Steinitz, William (1836–1900)

Czech-born US chess player who went to the USA in 1883. In 1866 he was recognized as the world chess champion. He edited the International Chess Magazine, wrote chess columns, and published a basic text, The Modern Chess Instructor (1889, 1895). He lost the world championship in 1894.

He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Discovering an interest and talent for chess while a student in Vienna, he began to devote his life to the game. He was resident in England from 1862, where he edited a chess column in an English magazine while defending his world championship. When he eventually lost the championship he was so disturbed that he spent much of the rest of his life in mental institutions.