Rice Professor Isaac Leopold (22.02.1850 – 02.11.1915)

German-born US lawyer, law professor and industrialist who donated large sums to promote chess and in particular, to analyse his gambit invention (1161 in the KING’S GAMBIT, accepted, a grotesque monument to a rich man’s vanity) and gave prizes for other games in which it was used. At Brighton, in August 1903, Lasker played six Rice Gambits against Chigorin and Chigorin, winning +2=3-1. After Rice died, the masters wasted no more time on the gambit. He was also the main arbiter at the world championship match between Emanuel Lasker and Siegbert Tarrash in 1907.