source: http://www.olimpbase.org/1933/1933f...

He was no doubt one of the top 5 and in many cases top 3. But, the greatest player of all ... if one is cautious and observant, one realizes that there is some degree of relativity to the "all-greatness". For example: 1) Morphy, yes of course there was less powerful opposition in those days, yet he knew every content of the Louisiana Law Code book and became an attorney. 2) Capablanca, things were more complicated here and yet he had the ability to "switch off" after playing hundreds of games. He did not even study the game and times were tougher in those war days. 3) the Soviet machine, yes they were back up by the "system", but they still were eachothers opponent and living in that harsh country in those days it wasn't easy. Also, the vast majority of these Soviet (and non-Soviets) went to the university and worked (and had other activities to add to their agenda). Fischer always played against the top players (esp. from the USSR)and of course he knew his opponents. He spent time with them. Plus he was too demanding (in many ways it benefits the modern player, but that's not the current argument) ..which means he was not as adaptable as his opponents were. It entails, a weakness. Kasparov and Kramnik already surpassed him in so many ways. Remember, that Fischer ran away when he found himself about to face Karpov, another with an extraordinary amount of guts (and with one of the highest practical results all across the board).

The Games according to registers where:
<Great Britain 1½ : 2½ France FRA

Sultan Khan 0 - 1 Alekhine
Winter ½ - ½ Betbeder Matibet
Michell ½ - ½ Duchamp
Alexander ½ - ½ Voisin> source http://www.olimpbase.org/1933/1933f...

But from the photo is clear that:

* Thomas is in the 2th board (is impossible to confound his very characteristic profile - white hairs and tanned skin included - with W. Winter's ...)

** The french 3th board is NOT Duchamp

*** The english 4th board (blond, mustached and with glasses) is NOT Alexander

INVERTING the 3th and 4th boards maybe solve part of the problem: So Alexander (in the 3th board) and Duchamp (in the 4th) are invisible because of the Lilienthal-column, Michell (the blond englishman) is in the 4th board; and the 3th frenchman (short, with a round face, <with lighter hairs combed backwards, and could be an eastern-european> is Voisin; Thomas played in the 2th board (or he simply was seating in Winter's chair in the moment of the camera-shot <?!>

To be honest, I hadn't given it a thought. (See http://www.chessmetrics.com for a look at his peak rating.)

However, he might be the LAST living person who represents a link to some of the greatest players who ever lived. (Capa, Botvinnik, etc.)

I truly hope he writes a book about his life and games. (I would buy it!)

Lilienthal wrote a book in 1988: "Schach war mein Leben" (Chess was my life)

I don't know, if there is an english version.

Otto Lilienthal (23 May 1848 – 10 August 1896), the German "Glider King", was a pioneer of human aviation. He is often credited with building the first successful human-carrying glider, the Derwitzer Glider in 1891

Lilienthal suffered a number of crashes in his experiments, but his glider could only reach low speeds and altitudes. On 9 August 1896, a gust of wind fractured his wing and he fell from a height of 17 m (56 ft), breaking his spine. He died the next day, saying, "Opfer müssen gebracht werden!" ("Sacrifices must be made!")

His famous quote: ''To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.''