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History of World Chess Championships

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The following is a history of World Chess Championships. It is the premier title in the game of chess, awarded to the player recognized as the best in the world through a formal competition. It is considered one of the most prestigious titles in the realm of competitive games and intellectual sports.

Overview

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The history of the World Chess Championships traces the evolution of one of the most prestigious titles in the world of competitive sports. Over centuries, the championship has transitioned from informal beginnings to a globally structured event, producing some of the greatest minds in human history. The title not only crowns the best player of their era but also symbolizes the intellectual rigor and creativity inherent to the game of chess.[1]

Chess evolved into its modern form in the late medieval period, gaining popularity in Europe and other parts of the world by the 16th century. However, the concept of an official World Chess Champion did not exist at this time. Instead, outstanding players were unofficially recognized as the best based on their reputations and tournament successes.

Prominent early figures include Ruy López de Segura, who dominated in Spain during the 16th century, and Gioachino Greco, a 17th-century Italian player renowned for his innovative ideas. In the 18th century, François-André Danican Philidor emerged as the most skilled player of his time, known for his treatise on chess strategy and his emphasis on pawn structures.[2]

The 19th century saw competitive chess become increasingly organized. Players like Louis de La Bourdonnais and Alexander McDonnell contested matches that were widely regarded as determining the best player of their time. Later, Howard Staunton—a key figure in popularizing chess—contributed to formalizing rules and organizing the first international chess tournament in London (1851).

The modern World Chess Championship began in 1886, with Wilhelm Steinitz defeating Johannes Zukertort in the first official match. Steinitz’s victory marked the transition to a system where the titleholder could be challenged, establishing the championship as the highest honor in chess.[3]

Steinitz, known for his pioneering work in positional play, held the title until 1894 when he lost to Emanuel Lasker. Lasker’s reign lasted 27 years, a record for longevity in the championship’s history. His adaptability and psychological insight into opponents set new standards for competitive chess.

Pre-FIDE Era (1886–1946). During this time, the World Chess Championship operated without an overarching governing body. The reigning champion often dictated the terms of matches, including conditions and prize funds, leading to irregular intervals between contests.

Prominent champions of this era include: José Raúl Capablanca (1921–1927), Alexander Alekhine (1927–1946): The lack of institutional oversight sometimes led to controversies, such as Alekhine’s refusal to grant a rematch to former champion Capablanca.[4]

After World War II, the chess world sought a more structured approach to the championship. In 1948, FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) organized a tournament to crown a new champion following Alekhine’s death in 1946. Mikhail Botvinnik emerged as the winner, marking the start of Soviet dominance in chess.

FIDE introduced a systematic cycle, including zonal tournaments, interzonals, and the Candidates Tournament, to determine challengers for the title. This era saw legendary champions such as: Mikhail Tal (1960–1961), Bobby Fischer (1972–1975).[5]

In 1993, a dispute between Garry Kasparov, the reigning champion, and FIDE led to a split in the World Chess Championship. Kasparov established the Professional Chess Association (PCA) and conducted his title matches under its auspices, while FIDE continued organizing its own championships.

This period featured parallel lines of champions, creating confusion in the chess world. Despite the division, it produced memorable matches, including Kasparov’s rivalries with Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Kramnik. In 2000, Kramnik defeated Kasparov in a pivotal match, ending Kasparov’s reign and marking a new era.

The title was reunified in 2006 when Kramnik defeated FIDE champion Veselin Topalov in a match held in Elista, Russia. Since then, FIDE has managed a unified championship cycle, ensuring transparency and consistency.

The modern era has been dominated by Magnus Carlsen, who became World Champion in 2013 by defeating Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen’s dynamic style and deep strategic understanding have elevated chess to unprecedented levels of popularity.[6]

Recent matches have showcased thrilling battles, such as Carlsen’s defenses against Fabiano Caruana (2018) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (2021). In 2023, following Carlsen’s abdication of the title, Ding Liren defeated Nepomniachtchi to become the first Chinese World Chess Champion.

