Friday Feature: Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm Steinitz was an Austrian chess player and the first official World Chess Champion. He was born on May 17, 1836 in Prague, then part of the Austrian Empire, and began his career as a chess player in the 1850s. Steinitz was known for his innovative and strategic approach to the game, and he is credited with developing the concept of positional play, which focuses on controlling key squares on the board and gradually building an advantage rather than going for quick, tactical wins.

Steinitz's career as a chess player was marked by a number of notable achievements. In 1866, he won the first major international chess tournament, the London International, and in 1886 he defeated Johannes Zukertort in a match to become the first official World Chess Champion. Steinitz held the title until 1894, when he was defeated by Emanuel Lasker.

After losing the World Championship, Steinitz continued to play chess and remained active in the chess world as a writer and commentator. He died on August 12, 1900 in New York City. Steinitz's contributions to the development of chess strategy and his status as the first official World Chess Champion have earned him a place in the history of the game.