Wilhelm Steinitz was a Bohemian-Austrian, later American, chess player who lived from 1836 to 1900 and became the first official World Chess Champion, defeating Johannes Zukertort in 1886 by a score of 12 and a half to 7 and a half. He was unbeaten in match play for 32 years, from 1862 to 1894, before losing his title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894 and a rematch in 1896 to 1897. A highly influential writer and theoretician, he introduced positional chess strategy in 1873, fundamentally changing how the game was understood and played, and is regarded alongside Paul Morphy as a founder of modern chess.
Facts
NationalityBohemian-Austrian, later American 1 Career HighlightFirst World Chess Champion, 1886 to 1894; unbeaten in match play for 32 years, from 1862 to 1894. 1 Classification
Competition Category Sources
1. Wikipedia, Wilhelm Steinitz
Wikipedialead sentence, birth and death dates
May 14, 1836, August 12, 1900
lead sentence
was a Bohemian-Austrian, and later American, chess player.
fourth paragraph, unbeaten record
Steinitz was unbeaten in match play for 32 years, from 1862 to 1894.
Wikipedia, article summary lead
William Steinitz (born Wilhelm Steinitz; May 14, 1836 – August 12, 1900) was a Bohemian-Austrian, and later American, chess player.
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