Steinitz – Lasker World Championship Match 1894

dates: 15 March–26 May 1894
location: New York and Philadelphia, United States; Montreal, Canada
score: 7–12 (Steinitz–Lasker)
winner: Emanuel Lasker

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.

Emanuel Lasker challenged Steinitz in a match spread across New York, Philadelphia and Montreal. The first player to win ten games would become champion; draws did not contribute to that target.

After an initially close opening, Lasker won five consecutive games from rounds 7 through 11. Steinitz recovered some ground but could not overturn the lead. Lasker won ten games to five, with four draws, to begin his world championship reign.

All 19 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 Emanuel Lasker's Profile

Match results

Steinitz – Lasker World Championship Match 1894 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	Game 18	Game 19	Points
Wilhelm Steinitz	0	1	0	1	½	½	0	0	0	0	0	½	1	1	0	0	1	½	0	7
Emanuel Lasker	1	0	1	0	½	½	1	1	1	1	1	½	0	0	1	1	0	½	1	12

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 19.

Completed 0 / 19

Game 1: Game 1: Lasker wins in 60 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 60 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 60.Ra4. The running points score became 0–1 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	60	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: Steinitz wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 (ECO C65). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42.Nf5. The running points score became 1–1 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: Lasker wins in 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52.f7. The running points score became 1–2 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Steinitz wins in 60 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (ECO C54). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 60 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 60.Rg1. The running points score became 2–2 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	60	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: a draw after 50 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). The players drew after 50 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 50.Kg4. The running points score became 2½–2½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1/2-1/2	World Championship 5th	1894	50	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: a draw after 71 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (ECO C54). The players drew after 71 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 71...Kf6. The running points score became 3–3 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 5th	1894	71	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Lasker wins in 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46.Qf6+. The running points score became 3–4 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: Lasker wins in 76 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (ECO C10). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 76 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 76...Qg5+. The running points score became 3–5 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 5th	1894	76	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: Lasker wins in 49 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.Nc3 a6 (ECO C46). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 49 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 49.b6. The running points score became 3–6 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: Lasker wins in 34 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 c5 (ECO D35). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 34 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 34...b5. The running points score became 3–7 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 5th	1894	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Lasker wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 (ECO D40). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38.Ke3. The running points score became 3–8 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: a draw after 48 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D60). The players drew after 48 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 48...Kb7. The running points score became 3½–8½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 5th	1894	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Steinitz wins in 55 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 (ECO C68). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 55 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 55...Kxf5. The running points score became 4½–8½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 5th	1894	55	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: Steinitz wins in 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 (ECO D46). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46.d6. The running points score became 5½–8½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: Lasker wins in 44 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 (ECO D40). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 44 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 44.Bd5. The running points score became 5½–9½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	44	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: Lasker wins in 54 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D60). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 54 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 54...Kg3. The running points score became 5½–10½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 5th	1894	54	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Steinitz wins in 51 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 (ECO C50). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 51 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 51...f5. The running points score became 6½–10½ (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 5th	1894	51	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: a draw after 61 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D67). The players drew after 61 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 61...Kd5. The running points score became 7–11 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 5th	1894	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Lasker wins in 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 (ECO D40). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52.Kc2. The running points score became 7–12 (Steinitz–Lasker).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 5th	1894	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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