World Chess Championship 1889

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The World Chess Championship 1889 was the second official title match and the first rematch in world championship history. Held in Havana, Cuba, reigning champion Wilhelm Steinitz (USA) defended his title against Mikhail Chigorin (Russia), a leading figure in Romantic attacking chess. The match was one of the most fiercely contested of the 19th century, with only one draw in 17 games, and remains a historic example of the clash between emerging positional principles and traditional attacking play.

World Chess Championship 1889, William Steinitz
📷 Cleveland Public Library Public domain License Public Domain US via Wikimedia Commons

Winner/Reigning Champion: William Steinitz

Born: May 14, 1836, Prague, Bohemia (Austrian Empire)
Died: August 12, 1900, New York City, USA

Steinitz had become the first official World Champion in 1886 and revolutionized chess with his emphasis on positional principles—favoring control and structure over the speculative sacrifices of the Romantic era. His style was not universally accepted at the time, but his ideas eventually laid the groundwork for modern chess.

In Havana, Steinitz showed remarkable strategic resilience and endgame skill, particularly in critical games such as the final 17th, where he capitalized on Chigorin’s errors in a complex queen endgame.

«The young master of the old school sacrificed pawns and pieces, but the old master did more—he sacrificed whole games to prove what he understands by sound rules.» – Wilhelm Steinitz

World Chess Championship 1889, Mikhail Chigorin
📷 Cleveland Public Library Public domain License Public Domain US via Wikimedia Commons

Challenger: Mikhail Chigorin

Born: November 12, 1850, Gatchina, Russia
Died: January 25, 1908, Lublin, Poland

Chigorin was a brilliant attacking player whose sharp and creative style stood in contrast to Steinitz’s positional theories. A prominent figure in the rise of Russian chess, Chigorin was a top contender in international tournaments and had a deep tactical vision.

Although he lost this match, his spirited play captivated audiences and laid the foundation for Russian and later Soviet chess schools. His influence can be seen in the works of later champions like Alekhine and Botvinnik.

«To play for a draw, at any rate with White, is to some degree a crime against chess.» – attributed to Mikhail Chigorin.

Match Overview

🗓️ Dates: January 20 – February 24, 1889
📍 Location: Havana, Cuba
✅ Format: First to 10½ points (maximum 20 games)
⏱️ Time Control: 15 moves per hour
💰 Prize Fund: $1,150 USD (lowest recorded for a world title match)
📄 Main Sponsor: Havana Chess Club

Historical and Cultural Context

This match firmly established Cuba as a major hub for elite chess, hosting its first of several title bouts. Despite a modest prize fund, the event drew international attention, particularly because of its combative nature. Only one draw occurred across 17 games, highlighting the fierce stylistic clash between Steinitz’s scientific methods and Chigorin’s romantic aggression. The venue and format reflected the globalizing character of chess, and the endurance shown by both players in such a physically demanding match added to the mystique. This championship also laid the foundation for Chigorin’s long-term influence on the Soviet chess school.

World Chess Championship 1889, William Steinitz (USA), Mikhail Chigorin (RUS)

World Chess Championship 1889 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

Game 15

Game 16

Game 17

World Chess Championship 1889

William Steinitz, USA

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World Chess Championship 1889 Sources

Sources for Quotes

General Sources

Photo Credits

📷 William Steinitz (photograph from the Cleveland Public Library collection)
Cleveland Public Library: Public domain (License: Public Domain – U.S.) via Wikimedia Commons
Photo date: Before 1930 (exact date unknown)

📷 Mikhail Chigorin (photograph from the Cleveland Public Library collection)
Cleveland Public Library: Public domain (License: Public Domain – U.S.) 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.