Wilhelm Steinitz

The first undisputed World Champion in the history of chess was Wilhelm Steinitz from 1886 to 1894.

Steinitz was born on May 17, 1836, the youngest of thirteen sons in Prague, which was then part of the Austrian Empire. He studied math in Vienna, but dropped out of college to play chess professionally.

After winning the Vienna Championship in 1861, he moved to London and participated in the international tournament in London, 1862, where he finished 6th and won the tournament's brilliancy prize for his win over Augustus Mongredien.

In 1883, Steinitz emigrated to the USA, where, in 1886, he played the first official World Championship match against Johannes Zukertort. The match took place in New York, St. Louis and New Orleans and Steinitz won decisively by 12½–7½ (ten wins, five draws, five losses).

Steinitz became a U.S. citizen in 1888, and lived there until his deat, August 12, 1900.

News

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On the 100th anniversary of the death of Curt von Bardeleben

1/31/2024 – Today is the 100th anniversary of the death of Curt von Bardeleben. A wealthy privateer, he was one of the best German chess players in the 1880s and 1890s. He lost his fortune during the First World War and fell seriously ill. On 31 January 1924 he fell to his death from a window.
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Prague: Sightseeing and chess history

12/8/2023 – The strong line-up of the Masters and the Challengers tournaments, a large Open, an interesting supporting programme and, last but not least, the city itself make the Prague Chess Festival 2024 an attractive event. The 6th edition of the festival will take place from 26 February to 7 March 2024 and will continue Prague's long chess tradition. A tradition whose traces can be found even when you only take a short sightseeing walk through the city. As Johannes Fischer discovered during a visit to the 5th Prague Chess Festival. | Photo: View of Hradcany with the castle, Prague | Photo: Stefan Bauer, Wikipedia
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150 years ago: The Vienna Chess Tournament 1873

9/13/2023 – 150 years ago, from 21 June to 29 August 1873, the “First International Vienna Chess Congress” was held in Vienna. Some of the best players in the world accepted the invitation and played mini-matches against each other. In the end, Wilhelm Steinitz and Joseph Blackburne tied for first place. A play-off match decided the tournament’s winner.
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Johannes Zukertort and the First World Chess Championship Match

2/15/2023 – Johannes Zukertort is one of the great but tragic figures of chess history. A former title contender, he was as brilliant as he was misunderstood. On the 137th anniversary of the first World Chess Championship Match, his life, career, and legacy are worth re-examining.
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"Does chess history have to be rewritten?" - An interview with Willy Hendriks

1/24/2023 – Dutch author and International Master Willy Hendriks just published "The Ink War: Romanticism vs Modernity in chess". The book analyses the rivalry between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, who in 1886 played the first official World Championship match. But Hendriks also looks at chess history and challenges a number of accepted views about chess improvement and the development of chess knowledge. In an interview with Johannes Fischer Hendriks talks about Steinitz, Zukertort, chess history, the pleasures of studying the classics, and why studying the openings helps you to improve in chess.

Isidor Gunsberg and the 1890 World Championship Match

1/4/2023 – The 3rd World Chess Championship between Wilhelm Steinitz and Isidor Gunsberg that ran from December 9, 1890 to January 22, 1891 was a closely fought match. At the end of 19 games, Steinitz emerged victorious, 6-4, to retain his title. Gunsberg's good result in this match was no coincidence. Gunsberg was one of the strongest players of his time though today he is almost forgotten. Eugene Manlapao takes a look at the life and career of this relatively unknown World Championship challenger. | Photo source: Wikipedia
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Willy Hendriks' "The Ink War" - The Mystery of Zukertort's Breakdown

12/13/2022 – "The Ink War: Romanticism versus Modernity in Chess", the new book by Dutch author Willy Hendriks, is definitely one of the most exciting and interesting chess books of 2022. Hendriks first of all looks at the bitter rivalry between William Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, who in 1886 played the first official World Championship match. But Hendriks also analyses how chess understanding developed and takes a critical look at chess history and the way chess history is written. Thoroughly researched, well-written, entertaining, witty, and thought-provoking. Here's an appetizer to enjoy!

Amos Burn: The Tenacious Englishman (December 31, 1848 - November 25, 1925)

12/9/2022 – Amos Burn was one of the world’s leading players in the late 19th century. Competing mainly as an amateur in his long career, he was a highly successful player, theoretician, and journalist. Eugene Manlapao takes a look at the life, the career, and the games of this great English player. | Photo Source: www.liverpoolmuseum.org
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Wilhelm Steinitz, the thinker, and the dawning of chess’ classical age

5/17/2022 – Wilhelm Steinitz looms as one of the largest figures in chess. Earning the distinction of being the first ever World Champion in 1886, he was a successful competitive player and chess journalist whose theoretical teachings revolutionized chess and laid the foundations of the modern game. He is, arguably, chess’ greatest thinker.
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Taurus and their strategy

4/30/2022 – Two world champions, Steinitz and Euwe; a chess family, the Cramlings; and plenty of 1.d4 practitioners, Moiseenko, Gaprindashvili, and Miles are born under the zodiac sign of Taurus. Their power lies in their calmness. A proper Taurus acts thoughtfully, prudently, deliberately. They calculate what they do, everything else is considered unreasonable. They may allow their opponent a refreshing nap while they think about the next move. It would be fatal to consider them limited for that reason. | Photo: Pixabay
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London 1883: Prelude to the First World Championship Match (April 26, 1883 - June 23, 1883)

4/27/2022 – London, with its rich chess tradition, has been the scene of many great tournaments. One of these, the London International Tournament of 1883, happened at an important point in history. It is remembered mainly as the event that led to the first World Chess Championship, which, in turn, formalized the title of World Champion. Johannes Zukertort (pictured) won the tournament ahead of Wilhelm Steinitz, and in 1886, three years after London, they played the first official World Championship match against each other.
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Visiting Steinitz and Lasker at Their Final Resting Places

9/27/2021 – William Steinitz, the first official World Chess Champion, was born in 1836 in Prague and died on August 12, 1900 in New York, where he was also buried. Emanuel Lasker, the second World Champion, was born in Berlinchen, which today is Barlinek, a small city in Poland. But Lasker also died in New York and was buried close to his former rival Steinitz. IM Yury Lapshun and FM Jon Jacobs visited the graves of the two chess legends. | Photos: IM Yury Lapshun and FM Jon Jacobs
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