Today in Chess | Historic Championships: Wilhelm Steinitz's Matches

Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley, and WGM Jen Shahade discuss the World Chess Championships 1886 through 1894: the reign of the first world king, Wilhelm Steinitz.
USChessChamps.com

[@weignerleigner3037]

Looking at his games I’m surprised people will say he’s not good.

[@donaldmetzger8238]

One of the problems that Steinitz had with calling himself the "World Champion" was that as long as Morphy was still alive ... and he was until 1884, ... there would always be some question, as with Fischer (but Fischer at least had an obligation to defend his "title," and was somewhat embarrassed by a performance rating below 2700 in the 1992 rematch with Spassky, who was not nearly top 20 anymore). Once Morphy passed on, Steinitz could arrange the title match.

[@vibovitold]

performance is calculated in relation to your opponent's rating, so it doesn't matter if Spassky himself wasn't in the top 20 anymore. the lower Spassky's rating, the better result Fischer had to achieve to get the same performance. Fischer himself - based on his performance in this match - would make the 12th position back in 1992. there were only four 2700+ players at that time (Kasparov, Ivanchuk, Karpov and Shirov). of course Fischer was past his prime and rusty, but to quit competitive chess for 20 years and STILL play on par with the world's #12?? that is quite a feat. to think how strong Fischer would still be if he hadn't retired.

[@leyvi393]

Im the world champion!!

[@slink66]

Well done, mate

[@alfmalf3310]

Congratulations showed your class in the tie break

[@gsp_admirador]

Nice video!

[@themotivatedgardenergarden7822]

Nice chat and long live the king MC

[@DanteSenior04]

Could you publish all the fireside Chats ?

[@chotirawee]

Did they finish the last game of the match at New Orleans as some kind of a tribute to Morphy? (because although Morphy had died, New Orleans is his hometown)

[@ramushsteinuts9318]

first like is mine yes

[@slink66]

No more draw anymore !

[@raiduk]

what

[@georgesia9990]

The lady interrupts at key points sometimes.