Recognized as the first official World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, owned the title from 1886-1894.
Born in 1836 as the last of 13 sons, he began playing chess at 12 and started studying it in his 20's
At the end of the 1850's he became very dominant being nicknamed 'The Austrian Morphy' (after the American, Paul Morphy).
After a successful match against Italian Master Serafino Dubois in 1862, Steinitz took up chess professionally.
In 1866, Steinitz faced Adolf Anderssen who was then regarded as the strongest active player. Steinitz won 8-6, winning the last two games.
After this match, Steinitz took home the 100 £ prize (about 57,500 £ or $69,000 today) and was regarded as the world's best player, yet still informally.
After a break, he came back in the 1873 Vienna tournament. Steinitz revealed the new style of play - pivoting from the Romantic style of play to a more positional style of play.
He took home first (including 14 wins in a row).
However, this new style of play was deemed as 'cowardly' by his peers.
He defended it so much in writing that the 'Ink War' started against his debators - mainly Leopold Hoffer and Johannes Zukertort.
His debators even persuaded anti-Steinitz articles to be published in America after Steinitz moved there from Europe.
For a period of almost 10 years, he did not play in tournaments. He instead was the main correspondant in chess for the 'The Field' - Britain's leading sports magazine
He returned to Europe in 1882, taking 1st in the Vienna tournament.
During his absense, one of his debators - Zukertort - was winning strong tournaments prompting some to claim Steinitz shouldn't be regarded as the strongest player.
In 1886, Steinitz and Zukertort agreed to play a match in New York, St Louis, and New Orleans "for the Championship of the World". The victor would be the first to 10 wins.
Zukertort took a 4-1 lead, but Steinitz rallied winning 12.5 - 7.5 (10 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses). Awarding the title of 'World Champion' to Steinitz.
In 1887 during the American Chess Congress, Steinitz worked to create a formalized system for World Championships knowing he was too old to hold the title forever.
Steinitz defended his title against Isidor Gunsberg, Mikhail Chigorin, then lost to the 32 year younger Emannual Lasker in 1894 (an age difference record that still stands today).
He played a rematch against Lasker in 1896, but lost 2 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses.
Shortly after that, Steinitz had a mental breakdown and spent 40 days in a Moscow sanatorium.
Not long after that, he suffered a heart attack and passed away, but his mark on the game remains.
The positional style of play he pioneered is still played today at all levels of chess.
In today's game, we are traveling back to 1899 shortly before Wilhelm passed away. This game is a great example of calmly reacting to your opponent's sacrifices.
Wilhelm Steinitz v Samuel Tinsely.
Now, if we're ready.
Let's begin.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 f6 6. exf6 Nxf6
7. Bd3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Bd7 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11. cxd4 h6
12. Nb3 Ng4 13. Be3 Qf6 14. Bc2 Nb4 15. Bb1 Rac8 16. a3 Bxh2+
17. Nxh2 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qf2+ 19. Kh1 Nc2 20. Re2 Nxe3 21. Qd3
1-0
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132759
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Steinitz
http://cassidynoble.com/chess/