The World Chess Champion title is aprestigious title that has been held by many legendary players throughout history. This cycle has evolved over the years in different eras: Pre-World
title, Classic and FIDE, with various formats and structures being used to determine the challenger.
The Pre-World Era Champions
1. Adolf Anderssen, who won many strong international tournaments and made manyinspiring games, considered as leading player in the early-19thcentury.
2. Howard Staunton, generally reckoned the world's leading player of the mid-19thcentury.
3. Adolf Anderssen, who won many strong international tournaments and made manyinspiring games, considered as leading player in the early to mid-19thcentury.
4. Paul Morphy,who dominated chess world and retired from chess at the age of 21. He is
considered as one of the great players of all time. considered as leading
player in the mid to late -19th century.
The Classical World Chess Champions
World Chess Organization started the Official World Championship match on 1886. The challenger has been determined through the various qualification events, they face the reigning World Chess Champion in a championship match to compete for the title.
1. Wilhelm Steinitz (1886-1894) , in 1886, The 1st World Chess Championship was a historic event in the world of chess, as it marked the first official World Chess Championship match. The match took place between Wilhelm Steinitz, the reigning World Chess Champion, and Johannes Zukertort, who was the challenger. The match was a monumental event that captured the attention of the chess world and highlighted the strategic and competitive nature of the game. Steinitz won four championship titles from 1886-1894.
2. Emanuel Lasker (1894 - 1921) , in 1894, The 5th World Chess Championship was takeN place between Wilhelm Steinitz, the reigning World Champion, and Emanuel Lasker, the challenger at US with $2000 stake prize. Emanuel Lasker won the match with 12/19 points, he got the first 10 wins. Lasker won six championship titles from 1894 to 1921.
3. Jose Raul Capablanca (1921 - 1927) , in 1921, The 11th World Chess Championship was takeN place between Emanuel Lasker, the reigning World Champion, and Jose Raul Capablanca, the challenger at Cuba with $10,000 stake prize (considered as the highest paid match) at best of 24-game match. After game 14, Lasker gave up the title and Capablanca won the title with 4 wins and 10 draw and 0 loss.
4. Alexander Alekhine (1927 - 1946) , in 1927, The 12th World Chess Championship was taken place between Jose Raul Capablanca, the reigning World Champion, and Alexander Alekhine, the challenger at Argentina with $10,000 stake prize at first 6-wins. After 34 games, Alekhine first got 6 wins than Capablanca with only 3 wins. Alekhine won four championship titles from 1927 – 1946.
5. Max Euwe (1935 - 1937) , in 1935, The 15th World Chess Championship was takeplace between Alexander Alekhine, the reigning World Champion, and Max Euwe, the
challenger at Netherland at first 6-wins and more-than 15 points. After 30
games, Euwe got the title with 6 wins and 9 draws and 8 losses.
The Birth of FIDE
6. Mihail Botvinnik (1948 - 1963) , in 1948, Alekhine died while holding the world title. The 17th World Chess Championship was take place with 5 players in5-cycle round robin games. Botvinnik gained the title with 14/20 points ahead of Vassily Smyslov (11/20), Paul Keres and Samuel Reshevsky (10.5/20) and Max Euwe (4/20). Botvinnik won five championship titles from 1948 – 1963.
7. Vassily Smyslov (1957 - 1958) , in 1957, The 20th World Chess Championship wastake place between Mikhail Botvinnik, the reigning World Champion, and Vassily Smyslov, the challenger at USSR at at best of 24-game match. After 22 games, Smyslov got the title with 6 wins and 13 draws and 3 losses.
8. Mikhail Tal (1960 - 1961) , in 1960, The 22nd World Chess Championship was take place betweenMikhail Botvinnik, the reigning World Champion, and Mikhail Tal, the challenger at USSR at at best of 24-game match. After 21 games, Tal got the title with 6 wins and 13 draws and 2 losses.
9. Tigran Petrosian (1963-1969) , in 1963, The 24th World Chess Championship was take placebetween Mikhail Botvinnik, the reigning World Champion, and Tigran Petrosian, the challenger at USSR at at best of 24-game match. After 22 games, Petrosian got the title with 5 wins and 15 draws and 2 losses. Petrosian won two championship titles from 1963 – 1969.
