The 1886 World Chess Championship
The 1886 World Chess Championship was the inaugural official championship match between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort. It took place in the United States, primarily in New York City and St. Louis, from January 11 to May 26, 1886.
The match consisted of 20 games, played under the rules of the time, with the first player to win 10 games declared the champion. The results of the games were as follows:
All the 20-games in our lichess blogs.
Final Result: Wilhelm Steinitz won the match with a score of 10 wins to 5 losses, and 5 games drawn, making him the first official World Chess Champion.
The 10-win games by Wilhelm Steinitz in our GMG Chess youtube channel.
The souvenir of the 1886 World Chess Championship match.
This World Chess Championship had a profound impact on the history of chess for several reasons:
1. Establishment of Formal Competitions
2. Recognition of Chess as a Serious Discipline
3. Development of Chess Theory
4. Rise of Chess as a Professional Career
5. Formation of Title and Rankings
6. International Chess Community
7. Legacy of Competitive Chess
Before we end, let's us see the key games and tactical fireworks in the match:
Game 1: It set the tone for the intense rivalry between the players.
In the diagram above, Zukertort played 42...Bxf3! and converted to win and taking the lead.
Game 6: This was a turning point, as Wilhelm Steinitz secured a critical win. It marked the beginning of his comeback in the match (5 straight wins and draws before lost on the 13th game).
In the diagram above, Steinitz played 42. Nh5! and converted to win and taking the lead.
Game 13: The match had shifted to New Orleans by now, and Zukertort won this game, his last win in the match
In the diagram above, Zukertort played 49. a3! and converted to win.
Game 18: Steinitz's victory in this game gave him an unassailable lead, effectively clinching the championship. It highlighted his dominance in the latter part of the series.
In the diagram above, Steinitz played 35. f4 thus opening the f-file and diagonal and converted to win. After this game, Steinitz got the title already even he lost the last 2 games.
Chess has always been more than just a game to us; it is a journey of self-discovery, a test of character, and a source of endless fascination and joy.
Thanks for reading and good luck to our chess and life journey.
by Coach Gerald Ferriol