# History of World Chess Championships

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.

## Overview

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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.

## 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.
The key figures were :François-André Danican Philidor (1726–1795), Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais (1795–1840), Howard Staunton (1810–1874), Adolf Anderssen (1818–1879), Paul Morphy (1837–1884), Wilhelm Steinitz (1836–1900).
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.
| Year | Host country | Host city | Winner | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| 1834 | United Kingdom | London | Louis de La Bourdonnais | Alexander McDonnell | 45 | 27 | 13 | |
| 1843 | United Kingdom and France | London (6 rounds) Paris (21 rounds) | Howard Staunton | Pierre Saint-Amant | 13 | 9 | 5 | |
| 1846 | United Kingdom | London | Howard Staunton (2) | Bernhard Horwitz | 14 | 7 | 3 | |
| 1851 | United Kingdom | London | Adolf Anderssen | Marmaduke Wyvill | 4 | 2 | 1 | single-elimination tournament, best-of-7 final |
| 1858 | France | Paris | Paul Morphy | Adolf Anderssen | 7 | 2 | 2 | first to 7 wins |
| 1862 | United Kingdom | London | Adolf Anderssen (2) | Louis Paulsen | 11 | 1 | 1 | round robin tournament, 14 players |
| 1866 | United Kingdom | London | Wilhelm Steinitz | Adolf Anderssen | 8 | 6 | 0 | best of 15 games |
| 1872 | United Kingdom | London | Wilhelm Steinitz (2) | Johannes Zukertort | 7 | 1 | 4 | first to 7 wins |
| 1876 | United Kingdom | London | Wilhelm Steinitz (3) | Joseph Henry Blackburne | 7 | 0 | 0 | first to 7 wins |
| 1883 | United Kingdom | London | Johannes Zukertort | Wilhelm Steinitz | 22 | 4 | 0 | double round robin tournament, 14 players |

### Pre-FIDE World Championships (1886–1946)

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.
Key champions: Wilhelm Steinitz (1886–1894), Emanuel Lasker (1894–1921), José Raúl Capablanca (1921–1927), Alexander Alekhine (1927–1946), Max Euwe (1935–1937).
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.
| Year | Host country | Host city | World champion | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| 1886 | United States | New York City St. Louis New Orleans | Wilhelm Steinitz | Johannes Zukertort | 10 | 5 | 5 | first to 10 wins |
| 1889 | Spain | Havana | Wilhelm Steinitz (2) | Mikhail Chigorin | 10 | 6 | 1 | best of 20 games + tiebreak (if required) |
| 1890–1891 | United States | New York City | Wilhelm Steinitz (3) | Isidor Gunsberg | 6 | 4 | 9 | best of 20 games + tiebreak (if required) |
| 1892 | Spain | Havana | Wilhelm Steinitz (4) | Mikhail Chigorin | 8+2 | 8 | 4+1 | best of 20 games + tiebreak (if required) |
| 1894 | United States and Canada | New York City Philadelphia Montreal | Emanuel Lasker | Wilhelm Steinitz | 10 | 5 | 4 | first to 10 wins |
| 1896–1897 | Russian Empire | Moscow | Emanuel Lasker (2) | Wilhelm Steinitz | 10 | 2 | 5 | first to 10 wins |
| 1907 | United States | 6 cities New York City Philadelphia Washington, D.C. Baltimore Chicago Memphis | Emanuel Lasker (3) | Frank Marshall | 8 | 0 | 7 | first to 8 wins |
| 1908 | German Empire | Düsseldorf Munich | Emanuel Lasker (4) | Siegbert Tarrasch | 8 | 3 | 5 | first to 8 wins |
| 1910 | Austria-Hungary and German Empire | Vienna Berlin | Emanuel Lasker (5) | Carl Schlechter | 1 | 1 | 8 | best of 10; disputed whether challenger had to win by 1 or 2 points |
| 1910 | German Empire | Berlin | Emanuel Lasker (6) | Dawid Janowski | 8 | 0 | 3 | first to 8 wins |
| 1921 | Cuba | Havana | José Raúl Capablanca | Emanuel Lasker | 4 | 0 | 10 | best of 24 games; Emanuel Lasker resigned after 14 games |
| 1927 | Argentina | Buenos Aires | Alexander Alekhine | José Raúl Capablanca | 6 | 3 | 25 | first to 6 wins |
| 1929 | Germany and Netherlands | 6 cities Wiesbaden Heidelberg Berlin The Hague Rotterdam Amsterdam | Alexander Alekhine (2) | Efim Bogoljubow | 11 | 5 | 9 | first to 6 wins and 15 points |
| 1934 | German Reich | 10 cities Baden-Baden Villingen Freiburg im Breisgau Pforzheim Stuttgart Munich Bayreuth Bad Kissingen Mannheim Berlin | Alexander Alekhine (3) | Efim Bogoljubow | 8 | 3 | 15 | first to 6 wins and 15 points |
| 1935 | Netherlands | 13 cities Amsterdam Delft Rotterdam Utrecht Gouda The Hague Groningen Baarn Den Bosch Eindhoven Zeist Ermelo Zandvoort | Max Euwe | Alexander Alekhine | 9 | 8 | 13 | first to 6 wins and 15 points |
| 1937 | Netherlands | 7 cities The Hague Rotterdam Amsterdam Haarlem Leiden Groningen Delft | Alexander Alekhine (4) | Max Euwe | 10 | 4 | 11 | first to 6 wins and 15 points |