10. Boris Spassky (1969 - 1972) , in 1969, The 26th World Chess Championship was takeplace between Tigran Petrosian, the reigning World Champion, and Boris Spassky, the challenger at USSR at best of 24-game match.. After 23 games, Spassky got the title with 6 wins and 13 draws and 4 losses.
11. Robert James Fischer (1972 - 1975) , in 1972, The 27th World Chess Championship wastake place between Boris Spassky, the reigning World Champion, and Robert James Fischer, the challenger at Iceland at best of 24-game match. After 21 games, Fischer got the title with 7 wins and 11 draws and 3 losses.
12. Anatoly Karpov (1975 - 1985) , in 1975, The 28th World Chess Championship was takeplace between Robert James Fischer, the reigning World Champion, and Anatoly Karpov, the challenger at Philipines at first 10-wins. Karpov won the title by default. Karpov won four championship titles from 1975 – 1985.
13. Garry Kasparov (1985 - 2000) , in 1985, The 32nd World Chess Championship was takeplace between Anatoly Karpov, the reigning World Champion, and Garry Kasparov, the
challenger at USSR at best of 24-game match. After 24 games, Kasparov got the title with 5 wins and 16 draws and 3 losses. Kasparov won six championship titles from 1985 – 2000.
14. Vladimir Kramnik (2000 - 2007) , in 2000, The 38th World Chess Championship wastake place between Garry Kasparov, the reigning World Champion, and Valdimir Kramnik, the challenger at UK at best of 16-games. After 15 games, Kramnik got the title with 2 wins and 13 draws and 0 loss. Kramnik won three championship titles from 2000-2007.
15. Viswanathan Anand (2007 - 2013) , in 2007, The 41th World Chess Championship wastake place in a double round robin game among the 8 players including reigning champion Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand etc. After 14-games, Anand got the highest point with 9/14 one-point ahead of Kramnik (8/14). Anand won four championship titles from 2007-2013.
16. Magnus Carlsen (2013 - 2023) , in 2013, The 45th World Chess Championship was takeplace between Viswanathan Anand, the reigning World Champion, and Magnus Carlsen, the challenger at India at best of 12-games. After 10 games, Carlsen got the title with 3 wins and 7 draws and 0 loss. Carlsen won five championship titles from 2013-2023.
17. Ding Liren (2023 - Present) , in 2023, The reigning world champion Carlsen withdrawn from match.The 50th World Chess Championship was taken place between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, both challengers at Kazakhstan at at best of 12-Ding won the title with 4 wins and 11 draws and 3 losses.
Each of these players has made significant contributionsto the game of chess and left a lasting legacy in the world of competitive chess.
In recent years, the cycle has typicallyincluded the following components:
1. Candidates Tournament: The CandidatesTournament is a prestigious event that brings together the top chess players from around the world to compete for the right to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion. The winner of the Candidates Tournament earns the opportunity to face the World Chess Champion in a championship match.
2. Grand Prix Series: The Grand PrixSeries is a series of chess tournaments held over multiple stages, with players earning points based on their performance in each tournament. The players with the highest cumulative points at the end of the Grand Prix Series may qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
3. World Cup: The World Cup is anotherimportant event in the World Chess Championship cycle, where players compete in a knockout format to determine the winner. The winner of the World Cup earns a spot in the Candidates Tournament.
4. Rating Qualification: In some cases,players may qualify for the Candidates Tournament based on their FIDE rating or other performance criteria over a specified period.
5. Challenger Match: Once the challengerhas been determined through the various qualification events, they face the reigning World Chess Champion in a championship match to compete for the title.
The World Chess Championship cycle is arigorous and competitive process that showcases the top talent in the world of chess and allows players to demonstrate their skills and strategic prowess. The
cycle provides an opportunity for emerging stars and established players to compete on the world stage and vie for the prestigious title of World Chess Champion.
Overall, the World Chess Championshipcycle is a dynamic and exciting series of events that captivates chess fans around the world and highlights the strategic depth and complexity of the game. Each cycle brings new challenges, surprises, and memorable moments that contribute to the rich history and tradition of the World Chess Championship.
by Coach Gerald Ferriol