[blind-chess] US Chess History Article #1
- From: Roderick Macdonald <rmacd@xxxxxxxx>
- To: Blind Chess Mailing List <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 20:47:58 -1000 (HST)
US Chess History Article #1
WILLIAM STEINITZ - THE AMERICAN WORLD CHAMPION
by R. John McCrary
Most chess players know Wilhelm Steinitz as an Austrian
player who became the first official world champion. But few chess players
know that Steinitz was an American (and proud of it!) during his
championship years and his last years, and that he accordingly came to
call himself William rather than Wilhelm.
Wilhelm Steinitz was one of the most influential chess players in the
history of the game. He established the modern world championship by
winning the first formal match ever held for that title against Zukertort
in 1886; he held the world title until losing it in 1894 to Lasker. He
helped develop the science of chess strategy, and he did far more to
popularize chess through his tireless journalism than most people realize.
But Steinitz would be disappointed indeed if he came back to the US
nowadays and found that he is remembered as a foreign champion from
Austria. In fact, Steinitz spent the last seventeen years of his life as a
proud resident and citizen of the United States, and he was a major factor
in the development of chess in this country.
Steinitz was born in Austria but moved for a number of years to England.
He visited the United States in late 1882 and took an immediate liking to
this country. Soon, he was a permanent resident of the New York- New
Jersey area. As early as February 1886, as he prepared for his world
championship match, he said in his International Chess Magazine: " I would
rather die in America than live in England." He added, " I would rather
lose a match in America than win one in England." (He then humorously
added: " I have come to the conclusion that I neither mean to die soon or
to lose the match!")
Steinitz made it clear from the moment he became the first official world
champion that he considered himself to be an American champion. Shortly
after defeating Zukertort in the world title match, Steinitz addressed
these remarks to the New York Chess Club: " Mr. Steinitz concluded by
stating that altogether he was so much indebted to America and felt
himself so much at home in the new country, that he intended to apply for
the American citizenship at the earliest opportunity."
In an editorial in his International Chess Magazine ( May 1886 issue), the
newly-crowned official champion had this to say: " At the earliest
opportunity after the issue of the present double number I shall accord to
myself the honor of inscribing myself as an applicant for the American
citizenship which according to law I can obtain only after five years
residence in this country. And I shall yield to no one of my future
countrymen in patriotism... I consider America now my real home."
Steinitz' desire to become an American finally was realized on November
23, 1888. This simple notice appeared in the December 1888 issue of The
International Chess Magazine: " On the 23d ult. Mr. Steinitz was sworn in
as a citizen of the United States. The Veteran Mr. Perrin was his sponsor
to testify to Mr. Steinitz's having resided for five years in the State of
New York."
Thus, no longer should we Americans regard Steinitz as a foreign champion.
He joins Bobby Fischer as a world champion from the United States.
--------------------
copyright U.S. Chess Hall of Fame
All rights reserved
http://www.excaliburelectronics.com/uschf.html
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