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After 1948, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) began organizing the Championship under its auspices. The championship was fixed to a three-year cycle, with each challenger decided by a Candidates Tournament. In 1993, the short-lived Professional Chess Association (PCA) split from FIDE, and as a result there were two competing World ...
- Nathaniel Green
- Wilhelm Steinitz (1886-94) Steinitz is often considered the "father of positional chess." He defeated Johannes Zukertort in the first-ever world championship, held in 1886.
- Emanuel Lasker (1894-1921) Lasker, a highly practical player, was the longest-reigning world champion in chess history. He won the title from Steinitz in 1894 and held it all the way until 1921.
- Jose Raul Capablanca (1921-27) Capablanca, a chess prodigy and one of the best endgame players ever, defeated Lasker 4-0 in 1921 to become world champion.
- Alexander Alekhine (1927-35, 1937-46) Alekhine, known for his attacking play and deep combinations, is the only world champion to die while holding the title.
Though the world championship is open to all players, there are separate championships for women, under-20s and lower age groups, and seniors. There are also chess world championships in rapid, blitz, correspondence, problem solving, Fischer random chess, and computer chess.
- Wilhelm Steinitz
- Emanuel Lasker
- José Capablanca
- Alexander Alekhine
- Max Euwe
- Mikhail Botvinnik
- Vasily Smyslov
- Mikhail Tal
- Tigran Petrosian
- Boris Spassky
Wilhelm Steinitzwas an Austrian-American chess player who laid the foundation for modern chess theory. Born in 1836 in Prague, he later moved to Vienna and finally to the United States. Steinitz held the title of World Chess Champion from 1886 to 1894 after defeating Johannes Zukertort in the first official World Chess Championship match. Steinitz ...
Emanuel Lasker, born in 1868 in Berlinchen, Germany, held the title of World Chess Champion for an impressive 27 years. He dethroned Steinitz in 1894 and successfully defended his title against a series of formidable opponents until 1921. Lasker was a mathematician and philosopher, and his approach to chess was infused with psychological insights. ...
José Raúl Capablancawas a Cuban chess prodigy who achieved the World Chess Champion title in 1921 by defeating Lasker. Born in 1888 in Havana, Capablanca was a naturally gifted player who quickly rose through the ranks of the chess world. He was known for his exceptional endgame technique, intuitive understanding of positions, and incredible speed ...
Alexander Alekhine, born in 1892 in Moscow, was a Russian-French chess grandmaster who became the fourth World Chess Champion. He defeated Capablanca in 1927 and held the title until 1935, when he lost to Max Euwe. Alekhine regained the championship in 1937 and held it until his death in 1946. Alekhine was known for his aggressive playing style, ta...
Max Euwe was a Dutch chess grandmaster who held the World Chess Champion title from 1935 to 1937. Born in 1901 in Amsterdam, Euwe was also a mathematician and educator. His victory over Alekhine in 1935 was considered a major upset, as Alekhine was the heavy favorite. Euwe’s playing style was characterized by solid positional understanding and a me...
Mikhail Botvinnikwas a Soviet chess grandmaster who held the World Chess Champion title on three separate occasions: from 1948 to 1957, 1958 to 1960, and 1961 to 1963. Born in 1911 in Kuokkala, Russia (now part of Finland), Botvinnik was a central figure in Soviet chess and contributed to the establishment of the country as a chess powerhouse. Botv...
Vasily Smyslov was a Soviet chess grandmaster who held the World Chess Champion title from 1957 to 1958. Born in 1921 in Moscow, Smyslov was known for his exceptional endgame skills, positional understanding, and harmonious style of play. Smyslov’s tenure as World Chess Champion was brief, as he lost the title back to Botvinnik in a 1958 rematch. H...
Mikhail Talwas a Soviet chess grandmaster from Latvia who held the World Chess Champion title from 1960 to 1961. Born in 1936 in Riga, Tal was nicknamed the “Magician from Riga” due to his incredible tactical flair and imaginative attacking play. Tal’s playing style was characterized by daring sacrifices and brilliant combinations, which often left...
Tigran Petrosianwas a Soviet chess grandmaster of Armenian origin who held the World Chess Champion title from 1963 to 1969. Born in 1929 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Petrosian was known for his exceptional defensive skills and a deeply strategic approach to the game. Petrosian’s playing style emphasized prophylactic thinking, anticipating his opponent’s t...
Boris Spassky, born in 1937 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, was a Soviet chess grandmaster who held the World Chess Champion title from 1969 to 1972. Spassky’s playing style was marked by a universal approach, as he excelled in all aspects of the game, from openings to endgames. Spassky’s reign as World Chess Champion is perhaps best r...
There are also separate championships for specific age groups. Before 1886, there was no official championship held, but some players were thought to be pre-eminent. From 1948 on, the World Chess Federation FIDE held the championships. Between 1993 and 2006 there were two world champion titles, the FIDE one and the classical one.
The World Championship was decided by a multi-player tournament instead of a 1v1 match on 2 occasions; 1948 and 2007. Those studies contain all games from the event from all players. Garry Kasparov broke away from FIDE and organized his own match for the world title three times in 1993, 1995, and 2000. FIDE continued to run its own world ...
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Aug 29, 2024 · First World Chess Champions. Since 18th century there are registries of great chess players that specially shined over their contemporary opponents, like Ruy Lopez, who deserves a special recognition for his playing quality and his success over the board. Nevertheless, nobody until 1872 claimed the World Chess Champion Title.
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