Adolf Anderssen – Paul Morphy 1858

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The Adolf Anderssen – Paul Morphy 1858 Match was held in Paris, France, between two of the greatest chess masters of the 19th century. Paul Morphy of the United States, during his European tour, met Adolf Anderssen of Prussia — widely considered the strongest active player in the world at the time. Morphy triumphed decisively, winning 7 games, drawing 2, and losing only 2, establishing himself as the world’s leading chess player.

Adolf Anderssen - Paul Morphy 1858
Paul Morphy giving a blindfold simultaneous exhibition at Café de la Régence Paris 1858
Image reproduction courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library published c1920 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Paul Morphy
Photographer unknown Public domain License No Copyright United States via Wikimedia Commons

Winner/Challenger: Paul Morphy

Born: 1837, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Died: 1884, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Paul Morphy was a chess prodigy whose meteoric rise stunned the chess world. By age 21, he had defeated every prominent European master, including Löwenthal, Harrwitz, and finally Anderssen, who had previously been considered the unofficial world champion. Known for his rapid development, intuitive play, and tactical brilliance, Morphy brought clarity and precision to the board that few could match. His preparation was minimal by modern standards, relying on natural talent and sheer force of will. The 1858 match against Anderssen was the culmination of Morphy’s European tour and his crowning achievement.

Shortly after this triumph, Morphy retired from competitive chess, seeking a legal career that never took off. In later life, he struggled with mental health, and his tragic decline only deepened the mystique surrounding his genius. Morphy’s legacy remains unmatched: a brief, blazing comet who changed the game forever.

«Morphy plays with the clarity of a mathematician and the creativity of a poet.» – Chess Monthly, 1859

The Opera Game

One of Morphy’s most celebrated games from his Paris stay, though not part of the Anderssen match, is known as the “Opera Game.”

📌 This game remains one of the most famous demonstrations of active piece play and tactical mastery.

Adolf Anderssen
Adolf Anderssen Frans Peeters from Roosendaal The Netherlands CC BY SA 20 via Wikimedia Commons

Reigning Champion: Adolf Anderssen

Born: July 6, 1818, Breslau, Prussia (now Wrocław, Poland)
Died: March 13, 1879, Breslau, Germany

Adolf Anderssen was the dominant figure in European chess before Morphy’s emergence. His victory at the 1851 London Tournament had earned him widespread recognition as the strongest player in the world. Renowned for his daring attacks and romantic style, Anderssen was responsible for some of the most famous games in chess history, including The Immortal Game and The Evergreen Game. In 1858, he was considered the benchmark of elite competition. Yet, Morphy’s precise, modern technique outclassed Anderssen’s flamboyant style, marking a shift in the evolution of high-level chess.

Despite this setback, Anderssen remained a formidable force, later winning the prestigious London 1862, Breslau 1861, and Baden-Baden 1870 tournaments, and finishing strongly in Leipzig 1877. He reportedly praised Morphy’s superiority after their match, and his place in chess history remains secure as the leading figure of the Romantic Era.

«A bold attack is the soul of chess.» – Adolf Anderssen

Match Overview

Match Dates: December 20–28, 1858
Location: Paris, France
Format: First to 7 wins (draws not counted)
Time Control: No formal time control (played without clocks)
Prize Fund: No official prize money; match held for prestige
Main Sponsors: Private arrangement with support from Café de la Régence patrons

Historical and Cultural Context

The match took place during the height of the Romantic era in chess, where brilliant sacrifices and spectacular combinations were celebrated above all. Morphy’s victory in Paris symbolized a changing of the guard—from the artistic flair of the early 19th century to a more strategic, methodical approach that would dominate the coming decades. The match drew intense interest from both chess enthusiasts and cultural elites in Europe. Though informal, it is widely recognized by historians as the most significant head-to-head encounter of the pre-FIDE era, and it helped elevate the game’s global profile. The venue, Café de la Régence, had hosted chess legends for over a century and was the perfect stage for a duel between contrasting titans of style and substance.

The match not only marked the symbolic end of the Romantic era but also foreshadowed the structured international competitions that would later define the World Chess Championship.

Anderssen - Morphy Match 1858, Paul Morphy (USA) vs Adolf Anderssen (GER)

Adolf Anderssen – Paul Morphy 1858 Games

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

Game 7

Game 8

Game 9

Game 10

Game 11

Adolf Anderssen – Paul Morphy 1858

Paul Morphy, USA

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Adolf Anderssen – Paul Morphy 1858 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Image Source


Paul Morphy playing eight simultaneous blindfold games at Café de la Régence, Paris (1920)
Cleveland Public Library: Public domain (License: No Copyright – United States) via Wikimedia Commons

Paul Morphy seated, looking at a chessboard (1859)
Photographer unknown: Public domain (License: No Copyright – United States) via Wikimedia Commons

Adolf Anderssen Frans Peeters from Roosendaal The Netherlands CC BY SA 20 via Wikimedia Commons

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.