World Chess Championship 1896–1897

The World Chess Championship 1896–1897 was a match for the World Chess Championship, contested between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz. It was played in Moscow between November 6, 1896, and January 14, 1897. Lasker won by a score of 10 wins to 2 (with 5 draws), thus retaining his title.

World Chess Championship 1896–1897
 
Defending champion
Challenger
 
Emanuel Lasker
Emanuel Lasker
Wilheilm Steinitz
Wilheilm Steinitz
  German Empire Emanuel Lasker United States Wilhelm Steinitz
 
12½Scores
  Born 24 December 1868
27/28 years old
Born 14 May 1836
60 years old
← 1894
1907 →

Background

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Lasker had won the world title from Steinitz in 1894, and this was his first time defending the world title. At the Saint Petersburg 1895–96 chess tournament, Steinitz came second behind Lasker, ahead of other potential challengers Harry Nelson Pillsbury and Mikhail Chigorin. This allowed Steinitz to raise support for a rematch.[1]

Results

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The first player to win 10 games would be champion. Lasker won by 10 games to 2, with 5 draws.

World Chess Championship Match 1897
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Wins Total
  William Steinitz (United States) 0 0 0 0 = 0 = = = 0 0 1 1 0 = 0 0 2
  Emanuel Lasker (Germany) 1 1 1 1 = 1 = = = 1 1 0 0 1 = 1 1 10 12½
Steinitz–Lasker, game 17
abcdefgh
8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Steinitz played 35.Qc3?, allowing Lasker to play 36...Bxg2! 37.Kxg2 Qc6+ 38.Re4 Rxe4 39.Rxe4 Qxe4+, winning a decisive advantage and retaining the Championship.

References

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  1. ^ Israel Horowitz, From Morphy to Fischer, Batsford, 1973, page 52
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