Wilhelm Steinitz - Chess Champion

Before 1886 there was no official championship.

World Chess Championship 1 - 1886
Wilhelm Steinitz versus Johannes Zukertort

Steinitz (world champion 1886 - 1894) was the first official world champion, because he won a match against Zukertort that was declared as a world chess championship.

Wilhelm Steinitz	Johannes Zukertort

You can replay the most important chess games from this match. These games are commented by Jan van Reek.
Replay Chess Games from match Steinitz - Zukertort

World Chess Championship 2 - 1889
Wilhelm Steinitz versus Mikhail Chigorin

Wilhelm Steinitz (USA) successfully defended his world title versus Mikhail Chigorin (Russian Empire) 1889 in Havana, reaching first 10½. He won the match 10½-6½. Replay the games below. Some of the games are commented by Jan van Reek.

World Chess Championship 3 - 1890
Wilhelm Steinitz - Isidor Gunsberg

The chess professional Gunsberg (Austria-Ungary) who was one of the best players worldwide in the late 1880s challenged Steinitz for the world title. Steinitz won the match with six wins, four losses, and nine draws.

Replay games below. Some are commented by Jan van Reek.

World Chess Championship 4 - 1892
Steinitz versus Chigorin - Rematch

Again Wilhelm Steinitz (USA) successfully defended his world title versus Mikhail Chigorin (Russian Empire) 1892 in Havana.
Results: 12.5 - 10.5.
You can replay the games below. Commented by Jan van Reek.