Adolf Anderssen

Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen (July 6, 1818 - March 13, 1879) was a famous German chess master, one of the most renowned of the classic masters of 19th century chess. He had a long and distinguished chess career, at times considered the leading player in the world, and world famous for his sparkling play even today.

London 1862

Three years after being defeated by Morphy, Anderssen came back and won London 1862, the first international round-robin event (in which each participant plays a game against all the others) with a score of twelve wins out of thirteen games, losing only to John Owen.

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In 1866 he played and lost a close match(6:8) with young Wilhelm Steinitz(30 year-old). The match introduced a number of new ideas to the field of chess strategy. A few modern writers say that after the match Steinitz was the world champion, but the players themselves did not make any such claim, nor did anybody else at the time. Later Anderssen lost a second match against Steinitz.

Related Topics:
Wilhelm Steinitz - Chess strategy

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Anderssen was generally well liked and considered very honest. Steinitz wrote: "Anderssen was honest and honourable to the core. Without fear or favour he straightforwardly gave his opinion, and his sincere disinterestedness became so patent....that his word alone was usuallly sufficient to quell disputes...for he had often given his decision in favour of a rival..."

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