Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm (later William) Steinitz (May 17, 1836–August 12 1900) was an Austrian chess player and the first official world chess champion. Known for his original contributions to chess strategy such as his ideas on positional play, his theories were held in high regard by such disparate chess players as Aron Nimzowitsch, Siegbert Tarrasch, and Emanuel Lasker.

References

• World chess champions by Edward G. Winter, editor. 1981 ISBN 0080249041