The Last Encounter Before The World Chess Championships(1886-1946)

The Current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen is set to defend his title Against Challenger Ian Nepominatchi in November(24 Nov-16 Dec 2021). There is always a buzz when the champion and challenger meet. The openings, psychology and the form of players are widely observed and followed. You can further read this article for all the information. Today we are looking at the last encounters between the World Champions and their Challengers(1886-1948).

1. William Steinitz Vs Johannes Zuketrot.

The first official World Chess Championship took place in United States(1886).The first  5 games were played in New York City, the next four being played in St. Louis and the final eleven in New Orleans.

The winner would be the first to 10 wins, draws not counting. In the event of a 9–9 tie, neither player would be champion. Steinitz won, thus becoming the first official world champion.

But the blog is about the last encounter which happened in 1883. London Tournament invited 14 chess masters for the double round robin which was won by Zuketrot(22/26) ahead of Steinitz (19/26).You can read more about the tournament here.

2. William Steinitz Vs Mikhail Chigorin(1889 And 1892)

Up to 1914, the current champion had the final say about the venue, challenger, playing conditions-just about everything. When Havana Chess Club invited  Steinitz to play in Cuba against a challenger of his choosing. To show that he didn't fear anyone ,he challenged  Mikhail Chigorin against whom he had bad score in previous tournament meetings. their last encounter before the match was also in the London 1983 tournament.

                               

The match was to last 20 games and the first to reach a minimum of 10.5 would be winner, in case of tie the defending champion will retain the title. The match saw 16 decisive results and only draw was in game 17 which meant Steinitz won the match with 10.5 to 6.5.

After Steinitz won the title match in 1891 (see below) ,Mikhail Chigorin again challenged him for title in 1982. The match was set for 20 games, In case of tie (10:10) The players would continue until one of them had 10 wins. In case of both players scoring 9 wins ,the title will be retained by the champion. After 20 games both players had 8 wins and 4 draws(10:10) so they continued playing. Three additional games were played where game 21 was a draw and Steinitz won the match by winning Game no 22 and 23.  This they encountered via telegraph. 

3. William Steinitz And  Isidor Gunsberg(1891)

Isidor was originally born in Hungary but later became English citizen on 12 may 1908. The first place and second place winners of the 1889 New York Tournament, Mikhail Chigorin and Max Wesis were not interested so Isidor got the title match as he had secured third place. The winner would be the first to reach 10 1/2 points and 10 wins. If a 10-10 tie in wins occurs after 20 games, the match continues until one reaches 10 wins. However, if both players reach 9 wins, Steinitz would retain his title. Held in New York city the 1891 was a close one ,Steinitz won the match with (6 wins : 4 wins) After the 19th round Steinitz had the lead of two wins ,So he was declared the winner.

There was no encounter between them before the match.

                         

4. William Steinitz And Emanuel Lasker(1894 and 1897)

When Steinitz revealed he wanted to retire, Lasker challenged him which changed his mind. Initially Lasker wanted to play for $5000 per side but it was later reduced to $3000 and then $2000 when Lasker couldn't manage $3000 which Steinitz agreed. Interestingly their first encounter was the first game of the World Chess Championship 1894 just like Isidor Gunsberg(1891).

                               

As previous championships, the first player to win 10 games will be declared the winner ,Lasker won the match 10 wins to 5 wins(12:7) after 19 games. Thus Lasker became the second world champion and went on to form the longest reign as World Chess Champion(27 years)  which still last today and is unlikely to be broken.

World Chess Championship 1897

After winning the World Chess  Championship in 1894, Lasker defended his title for the first time in 1987 against William Steinitz who secured second place in Saint Petersburg 1895–96 chess tournament which is regarded as one of the most strongest tournament of 19th century which helped him to raise money for World Chess Championship rematch

Their last encounter before the match was in Nuremberg Tournament with strong field of players. The tournament featured established players such as Schallopp, Winawer and Blackburne along with up-coming talents like Schlechter, Maroczy, Janowski and Charousek. It also brought together the  World Champion Lasker, his immediate predecessor Steinitz, and their main rivals Chigorin, Pillsbury and Tarrasch.  

5.Emanuel Lasker Vs Frank J. Marshall(1907)

Lasker played little chess since retaining the tile mainly due to his doctorial studies in mathematics. However he decide to  defend his title against Marshall (known for Marshall variation of Spanish) . 

Lasker dominated the match with 8 wins and no losses with 7 draws.(the winner being first to 8 wins) .Their last encounter was in 1904.

               

                     

       

                                         

10. Jose Raul Capablanca Vs Alexander Alekhine(1927)

The 1927 World Chess Championship was played between José Raúl Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine, in Buenos Aires from September 16 to November 29, 1927. Alekhine, a Russian, became a naturalized French citizen during the match (on November 5). The winner was Alekhine won was the first player to win 6 games after 34 games.  Their last encounter was in 1927 (New York).

In 1928, Bogoljubov won a major tournament at Bad Kissingen, ahead of Capablanca and most other leading players of the day except for Alekhine. Following this win he challenged Alekhine for the world title. There was also an alternative offer of a return match against Capablanca in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, USA. Under the rules at the time, the champion chose the challenger, and Alekhine chose to play a match against Bogoljubov. Alekhine won both of the matches to retain the Championship.

     

The last encounters before both of the matches have been included below. 

12.Alexander Alekhine Vs Max Euwe(1935 and 1937)

The 1935 World Chess Championship was played between challenger Max Euwe and title-holder Alexander Alekhine. It was played in various cities and towns in the Netherlands from October 3 to December 16.

Euwe was the winner by overcoming a three-point deficit as late as the ninth game. The first player to win six games and score more than 15 points would be champion. After 30 games Euwe secured the title with a draw(15.5 : 14.5). 

                 

Alekhine regained his title in a rematch of the 1935 championship match which had similar rules to their first match(15.5 : 9.5). This was the last World Championship where the world champion had control of the title and could set match conditions; Alekhine died in 1946 and FIDE stepped in to take control of the World Championship. This was also the last World Championship to take place before the outbreak of World War II two years later.

Their last encounters the matches have been included below.

Here is the recap of the match form youtube.