World Chess Championship 1890 – 1891
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The World Chess Championship 1890–1891 was the third official match for the world title, held in New York City, between reigning champion Wilhelm Steinitz (USA) and challenger Isidor Gunsberg (Austria-Hungary/United Kingdom). Played under a format of first to ten wins, or most wins after twenty games, the match was a hard-fought contest. Steinitz eventually prevailed with 10 wins to 6.
Winner/Reigning Champion: William Steinitz
Born: May 17, 1836, Prague, Bohemia (Austrian Empire)
Died: August 12, 1900, New York City, USA
Steinitz entered this match as the reigning champion, having previously defended his title against Mikhail Chigorin. Widely recognized as the first official World Chess Champion, he was already celebrated for pioneering a scientific, strategic approach to the game. By 1890, Steinitz was 54 years old, yet he demonstrated exceptional endurance and positional understanding. His play in the 1890–1891 championship emphasized deep calculation and defensive accuracy, particularly in Game 16, where his endgame mastery proved decisive. The match served as one of his final dominant performances before facing the younger Emanuel Lasker. Beyond his victories on the board, Steinitz left a lasting legacy through his writings and his influence on chess theory.
“He showed us that chess is not for intuition alone but for logical thinking, a science as much as an art.” – Siegbert Tarrasch (The Game of Chess, 1931)
Challenger: Isidor Gunsberg
Born: November 1, 1854, Budapest, Hungary (Austria-Hungary)
Died: May 2, 1930, London, England
Isidor Gunsberg, a Hungarian-born player who later represented Great Britain, had earned his challenge through success in international tournaments and match play. Once an assistant to Adolf Anderssen, he was admired for his flexible style combining tactical sharpness with defensive resilience. Though considered a slight underdog, Gunsberg pushed Steinitz to the limit, demonstrating creativity in the opening phase and strong counterplay. His most notable performances came in the early part of the match, keeping the score tight. Ultimately, Gunsberg could not match Steinitz’s strategic depth in the long games. He would remain an influential figure in British chess, both as a player and a writer.
“This little man has taught us all how to play chess.”— Chess Monthly, March 1891
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: December 9, 1890 – January 22, 1891
📍 Location: New York City, United States
✅ Format: First to 10 wins, or most wins after 20 games (draws not counted)
🕟 Time Control: Likely classical by modern standards (5 hours for 20 moves, though precise details unconfirmed)
💰 Prize Fund: Undisclosed; arranged by the American Chess Congress
📄 Main Sponsor: American Chess Congress
Historical and Cultural Context
This match cemented Steinitz’s dominance as chess gained momentum in the United States. Played entirely in New York City, it drew wide attention and marked a step toward global championship play. With a win-based format and no time control, every game was a test of stamina. Though less remembered today, it remains a fierce and symbolic battle in the shift from romantic to modern chess.
World Chess Championship 1890 – 1891 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
Game 18
Game 19
World Chess Championship 1890 – 1891
William Steinitz, USA
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World Chess Championship 1890 – 1891 Sources
Sources for Quotes
- Siegbert Tarrasch: The Game of Chess, 1931
- Chess Monthly, March 1891, p. 193 – Cited by Edward Winter’s Chess Notes, item 4375
General Sources
- Edward Winter’s Chess Notes – ChessHistory.com
- Historical Chess Journal – Retrospective analysis of the match’s significance
- Wikipedia – World Chess Championship 1890–1891
- The Chess Player’s Chronicle (1891) – Match reports and evaluations
- La Strégégie (France), 1891 editions
- British Chess Magazine, 1891 archives
- The New York Times, historical archive (January 1891 coverage)
- Shakhmatny Listok (Russia), 1891 match retrospectives (translated excerpts)
- FIDE Archives: www.fide.com (for retrospective championship listings)
- ChessBase: Steinitz vs. Gunsberg historical archive
- Hans Renette: H. Bird: A Chess Biography (2016)
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)
📷 Isidor Gunsberg, 1900 (cropped)
Chess Notes by Edward Winter: Unknown author (License: Public domain) 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.