1866 London Match
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The 1866 London Match marked a historic clash between Wilhelm Steinitz of Austria and Adolf Anderssen of Prussia. Though not officially recognized at the time, it is widely regarded as the first world title match due to its structured format and decisive result. Played in London—the heart of 19th-century chess culture—the encounter ended with Steinitz winning 8–6. It was also among the first to employ mechanical timing devices, signaling the beginning of organized professional chess.
License Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Winner/Challenger: Wilhelm Steinitz
Born: May 17, 1836, Prague, Bohemia (then Austria-Hungary)
Died: August 12, 1900, New York, USA
By 1866, Wilhelm Steinitz had established himself as a rising star in the chess world. His strong showing at London 1862 drew international attention, but his playing style still reflected the aggressive traditions of the Romantic era. Against Anderssen, however, Steinitz revealed early signs of his future positional doctrines, employing a more measured and defensive approach.
His comeback after early setbacks underscored his tenacity and adaptability. Though the match lacked official endorsement, Steinitz’s victory was widely accepted as crowning him the strongest player of his time—a status later formalized with his reign as the first official World Champion in 1886. His victory over Anderssen marked the birth of modern chess thinking—Steinitz began to value structure, defense, and gradual buildup over immediate attack. This philosophical shift would later evolve into his “scientific” school of chess.
«Have you ever seen a monkey examining a watch?» —Wilhelm Steinitz
Often attributed to Steinitz, originally spoken by Ludolph Schüll and reported by Amos Burn in The International Chess Magazine (1890).
Reigning Master: Adolf Anderssen
Born: July 6, 1818, Breslau, Prussia (now Wrocław, Poland)
Died: March 13, 1879, Breslau, Germany
Adolf Anderssen was the preeminent chess master of the mid-19th century, celebrated for his dazzling tactical brilliance and unforgettable brilliancy games, including The Immortal Game (1851) and The Evergreen Game (1852). His commanding victory at London 1851 established him as the world’s leading player and the face of the Romantic school.
By 1866, Anderssen remained a revered master of Romantic chess, admired for his creativity and fighting spirit. Yet the chess world was changing rapidly. His bold sacrificial play was now being challenged by Steinitz’s structured, positional approach. Anderssen stood as a bridge between eras—the last great Romantic before the rise of modern strategic chess.
The match illustrated a generational and philosophical turning point. Anderssen fought with courage and skill, scoring six wins. But his defeat marked the slow decline of the Romantic ideal in top-level chess—and the rise of something more controlled, methodical, and enduring.
“Genius is simply the ability to work hard at what inspires you.” — attributed to Anderssen
Match Overview
Match Dates: July 18 – August 10, 1866
Location: London, United Kingdom
Format: First to 8 wins (draws not counted)
Time Control: Sandglass (early mechanical chess clocks introduced)
Prize Fund: £200 total (£100 per player, winner-takes-all)
Main Sponsors: Private patrons and London chess clubs
Historical and Cultural Context
The 1866 match stood at the crossroads of two chess epochs. Anderssen represented the fading Romantic school, while Steinitz laid the foundations for positional and scientific chess. Played in London, then the world’s chess capital, the match garnered widespread attention and was covered by major European newspapers. The use of mechanical timing and formal match structure signaled growing professionalization. Though FIDE would not be founded until 1924, this encounter is now seen as the spiritual birth of the World Championship.
1866 London Match Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Game 13
Game 14
1866 London Match
Wilhelm Steinitz, Austria
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1866 London Match Sources
Sources for Quotes
- ChessHistory.com: Historical commentary and context for the 1866 London Match.
- Amos Burn (via ChessHistory.com): Reported Ludolph Schüll’s original remark, later attributed to Steinitz.
General Sources
- Liquipedia Chess: Match overview and player profiles
- British Chess Magazine (1866): Archive-only print source (reference)
- Deutsche Schachzeitung (1866): German-language coverage via Google Books
- Chess Player’s Chronicle (1866): Archival source (print)
- ChessMail: Feature on Steinitz in London (Tim Harding)
- ChessArch: Researched by Nick Pope, 1866 London Match
- Edward Winter’s Chess Notes: Critical analysis and verification
- Wikipedia:
Photo Credits
Wilhelm Steinitz, 1866
Wikimedia Commons: Photographer Unknown – Steinitz1866.jpg
License: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Date taken: 1866 (published before 1930)
Adolf Anderssen
Photographer: Frans Peeters, Roosendaal, Netherlands
License: CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Date taken: Unknown
Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.