The World Chess Championship has grown from an informal contest of skill into a global event that captivates millions. It has shaped chess theory, inspired generations of players, and reflected the broader social and cultural contexts of its time. The championship remains the pinnacle of chess achievement, representing the ultimate test of mental acuity, creativity, and competitive spirit.[7]

History of World Chess Championships by period

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Unofficial Championships (before 1886)

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Before the establishment of an official World Chess Championship in 1886, the title of the world’s best chess player was informally contested and determined by general consensus, high-profile matches, or widespread recognition of a player's dominance. This period played a significant role in shaping the competitive and theoretical development of chess.

The key figures were :François-André Danican Philidor (1726–1795), Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais (1795–1840), Howard Staunton (1810–1874), Adolf Anderssen (1818–1879), Paul Morphy (1837–1884), Wilhelm Steinitz (1836–1900).

These matches and tournaments were not for the world championship, but retrospectively they have been fairly widely recognized as establishing the world's leading player at the time.

Year Host country Host city Winner Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
1834  United Kingdom London Louis de La Bourdonnais Alexander McDonnell 45 27 13
1843  United Kingdom and
 France
London (6 rounds)
Paris (21 rounds)
Howard Staunton Pierre Saint-Amant 13 9 5
1846  United Kingdom London Howard Staunton (2) Bernhard Horwitz 14 7 3
1851  United Kingdom London Adolf Anderssen Marmaduke Wyvill 4 2 1 single-elimination tournament, best-of-7 final
1858  France Paris Paul Morphy Kingdom of Prussia Adolf Anderssen 7 2 2 first to 7 wins
1862  United Kingdom London Kingdom of Prussia Adolf Anderssen (2) German Confederation Louis Paulsen 11 1 1 round robin tournament, 14 players
1866  United Kingdom London Austrian Empire Wilhelm Steinitz Kingdom of Prussia Adolf Anderssen 8 6 0 best of 15 games
1872  United Kingdom London Austria-Hungary Wilhelm Steinitz (2) Johannes Zukertort 7 1 4 first to 7 wins
1876  United Kingdom London Austria-Hungary Wilhelm Steinitz (3) Joseph Henry Blackburne 7 0 0
1883  United Kingdom London Johannes Zukertort Austria-Hungary Wilhelm Steinitz 22 4 0 double round robin tournament, 14 players

Pre-FIDE World Championships (1886–1946)

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The period of World Chess Championships from 1886 to 1946 is often referred to as the Pre-FIDE era, as it predates the establishment of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) as the governing body for the championship. During this time, the title of World Chess Champion was contested through privately arranged matches, with the reigning champion typically dictating the conditions for challengers. Despite the lack of a formal organizing body, this era witnessed some of the greatest players and matches in chess history.

Key champions: Wilhelm Steinitz (1886–1894), Emanuel Lasker (1894–1921), José Raúl Capablanca (1921–1927), Alexander Alekhine (1927–1946), Max Euwe (1935–1937).

With Steinitz and Zukertort each having a claim to be the world's best player, the two played a match in 1886 for the first World Championship. From then until 1946, there was no formal system: matches were privately organized between the champion and challenger, and the challenger became the new World Champion if he won.

Year Host country Host city World champion Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
1886  United States New York City
St. Louis
New Orleans
Wilhelm Steinitz Johannes Zukertort 10 5 5 first to 10 wins
1889  Spain Havana Wilhelm Steinitz (2) Mikhail Chigorin 10 6 1 best of 20 games + tiebreak (if required)
1890–1891  United States New York City Wilhelm Steinitz (3) Isidor Gunsberg 6 4 9
1892  Spain Havana Wilhelm Steinitz (4) Mikhail Chigorin 8+2 8 4+1
1894  United States and
 Canada
New York City
Philadelphia
Montreal
Emanuel Lasker Wilhelm Steinitz 10 5 4 first to 10 wins
1896–1897  Russian Empire Moscow Emanuel Lasker (2) Wilhelm Steinitz 10 2 5
1907  United States Emanuel Lasker (3) Frank Marshall 8 0 7 first to 8 wins
1908  German Empire Düsseldorf
Munich
Emanuel Lasker (4) Siegbert Tarrasch 8 3 5
1910  Austria-Hungary and
 German Empire
Vienna
Berlin
Emanuel Lasker (5) Carl Schlechter 1 1 8 best of 10; disputed whether challenger had to win by 1 or 2 points[a][b]
1910  German Empire Berlin Emanuel Lasker (6) Dawid Janowski 8 0 3 first to 8 wins
1921  Cuba Havana José Raúl Capablanca Emanuel Lasker 4 0 10 best of 24 games;[a] Emanuel Lasker resigned after 14 games
1927  Argentina Buenos Aires Alexander Alekhine José Raúl Capablanca 6 3 25 first to 6 wins
1929  Germany and
 Netherlands
Alexander Alekhine (2) Efim Bogoljubow 11 5 9 first to 6 wins and 15 points
1934  German Reich Alexander Alekhine (3) Efim Bogoljubow 8 3 15
1935  Netherlands Max Euwe Alexander Alekhine 9 8 13
1937  Netherlands Alexander Alekhine (4) Max Euwe 10 4 11

