{"id":2259,"date":"2023-04-29T10:32:25","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T10:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=2259"},"modified":"2023-05-23T11:31:42","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T11:31:42","slug":"chess-world-champions-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/chess-world-champions-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"A Journey Back in Time: Chess World Champions Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whilst we all remain on the edge of our seats watching the current World Chess Championship between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, let’s take a look back at former Chess World Champions. In this Part 1, we will travel back to the first official World Chess Championship in 1886 up until 1946, taking a look at the first 5 champions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Wilhelm Steinitz<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Emanuel Lasker<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Capablanca<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Alexander Alekhine<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Max Euwe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    The Beginning:<\/strong> Wilhelm Steinitz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1886 to 1894<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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    By the time Steinitz entered the chess scene, professional play and international tournaments were already popular, dominated by chess giants such as Adolf Anderssen and Paul Morphy. The chess style at this time can be characterized as aggressive and attacking, where plans were formulated along the lines of a kingside attack (this is very prevalent in Morphy’s games). Steinitz committed his life fully to chess, unlike Morphy who stopped playing at the mere age of 21 to pursue law. This meant that these two greats never got to face off at the chess board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Steinitz’s approach was somewhat more technical, scientific, and strategic, which, paired with a strong work ethic, paved the way for a new style of chess. He believed that play should be directed to the Queenside and Center rather than just Morphy-style Kingside assaults, and developed the theory that players should collect small strategic advantages to prepare a winning attack. Furthermore, and what players are still influenced by today, was Steinitz’s belief that the King is a powerful piece and should be used for attack and defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A lesser-known fact is that Steinitz actually took a break from international tournament play for 6 years in 1876! During this time, still devoted to the game, he was a chess writer and analyst, providing in-depth analysis for world-class chess columns. He returned to international top-level play in 1882, a time when J Zuketort had been dominating tournaments. With the assistance of financial backers and an eagerness to settle who holds the seat to the throne, the first formal World Chess Championship match was held in the US in 1886 between these two chess giants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With his superior understanding of openings, creativity, and strategic play, Steinitz won the match (decided by the first player to get 10 wins) and became the first official World Chess Champion. He went on to defend his title three more times against the Russian Mikhail Chigorin (1889 & 1892) and Hungarian Isidor Gunsberg (1890-1891) until he was dethroned in 1894 by the German Emanuel Lasker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is an exemplary game between Steinitz and his challenger, Chigorin during their 1982 World Championship match as shown in Modern Chess: From Steinitz to the 21st Century:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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