with it the dining room, in the roof and floor of which I have concealed sacks of powder, so that no one shall escape.’

There was a moment’s silence, while Simoun stared at his mechanism and Basilio scarcely breathed.

‘So my assistance is not needed,’ observe the young man.

‘No, you have another mission to fulfill,’ replied Simoun thoughtfully. ‘At nine the mechanism will have exploded and the report will have been heard in the country round, in the mountains, in the caves. The uprising that I had arranged with the artillerymen was a failure from lack of plan and timeliness, but this time it won’t be so. Upon hearing the explosion, the wretched and the oppressed, those who wander about pursued by force, will sally forth armed to join Cabesang Tales in Santa Mesa, whence they will fall upon the city, while the soldiers, whom I have made to believe that the General is shamming an insurrection in order to remain, will issue from their barracks ready to fire upon whomsoever I may designate. 

Meanwhile, the cowed populace, thinking the hour of massacre has come, will rush out prepared to kill or be killed, and as they have neither arms nor organization, you will have some others will put yourself at their head and direct them to the warehouses of Quiroga, where I keep my rifles. Cabesang Tales and I will join one another in the city and take possession of it, while you in the suburbs will seize the bridges and throw up barricades, and then be ready to come to our aid to butcher not only those opposing the revolution but also everyman who refuses to take up arms and join us.’” (Derbyshire, Charles. The Reign of Greed. A Complete English Version of El Filibusterismo from the Spanish of JOSE RIZAL . New York: World Book Company, 1912.) [www.gutenberg.org].

This scene, where Simoun meticulously orchestrates a multi-stage plan—using a bomb as a tactical device to spark a much larger revolution—mirrors the strategic planning in a chess game. Just as a chess player builds up a position through interconnected moves to achieve checkmate, Simoun's plot demonstrates a long-term vision, where each event contributes to a grander objective. This suggests Rizal's mind leaned more towards elaborate, long-term strategic planning, with tactics serving as means to achieve a greater goal. His playing style, therefore, might have been akin to that of a solid, positional player like Anatoly Karpov, rather than an aggressive attacking player like Mikhail Tal.

Rizal: A Chess Legacy Unrecorded

While Rizal diligently documented his travels and observations, sadly, no record of his chess games has surfaced. Perhaps he viewed chess as a casual pastime, not warranting detailed notation. Had he dedicated himself to competitive chess, it's entirely conceivable that his prodigious intellect could have propelled him to Grandmaster status, potentially making him the Philippines' or even Asia's first chess Grandmaster long before Eugenio Torre. However, Rizal's commitment to the paramount struggle for Philippine independence undoubtedly took precedence over any chess aspirations.

Ultimately, Jose P. Rizal was undeniably a chess player who understood and appreciated the game's fundamental principles of tactics and strategy. His unrecorded games remain a fascinating "what if" in the history of Philippine chess, but his intellectual legacy, deeply intertwined with strategic thought, continues to inspire.

Do you find it intriguing to consider how a historical figure's personal interests, like chess, might reflect their broader intellectual approach to life and work?