Alekhine's 1937 Comeback
Alexander Alekhine lost the World Championship to Max Euwe in 1935, a genuine shock given Alekhine's dominance through most of the decade. Two years later, in a contractually guaranteed rematch, Alekhine won the title back decisively, 15.5-9.5, sealing it with a win in Game 25 on December 7, 1937. It remains one of the few times in chess history a deposed World Champion has reclaimed the title.
How he lost it in the first place
Euwe's 1935 win was treated by much of the chess world as an upset, Alekhine was the clear favourite, and his loss was widely, if not entirely fairly, attributed at the time to personal issues affecting his form and preparation. Whatever the cause, Euwe's win was earned rather than gifted, a genuinely strong performance against the reigning champion.
The rematch clause that made this possible
The 1935 match had included a contractual rematch clause, guaranteeing Alekhine a chance to win the title back rather than needing to fight through a full new qualification cycle. That single contractual detail is the entire reason this story is even possible, without it, Alekhine likely needed years to earn another shot, if he ever got one at all.
A dominant, not narrow, reclaiming
Where many rematches end up close, Alekhine's 1937 win was comprehensive: 10 wins, 11 draws, and only 4 losses across the match, a final margin of 15.5-9.5 that left little room for debate about which player had the better tournament. He sealed the win outright in Game 25, played December 7, 1937.
Why reclaiming a lost title is so rare
Losing the World Championship tends to compound itself, the psychological cost of the loss, the challenger's newfound confidence, and the difficulty of earning a second shot at all usually work against the deposed champion. Alekhine's comeback stands out precisely because it defied that pattern so completely, not a narrow escape but a genuine reassertion of superiority two years after being dethroned.
The rest of the story
Alekhine held the title again until his death in 1946, still champion, under circumstances that remain only partly resolved (a story we treat carefully in a separate piece). The 1937 comeback is worth remembering on its own terms, though, as proof that even the World Championship's steepest setback is not always permanent.