FIDE World Championships (1948–1990)

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The era of FIDE World Chess Championships began in 1948 when the governing body, Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), assumed control over the organization and regulation of the title matches. This transition established standardized formats and eligibility criteria, addressing many of the disputes and irregularities of the Pre-FIDE period. The FIDE era featured iconic rivalries, political undercurrents, and some of the greatest players in chess history.

After the death of Alexander Alekhine in 1946, the chess world faced a unique situation, as no reigning champion remained to organize a title defense. FIDE stepped in to host a championship tournament in The Hague and Moscow. Five of the world’s top players participated, including Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, Paul Keres, and Samuel Reshevsky.

Alexander Alekhine died in 1946 while still World Chess Champion, after which the International Chess Federation (FIDE) organized the World Championships. This began with a one-off tournament in 1948. After that there was a 3-year cycle, in which a series of tournaments was held to decide the challenger, who then played the champion in a match for the World Championship.

Year Host country Host city World champion Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
1948  Netherlands and
 Soviet Union
The Hague
Moscow
Mikhail Botvinnik Vasily Smyslov 14 points out of 20 5-player, 5-cycle round-robin tournament
1951  Soviet Union Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik (2) David Bronstein 5 5 14 best of 24 games[a]
1954  Soviet Union Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik (3) Vasily Smyslov 7 7 10
1957  Soviet Union Moscow Vasily Smyslov Mikhail Botvinnik 6 3 13
1958  Soviet Union Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik (4) Vasily Smyslov 7 5 11
1960  Soviet Union Moscow Mikhail Tal Mikhail Botvinnik 6 2 13
1961  Soviet Union Moscow Mikhail Botvinnik (5) Mikhail Tal 10 5 6
1963  Soviet Union Moscow Tigran Petrosian Mikhail Botvinnik 5 2 15
1966  Soviet Union Moscow Tigran Petrosian (2) Boris Spassky 4 3 17
1969  Soviet Union Moscow Boris Spassky Tigran Petrosian 6 4 13
1972  Iceland Reykjavík Bobby Fischer Boris Spassky 7 3 11
1975  Philippines Manila Anatoly Karpov Bobby Fischer by default
1978  Philippines Baguio Anatoly Karpov (2) Viktor Korchnoi 6 5 21 first to 6 wins
1981  Italy Merano Anatoly Karpov (3) Viktor Korchnoi 6 2 10
1984–1985  Soviet Union Moscow No winner Anatoly Karpov / Garry Kasparov 5 3 40 first to 6 wins; unfinished match
1985  Soviet Union Moscow Garry Kasparov Anatoly Karpov 5 3 16 best of 24 games[a]
1986  United Kingdom and
 Soviet Union
London
Leningrad
Garry Kasparov (2) Anatoly Karpov 5 4 15
1987  Spain Seville Garry Kasparov (3) Anatoly Karpov 4 4 16
1990  United States and
 France
New York City
Lyon
Garry Kasparov (4) Anatoly Karpov 4 3 17

Split title (1993–2006)

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The split title era began with a schism in the chess world when World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov broke away from FIDE in 1993 to establish a rival organization. This resulted in competing World Chess Championship titles: one under FIDE and another under the Professional Chess Association (PCA), and later, through independently organized matches. The split created a fragmented and controversial era that lasted until the unification in 2006.

