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.
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
Unofficial Championships (before 1886)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 In the case of a tie, the title defender retains the world championship.
↑ 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.
↑ Nepomniachtchi is Russian, but competed as a neutral competitor under the Chess Federation of Russia flag, due to WADA sanctions against Russia.[8]
↑ 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.
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↑ 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
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