### FIDE World Championships (1948–1990)

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.
| Year | Host country | Host city | World champion | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| 1948 | Netherlands and Soviet Union | The Hague Moscow | Mikhail Botvinnik | Vasily Smyslov | 14 points out of 20 | 14 points out of 20 | 14 points out of 20 | 5-player, 5-cycle round-robin tournament |
| 1951 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Mikhail Botvinnik (2) | David Bronstein | 5 | 5 | 14 | best of 24 games |
| 1954 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Mikhail Botvinnik (3) | Vasily Smyslov | 7 | 7 | 10 | best of 24 games |
| 1957 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Vasily Smyslov | Mikhail Botvinnik | 6 | 3 | 13 | best of 24 games |
| 1958 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Mikhail Botvinnik (4) | Vasily Smyslov | 7 | 5 | 11 | best of 24 games |
| 1960 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Mikhail Tal | Mikhail Botvinnik | 6 | 2 | 13 | best of 24 games |
| 1961 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Mikhail Botvinnik (5) | Mikhail Tal | 10 | 5 | 6 | best of 24 games |
| 1963 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Tigran Petrosian | Mikhail Botvinnik | 5 | 2 | 15 | best of 24 games |
| 1966 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Tigran Petrosian (2) | Boris Spassky | 4 | 3 | 17 | best of 24 games |
| 1969 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Boris Spassky | Tigran Petrosian | 6 | 4 | 13 | best of 24 games |
| 1972 | Iceland | Reykjavík | Bobby Fischer | Boris Spassky | 7 | 3 | 11 | best of 24 games |
| 1975 | Philippines | Manila | Anatoly Karpov | Bobby Fischer | by default | by default | by default | by default |
| 1978 | Philippines | Baguio | Anatoly Karpov (2) | Viktor Korchnoi | 6 | 5 | 21 | first to 6 wins |
| 1981 | Italy | Merano | Anatoly Karpov (3) | Viktor Korchnoi | 6 | 2 | 10 | first to 6 wins |
| 1984–1985 | Soviet Union | Moscow | No winner | Anatoly Karpov / Garry Kasparov | 5 | 3 | 40 | first to 6 wins; unfinished match |
| 1985 | Soviet Union | Moscow | Garry Kasparov | Anatoly Karpov | 5 | 3 | 16 | best of 24 games |
| 1986 | United Kingdom and Soviet Union | London Leningrad | Garry Kasparov (2) | Anatoly Karpov | 5 | 4 | 15 | best of 24 games |
| 1987 | Spain | Seville | Garry Kasparov (3) | Anatoly Karpov | 4 | 4 | 16 | best of 24 games |
| 1990 | United States and France | New York City Lyon | Garry Kasparov (4) | Anatoly Karpov | 4 | 3 | 17 | best of 24 games |