The crisis emerged in 1993 when reigning World Champion Garry Kasparov and his challenger, Nigel Short, expressed dissatisfaction with FIDE’s handling of the championship process, particularly its financial arrangements and transparency. They decided to bypass FIDE and organize their 1993 championship match under the PCA.

Kasparov retained his title, decisively defeating Short 12.5–7.5 in a match held in London. In response, FIDE declared the PCA match invalid and stripped Kasparov of the title. FIDE organized a separate championship match, crowning Anatoly Karpov as the FIDE World Champion after Karpov defeated Jan Timman in the same year. Thus, the chess world had two reigning champions.

In 1993, World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and challenger Nigel Short split from FIDE, and played their title match under the auspices of the Professional Chess Association. In response, FIDE stripped Kasparov of his title and arranged its own World Championship match between former champion Anatoly Karpov and Candidates finalist Jan Timman. For the next 13 years there were two rival world titles.

Beginning with the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996, FIDE changed its rules and the incumbent World Champion was no longer automatically qualified for the final match; but this tradition was maintained for the Classical title.

Year Host country Host city World champion Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
Classical World Chess Championships (1993–2006)
1993  United Kingdom London Garry Kasparov (5) United Kingdom Nigel Short 6 1 13 best of 24[a]
1995  United States New York City Garry Kasparov (6) Viswanathan Anand 4 1 13 best of 20[a]
2000  United Kingdom London Vladimir Kramnik Garry Kasparov 2 0 13 best of 16[a]
2004   Switzerland Brissago Vladimir Kramnik (2) Peter Leko 2 2 10 best of 14[a]
FIDE World Chess Championships (1993–2006)
1993  Netherlands and
 Indonesia
Zwolle
Arnhem
Amsterdam
Jakarta
Anatoly Karpov (4) Jan Timman 6 2 13 best of 24[a]
1996  Russia Elista Anatoly Karpov (5) Gata Kamsky 6 3 9 best of 20[a]
1998  Netherlands and
  Switzerland
Groningen
Lausanne
Anatoly Karpov (6) Viswanathan Anand 2+2 2 2 single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks
1999  United States Las Vegas Alexander Khalifman Vladimir Akopian 2 1 3
2000  India and
 Iran
New Delhi
Tehran
Viswanathan Anand Alexei Shirov 3 0 1
2002  Russia Moscow Ruslan Ponomariov Vasyl Ivanchuk 2 0 5 single-elimination tournament with finals best of 8 + tiebreaks
2004  Libya Tripoli Rustam Kasimdzhanov Michael Adams 2+1 2 2+1 single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks
2005  Argentina Potrero de los Funes
San Luis
Veselin Topalov Viswanathan Anand
Peter Svidler
10 points out of 14 8-player double round-robin tournament

FIDE World Championships (2006–present)

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The modern era of the FIDE World Chess Championship began with the reunification of the title in 2006. Since then, the championship has been governed exclusively by FIDE, which established a clear qualification cycle, culminating in a match between the reigning champion and a challenger determined by the Candidates Tournament. This period is characterized by enhanced organizational structure, heightened global attention, and the dominance of key players such as Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, and the emergence of new talents.

The Classical and FIDE titles were unified with the 2006 match between Classical champion Vladimir Kramnik and FIDE champion Veselin Topalov. All subsequent championships have been administered by FIDE. Since 2008, FIDE has returned to the format of an incumbent champion playing a challenger.

