Chess is a centuries-old strategy-based game which is played by millions of people around the world. While some play it just for fun, there are renowned names who have dedicated their entire lives to prove to be the best across the globe. One of the biggest tournaments in sports is the World Chess Championship that has shaped the careers of several players over the years.
Considered one of the most fascinating competitions, it has been shaped by historic rivalries and political drama. Starting from Wilhelm Steinitz’s historic victory in 1886 to modern champions like Gukesh D from India, the title has symbolizes the mastery of the game as well as its cultural and geopolitical influence.
World Chess Championship: Origins
Over the past two centuries, the popularity of chess has been tied to competition, specifically in the form of two-player matches, with the players eying the world chess title.
Pre-FIDE era
Until 1886, the title was an unofficial one, with the first major international event between Louis-Charles de la Bourdonnais of Paris and Alexander McDonnell of London in 1834, according to Britannica.
Johannes Zukertort, a Polish immigrant to the UK, gained significant limelight during the 1870s, while many started comparing him to Austrian chess sensation Wilhelm Steinitz. Zukertort won a tournament in London in 1883, while Steinitz ended up in second place. Ultimately, this set the stage for the first official World Chess Championship in 1886, according to chessgames.com.
The two of them played a long chess match, which eventually started a grand tradition. In the end, the final result was 10 victories for Steinitz and five for Zukertort. They even played five draws.
FIDE’s role
Post the demise of Alexander Alekhine, the former world chess champion, in 1948, Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) took over the responsibility to organise chess championships in the world. Under FIDE, the first championship saw Mikhail Botvinnik being crowned as the World Chess Champion.
It worked out well, until 1993, when then world champion Garry Kasparov announced his decision to break allegiance to FIDE. According to chessgames.com, this was major due to Kasparov being not happy with the bidding process to select the match site, the organisation’s lack of consultation with players as well as the 20% of prize fund going to FIDE.
After that, Kasparov played title defense matches under the Professional Chess Association (PCA). Till 2006, both held their own championships.
The title was reunified in 2006 when Veselin Topalov lost to Vladimir Kramnik.
At present, Gukesh D of India serves as the youngest-ever world champion at the age of 18. He defeated China’s Ding Liren last year.
Legendary Rivalries
Over the years, only 22 players have been able to hold the official title of world champion in chess, with 18 of them getting the “classical” title.
The world of chess has witnessed some of the iconic rivalries between some of the best players. Here’s taking a look at some of them:
Steinitz vs. Lasker: In 1894, Emanuel Lasker dethroned Wilhelm Steinitz to emerge as the second world champion, holding the title until 1921. His 27-year reign is widely regarded as the longest in the history of chess. During this time, Lasker defended his title on five occasions, while his career lasted for five decades.
Karpov vs. Kasparov: Defending champion Anatoly Karpov and challenger Garry Kasparov played one of the longest and most controversial chess matches in history during the 1984-85 World Chess Championship. Stretching to over five months, the game was famously aborted by then FIDE President Florencio Campomanes due to “player health,” despite the two of them wanting to continue. Overall, they played 48 games, with 40 of them ending in draws. Kasparov later won the rematch and was officially declared the new World Chess Champion.
Spassky vs. Fischer: Former US chess champion Bobby Fischer’s famous win during the 1971 Candidates set up a major showdown with Boris Spassky in 1972. During the height of the Cold War, the game between the two players was dubbed as “the Match of the Century” by several media houses, according to The Collector. Fischer went on to clinch the title 12.5-8.5, thereby breaking Soviet dominance.
Modern rivalries: In recent times, fans of chess have witnessed neck-and-neck games between popular players. The tradition of intense battles has continued from the Anand vs. Kramnik and Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi games to Gukesh vs. Ding Liren.
The World Chess Championship has significantly evolved and elevated chess from being a mere pastime to a global sport over the past several decades. The renowned rivalries in chess have not only inspired generations but salso haped opening theories and endgame studies. The tournament is a saga of rivalries, politics, and cultural significance, with each era bringing forward some of the unforgettable battles that continue to define the spirit of the game.