4 Game-Changing World Chess Championship Matches

Chess history is rich with epic battles and pivotal moments that have shaped the game we know today. In this text, we delve into four world championship matches that stand as significant milestones: the inaugural official match of 1886, the iconic "Match of the Century" in 1972, the intense unlimited match of 1984, and the latest thrilling contest in 2023.

In 1884, negotiations began between Johannes Zukertort, a Polish-born British chess master, and Wilhelm Steinitz, a Bohemian-Austrian (later American) player, to play the first official World Chess Championship match. With no International Chess Federation to supervise, the players had to secure their own funding and organization. After three years, they finally reached an agreement, and the match took place in 1886.

This was the first time a chess match was recognized as a world championship. Before, several unofficial matches took place, such as the famous contests between Howard Staunton and Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant in 1843, and Adolf Anderssen against various opponents. These matches were major contests but lacked official status. Now, the champion had to be defeated in a formal match to relinquish the title, creating a clear line of succession and enhancing the prestige of the title.

In 1972, during the Cold War, Reykjavik, Iceland, became the world's focus as American challenger Bobby Fischer faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky in the "Match of the Century." The stakes were immense, with a record-breaking prize pool of $125,000, dwarfing other sports’ rewards. Yet, Fischer’s demands nearly derailed this historic encounter. Despite having already signed a contract, Fischer refused to start the match.

In an ironic twist, Fischer later found his final resting place in Reykjavik. A former fugitive from the U.S., he gained Icelandic citizenship in 2005 and lived there until his death in 2008. His legacy, especially the 1972 match, cemented Iceland's place in chess history.

Bobby Fischer ceased competing after his 1972 victory. Discontent with the proposed 1975 match conditions, he forfeited the world championship to Anatoly Karpov, who was proclaimed the 12th World Chess Champion without play.

This epic battle spanned 48 games over five months, becoming the lengthiest world championship match in history and the only one left unfinished.

The match began strongly for Karpov, who led 4-0 after nine games. Kasparov then found his stride, with the next 17 games ending in draws. Karpov won his fifth game in Game 27, nearly securing the title. He missed a winning opportunity in Game 31 and instead settled for a draw, subsequently losing the next game. Fourteen more draws followed over two months.

Kasparov then clinched back-to-back victories in Games 47 and 48, narrowing the score to 5-3 and seizing momentum. After five grueling months, Karpov reportedly lost 10 kilograms. FIDE President Florencio Campomanes intervened, halting the match over health concerns.

The 1984 match concluded the era of unlimited matches. Nowadays, the champion is decided over 14 games with classical time control and a rapid tiebreak in case of a 7-7 tie.

On October 31, 2022, the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen officially confirmed that he would not defend his title as Classical World Champion against his challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi. The era of Carlsen, who held the title since 2013 and firmly established himself as the world #1 player came to an end.

The Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren, the runner-up in the Candidates Tournament, received the unexpected opportunity to play for the highest recognition in the chess world. The match took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 9 April to 30 April 2023, and was a best of 14 games, plus tiebreaks. 

After draws in the first three games, Ding Liren played boldly and won with black in the final game to become the 17th World Chess Champion. After a succession of women's world chess champions, China has finally secured its first absolute world champion.

The 2023 world championship match marked a historic shift, not only ending the era of Carlsen but also establishing a momentous milestone for China. Both chess crowns now belong to the country: Ding Liren is the world champion, and Ju Wenjun is the women's world champion.