Year Host country Host city World champion Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
2006  Russia Elista Vladimir Kramnik (3) Veselin Topalov 3+2 3+1 6+1 best of 12 + tiebreaks
2007  Mexico Mexico City Viswanathan Anand (2) Vladimir Kramnik
Boris Gelfand
9 points out of 14 8-player double round-robin tournament
2008  Germany Bonn Viswanathan Anand (3) Vladimir Kramnik 3 1 7 best of 12 + tiebreaks
2010  Bulgaria Sofia Viswanathan Anand (4) Veselin Topalov 3 2 7
2012  Russia Moscow Viswanathan Anand (5) Boris Gelfand 1+1 1 10+3
2013  India Chennai Magnus Carlsen Viswanathan Anand 3 0 7
2014  Russia Sochi Magnus Carlsen (2) Viswanathan Anand 3 1 7
2016  United States New York City Magnus Carlsen (3) Sergey Karjakin 1+2 1 10+2
2018  United Kingdom London Magnus Carlsen (4) Fabiano Caruana 0+3 0 12
2021  United Arab Emirates Dubai Magnus Carlsen (5) Ian Nepomniachtchi[c] 4 0 7 best of 14 + tiebreaks
2023  Kazakhstan Astana Ding Liren[d] Ian Nepomniachtchi[e] 3+1 3 8+3
2024  Singapore Singapore Gukesh D. Ding Liren 3 2 9

Other events

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Year Host country Host city Winner Runner(s)-up Won (+) Lost (−) Draw (=) Format
Non-recognized World Chess Championships
1909  France Paris Emanuel Lasker Dawid Janowski 7 1 2 Best of 10. This match has sometimes been called a world championship match,[9] but research by Edward Winter demonstrates that the title was not at stake.[10]
1992  FR Yugoslavia Sveti Stefan
Belgrade
Bobby Fischer Boris Spassky 10 5 15 First to reach 10 wins, draws not counting. Fischer claimed this was a world championship.[11]

Multiple-title champions

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Unofficial championships are not counted.

Titles Player Country
6 Emanuel Lasker German Empire German Empire
Anatoly Karpov (3 during split title) Soviet Union Soviet Union
Russia Russia
Garry Kasparov (2 during split title) Soviet Union Soviet Union
Russia Russia
5 Mikhail Botvinnik Soviet Union Soviet Union
Magnus Carlsen Norway Norway
Viswanathan Anand (1 during split title) India India
4 Wilhelm Steinitz Austria-Hungary Austrian Empire
United States United States
Alexander Alekhine France France
3 Vladimir Kramnik (2 during split title) Russia Russia
2 Tigran Petrosian Soviet Union Soviet Union

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j In the case of a tie, the title defender retains the world championship.
  2. ^ There is dispute over whether Lasker would keep the title in the case of a 1 point win by Schlechter, and even question over whether the match was for the world championship. See World Chess Championship 1910 (Lasker–Schlechter) for discussion.
  3. ^ Nepomniachtchi is Russian, but competed as a neutral competitor under the Chess Federation of Russia flag, due to WADA sanctions against Russia.[8]
  4. ^ Since Magnus Carlsen decided not to defend his World Championship title, the 2023 world championship was contested between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, the winner and runner-up of the Candidates Tournament 2022.
  5. ^ Nepomniachtchi is Russian, but competed under the FIDE flag due to the ban of Russian and Belarusian flags by FIDE due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

References

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  1. ^ "Chess World Champions List". 22 September 2021.
  2. ^ "History of Chess | Who Invented Chess". 8 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Chess World Champions List". 22 September 2021.
  4. ^ "History of Chess | Who Invented Chess". 8 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Chess World Champions List". 22 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Chess World Champions List". 22 September 2021.
  7. ^ "History of Chess | Who Invented Chess". 8 May 2019.
  8. ^ Nepomniachtchi Can't Play Carlsen Under Russian Flag, Peter Doggers, chess.com, April 30 2021.
  9. ^ For instance: "From Morphy to Fischer", Israel Horowitz, Batsford 1973, p. 64; "The Centenary Match - Kasparov-Karpov III", Raymond Keene and David Goodman, Batsford 1986
  10. ^ Chess Notes 5199, by Edward Winter
  11. ^ "World Chess Championship : 1992 Fischer – Spassky Rematch". Mark-weeks.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.

Further reading

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  • Davidson, Henry A. (1949, 1981). A Short History of Chess. McKay. ISBN 0-679-14550-8.
  • Barcza, Alföldy, Kapu: Die Weltmeister des Schachspiels. Hamburg 1975
  • Jens Enevoldsen: Verdens bedste Skak, Politiken (Denmark) 1966