Evans Gambit Brilliancy In World Championship - Best of the pre-1900s - Chigorin vs Steinitz, 1892

Mikhail Chigorin was the greatest challenger to the first world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, between the times of Johannes Zukertort and Emanuel Lasker. Chigorin played two world championship matches against Steinitz, one in 1889 and one in 1892.

In both matches, Chigorin won the opening game and held the lead intermittently throughout the matches. In the latter half of the 1899 match, Steinitz pulled away in the second half, eventually winning 10-6, with draws not counting. In the second match, Chigorin held the lead for most of the match, but Steinitz lead 9-8 in the final game when Chigorin, a piece up and ready to tie the game, blundered mate in two - easily the worst blunder ever played in a world championship match. Today, we no longer play these incredible "first to 10 win" match formats. This is both because the greater number of draws will likely lead to the matches lasting forever and because playing more than 20 games in a single match is understood to be a test of endurance more than skill. Arguably, Chigorin demonstrated a slight edge in skill in the early halves of both matches, but Steinitz had a clear edge in endurance.

In any case, Chigorin and Steinitz were excitingly balanced opponents. Their matches were exciting not just because they were hotly contested, but also because they were showcases for completely different styles. Steinitz was stubborn in being willing to greedily accept gambits and enter passive positions. Sometimes his defensive skills would secure victory in spite of truly awful prospects.

Chigorin was a much more dynamic player, happily offering gambits and eagerly taking the more active side against Steinitz passive structures. Today's game is a a perfect example. Chigorin offers the Evan's Gambit, and Steinitz plays overly passively, losing tempo and becoming objectively worse. When the opportunity arises, Chigorin sacrifices to launch a vicious attack and soon secure victory.

Top 10 Games from before 1900

• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• ???
• #12: Chigorin vs. Steinitz, 1892
• #13: Fleissig vs. Schlecter, 1893
• #14: Konyovits vs. Charousek, 1893
• #15: Weiss vs. Pollock, 1889

• See also: Top 10 of the 1900s, Top 10 of the 1910s, Top 10 of the 1920s, Top 10 of the 1930s, Top 10 of the 1940s, Top 10 of the 1950s, Top 10 of the 1960s, Top 10 of the 1970s, Top 10 of the 1980s, Top 10 of the 1990s, Top 10 of the 2000s, and Top 10 of the 2010s

If you like the content and want to support it, subscribe and follow on YouTube and Twitch!