Wilhelm Steinitz was a foundational figure in the history of chess, serving as the first official World Chess Champion from 1886 to 1894. Born in Prague, he originally made a name for himself with a daring, “romantic” attacking style, but his most enduring legacy is the revolutionary shift he brought to chess theory. Steinitz was the first to formalize the idea of positional play, arguing that a successful attack must be preceded by the accumulation of small, strategic advantages. His “Steinitzian” principles—such as the importance of pawn structure, the power of the bishop pair, and the concept of the “permanent advantage”—transformed chess from a series of wild gambits into a rigorous, scientific discipline.

Despite his immense contributions to the game, Steinitz’s later years were marked by financial hardship and declining mental health. After losing his title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894,