Photograph of Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900) was the first person to be generally recognised as the World Champion of Chess, a title earned by his victory over Johann Zukertort in 1886 and held until 1894 when he was defeated by Emanuel Lasker. The date of this photograph was that on which the 6th game of the Lasker match was played at the Union Square Hotel, New York, after which the match moved to Philadelphia. The back of the photo is signed as follows: Union Square Hotel, March 30th 1894 Yours very truly W Steinitz To Professor A. Brodsky.