Wikipedia:Today's featured list/November 22, 2024
The World Chess Championship has taken several distinct forms since Wilhelm Steinitz defeated Johannes Zukertort in an 1886 match to become the first undisputed World Chess Champion. Following a period of private organization and sponsorship, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) began organizing Championship events under its auspices following the end of World War II, instituting a regular cycle of tournaments held to determine the challenger for each Championship match. In the 1990s, FIDE faced competition with the Classical Chess Championship inaugurated by former FIDE Champion Garry Kasparov, and began experimenting with the format by organizing several Championships as tournaments instead of as matches. The title was ultimately reunited under FIDE via the World Chess Championship 2006, where the Classical Champion Vladimir Kramnik defeated the FIDE Champion Veselin Topalov in match play. (Full list...)