Steinitz – Chigorin World Championship Match 1889

dates: 20 January–24 February 1889
location: Havana, Cuba
score: 10½–6½ (Steinitz–Chigorin)
winner: Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm Steinitz in a historical portrait by Fritz Schumann. The portrait is not identified as a photograph from this match. Photo: Fritz Schumann / Cleveland Public Library, via DPLA.

Steinitz chose Mikhail Chigorin as his challenger for a title defence in Havana. Their first championship meeting followed the inaugural Steinitz–Zukertort match of 1886. The scheduled twenty-game contest required 10½ points for victory.

Steinitz retained the title after seventeen games, winning ten and losing six. Only one game was drawn. That unusually high proportion of decisive games makes the collection a sustained exercise in handling changing positions from either side.

All 17 played games appear below in match order. The game records preserve the archive’s player names, round numbers and dates, including unknown date components. Select either player in the embedded trainer to work through the decisions from that side. A drawn game remains a complete exercise for both players.

Wilhelm Steinitz's Profile

Match results

Steinitz – Chigorin World Championship Match 1889 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Game 16	Game 17	Points
Wilhelm Steinitz	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	½	10½
Mikhail Chigorin	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	½	6½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 17.

Completed 0 / 17

Game 1: Game 1: Chigorin wins in 58 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Mikhail Chigorin won with White after 58 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 58.Kh4. The running points score became 0–1 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: Steinitz wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.Ne5 Bh5 4.Qd3 Qc8 (ECO D02). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38.Ra6. The running points score became 1–1 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: Chigorin wins in 83 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). Mikhail Chigorin won with White after 83 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 83.Rh8. The running points score became 1–2 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	83	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Steinitz wins in 22 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Bxf3 4.gxf3 e6 (ECO D02). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 22 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 22.Bxe4. The running points score became 2–2 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	22	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: Steinitz wins in 26 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 26 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 26...Qc4. The running points score became 3–2 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 2nd	1889	26	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: Chigorin wins in 37 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Bxf3 4.gxf3 dxc4 (ECO D02). Mikhail Chigorin won with Black after 37 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 37...Qc1+. The running points score became 3–3 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 0-1	World Championship 2nd	1889	37	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Chigorin wins in 34 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Mikhail Chigorin won with White after 34 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 34.Ne4. The running points score became 3–4 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Steinitz wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 (ECO D46). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38.d7. The running points score became 4–4 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: Steinitz wins in 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56...Rf1. The running points score became 5–4 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 2nd	1889	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: Steinitz wins in 27 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Nc6 4.e3 e5 (ECO D07). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 27 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 27.Qxa5. The running points score became 6–4 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Chigorin wins in 31 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Mikhail Chigorin won with White after 31 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 31.Rd7. The running points score became 6–5 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: Steinitz wins in 61 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Nc6 4.e3 e6 (ECO D07). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 61 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 61.Rf7. The running points score became 7–5 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Chigorin wins in 64 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Mikhail Chigorin won with White after 64 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 64.Qxe5. The running points score became 7–6 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	64	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: Steinitz wins in 35 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bg4 3.c4 Nc6 4.e3 e5 (ECO D07). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 35 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 35.Rxg7+. The running points score became 8–6 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: Steinitz wins in 36 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 36 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 36...Re4. The running points score became 9–6 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 2nd	1889	36	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: Steinitz wins in 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.Nf3 f5 2.d4 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Be7 (ECO A85). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52.Re2. The running points score became 10–6 (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Mikhail Chigorin 1-0	World Championship 2nd	1889	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: a draw after 70 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 (ECO C52). The players drew after 70 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 70...Ke6. The running points score became 10½–6½ (Steinitz–Chigorin).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Mikhail Chigorin – William Steinitz 1/2-1/2	World Championship 2nd	1889	70	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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