### Split title (1993–2006)

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.
| Year | Host country | Host city | World champion | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| Classical World Chess Championships (1993–2006) |||||||||
| 1993 | United Kingdom | London | Garry Kasparov (5) | Nigel Short | 6 | 1 | 13 | best of 24 |
| 1995 | United States | New York City | Garry Kasparov (6) | Viswanathan Anand | 4 | 1 | 13 | best of 20 |
| 2000 | United Kingdom | London | Vladimir Kramnik | Garry Kasparov | 2 | 0 | 13 | best of 16 |
| 2004 | Switzerland | Brissago | Vladimir Kramnik (2) | Peter Leko | 2 | 2 | 10 | best of 14 |
| FIDE World Chess Championships (1993–2006) |||||||||
| 1993 | Netherlands and Indonesia | Zwolle Arnhem Amsterdam Jakarta | Anatoly Karpov (4) | Jan Timman | 6 | 2 | 13 | best of 24 |
| 1996 | Russia | Elista | Anatoly Karpov (5) | Gata Kamsky | 6 | 3 | 9 | best of 20 |
| 1998 | Netherlands and Switzerland | Groningen Lausanne | Anatoly Karpov (6) | Viswanathan Anand | 2+2 | 2 | 2 | single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks |
| 1999 | United States | Las Vegas | Alexander Khalifman | Vladimir Akopian | 2 | 1 | 3 | single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks |
| 2000 | India and Iran | New Delhi Tehran | Viswanathan Anand | Alexei Shirov | 3 | 0 | 1 | single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks |
| 2002 | Russia | Moscow | Ruslan Ponomariov | Vasyl Ivanchuk | 2 | 0 | 5 | single-elimination tournament with finals best of 8 + tiebreaks |
| 2004 | Libya | Tripoli | Rustam Kasimdzhanov | Michael Adams | 2+1 | 2 | 2+1 | single-elimination tournament with finals best of 6 + tiebreaks |
| 2005 | Argentina | Potrero de los Funes San Luis | Veselin Topalov | Viswanathan Anand Peter Svidler | 10 points out of 14 | 10 points out of 14 | 10 points out of 14 | 8-player double round-robin tournament |

### FIDE World Championships (2006–present)

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.
| Year | Host country | Host city | World champion | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| 2006 | Russia | Elista | Vladimir Kramnik (3) | Veselin Topalov | 3+2 | 3+1 | 6+1 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2007 | Mexico | Mexico City | Viswanathan Anand (2) | Vladimir Kramnik Boris Gelfand | 9 points out of 14 | 9 points out of 14 | 9 points out of 14 | 8-player double round-robin tournament |
| 2008 | Germany | Bonn | Viswanathan Anand (3) | Vladimir Kramnik | 3 | 1 | 7 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2010 | Bulgaria | Sofia | Viswanathan Anand (4) | Veselin Topalov | 3 | 2 | 7 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2012 | Russia | Moscow | Viswanathan Anand (5) | Boris Gelfand | 1+1 | 1 | 10+3 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2013 | India | Chennai | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 3 | 0 | 7 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2014 | Russia | Sochi | Magnus Carlsen (2) | Viswanathan Anand | 3 | 1 | 7 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2016 | United States | New York City | Magnus Carlsen (3) | Sergey Karjakin | 1+2 | 1 | 10+2 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2018 | United Kingdom | London | Magnus Carlsen (4) | Fabiano Caruana | 0+3 | 0 | 12 | best of 12 + tiebreaks |
| 2021 | United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Magnus Carlsen (5) | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 4 | 0 | 7 | best of 14 + tiebreaks |
| 2023 | Kazakhstan | Astana | Ding Liren | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 3+1 | 3 | 8+3 | best of 14 + tiebreaks |
| 2024 | Singapore | Singapore | Gukesh D. | Ding Liren | 3 | 2 | 9 | best of 14 + tiebreaks |

### Other events

| Year | Host country | Host city | Winner | Runner(s)-up | Won (+) | Lost (−) | Draw (=) | Format |
| Non-recognized World Chess Championships |||||||||
| 1909 | France | Paris | Emanuel Lasker | Dawid Janowski | 7 | 1 | 2 | Best of 10. This match has sometimes been called a world championship match, but research by Edward Winter demonstrates that the title was not at stake. |
| 1992 | FR Yugoslavia | Sveti Stefan Belgrade | Bobby Fischer | Boris Spassky | 10 | 5 | 15 | First to reach 10 wins, draws not counting. Fischer claimed this was a world championship. |

## Multiple-title champions

Unofficial championships are not counted.
| Titles | Player | Country |
| 6 | Emanuel Lasker | German Empire |
| 6 | Anatoly Karpov (3 during split title) | Soviet Union Russia |
| 6 | Garry Kasparov (2 during split title) | Soviet Union Russia |
| 5 | Mikhail Botvinnik | Soviet Union |
| 5 | Magnus Carlsen | Norway |
| 5 | Viswanathan Anand (1 during split title) | India |
| 4 | Wilhelm Steinitz | Austrian Empire United States |
| 4 | Alexander Alekhine | France |
| 3 | Vladimir Kramnik (2 during split title) | Russia |
| 2 | Tigran Petrosian | Soviet Union |