Steinitz, Wilhelm




Ratings

Year       Rank    Edo    Dev.   Games 
1860  21  2478 (64) 7
1861  19  2503 (54) 2
1862  13  2546 (39) 49
1863  2592 (42) 24
1864  2603 (46) 23
1865  2624 (45) 11
1866  2653 (37) 54
1867  2671 (38) 49
1868  2693 (48) 0
1869  2716 (48) 6
1870  2725 (44) 21
1871  2755 (48) 0
1872  2786 (41) 33
1873  2760 (42) 32
1874  2746 (50) 14
1875  2760 (57) 0
1876  2773 (59) 7
1877  2759 (64) 0
1878  2744 (66) 0
1879  2730 (65) 0
1880  2715 (60) 0
1881  2701 (51) 0
1882  2686 (33) 68
1883  2676 (30) 89
1884  2669 (44) 1
1885  2682 (45) 11
1886  2673 (43) 20
1887  2692 (48) 0
1888  2712 (44) 31
1889  2674 (42) 22
1890  2658 (46) 0
1891  2642 (39) 32
1892  2636 (38) 30
1893  2619 (42) 12
1894  2630 (36) 39
1895  2612 (34) 27
1896  2621 (31) 48
1897  2595 (35) 22
1898  2595 (29) 63
1899  14  2519 (39) 26

Rating table notes

Biographical data
Name: Steinitz, Wilhelm  
   Also known as: William Steinitz; Wolf Steinitz
Born: 14 May 1836
Died: 12 Aug. 1900
 
Notes:
Cornil gives birth date as 14-05-1836; Alberti gives 18-05-1836; Sergeant and Gaige give 17-05-1836; La Stratégie (15 Oct. 1873, p.289) and a biography from the Oestereichische Schachzeitung, appearing in the Hartford Weekly Times of 30 Aug. 1873, the Deutsche Schachzeitung of Aug. 1873 (p.231), and the Illustrirte Zeitung of 5 Jul. 1873 (p.17), give 18-05-1837; Landsberger clarifies the source of the error (Steinitz himself) and confirms that the correct date is 14-05-1836. Harding, in Steinitz in London (p.13) gives a thorough discussion of the sources of the erroneous dates.
 
References
Books
   Cornil, Le Café de la Régence, page 249
   Di Felice, Chess Results, 1747-1900, page 28
   Feenstra Kuiper, 100 Jahre Schachturniere, page 289, 305
   Feenstra Kuiper, 100 Jahre Schachzweikämpfe, page 96
   Féry d'Esclands, Congrès des Échecs 1867, page lxii
   Forster, Amos Burn, page 27, 620, 969
   Forster, Negele and Tischbierek, Emanuel Lasker, Vol.I, page 46
   Gaige, Chess Personalia, page 406
   Golombek, Golombek's Encyclopedia, page 309
   Harding, Eminent Victorian Chess Players, page 160, 320, 369
   Harding, Joseph Henry Blackburne, page 183, 411, 580
   Harding, Steinitz in London
   Hooper and Whyld, Oxford Companion (1st ed.), page 330
   Landsberger, Steinitz Papers
   Landsberger, William Steinitz, page 3
   Murray, History of Chess, page 889
   Reichhelm and Shipley, Chess in Philadelphia, page 14
   Sánchez, José Raúl Capablanca, page 24, 483
   Sergeant, Century of British Chess, page 142
Periodicals
   [DSZ], vol. 28, no. 8, Aug. 1873, page 230
   [HWT], 30 Aug. 1873
   [HWT], 25 Oct. 1873
   [IZL], vol. 41, no. 1566, 5 July 1873, page 17
   [OSZ], vol. 2, no. 31, July 1873, page 215
   [Str], vol. 1, no. 7, 15 July 1867, page 147
   [Str], vol. 6, no. 10, 15 Oct. 1873, page 289
Web
   Alberti, Marco A.  [Wilhem Steinitz]
   Giffen, Glen.  [Steinitz, Wilhelm]
   Kingston, Taylor.  [Less Hype, More Notes], page 3
   Sericano, C.  [Maestri di scacchi dell'800]
   Steinitz, Wilhelm.  [1883 Interview with Steinitz on his Meeting Morphy]
   Winter, Edward.  [CN 4756. Census information]

Match data  (f=formal; c=casual; s=soft)

Steinitz, W. - Jenay, E. 1860         (f)     2   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Lang, A. 1860         (c)     3   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Strauss, R. 1860         (c)     3   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Reiner (1) 1860         (c)     3   -   0
Anderssen (offhand) - Steinitz, W. 1862         (s)     4   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Dubois, S. 1862         (f)     5.5   -   3.5
Paulsen, L. - Steinitz, W. 1862         (c)     0   -   2      Paulsen, L. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Bird, H.E. 1862         (c)     8   -   8
Steinitz, W. - Blackburne, J.H. 1863         (f)     8   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Deacon, F.H. 1863         (f)     5.5   -   1.5
Steinitz, W. - Mongredien, A. (1) 1863         (c)     7   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Green, V. 1864         (f)     8   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Healey, E. 1864 (1)         (f)     5   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Healey, E. 1864 (2)         (f)     5.5   -   1.5      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Hirschfeld, P.M. 1864         (c)     0.5   -   0.5
Steinitz, W. - Robey, J. 1865         (f)     4   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Wayte, W. 1865         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - de Vere, C.V. 1866         (f)     4   -   8      Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Anderssen, K.E.A. 1866         (f)     8   -   6
Steinitz, W. - Bird, H.E. 1866         (f)     9.5   -   7.5
Steinitz, W. - Fraser, G.B. 1867 (1)         (f)     7.5   -   1.5      Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Fraser, G.B. 1867 (2)         (f)     4   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Blackburne, J.H. 1869         (f)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Blackburne, J.H. 1870         (f)     1.5   -   0.5
Rosenthal, S. - Steinitz, W. 1870         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Zukertort, J.H. 1872         (f)     9   -   3
Paulsen, L. - Steinitz, W. 1873         (c)     3   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Bode, C.H. 1874         (f)     9.5   -   3.5      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Blackburne, J.H. 1876         (f)     7   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Martinez, D.M. 1882 (1)         (f)     7   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Martinez, D.M. 1882 (2)         (f)     4.5   -   2.5
Steinitz, W. - Kaiser, J.A. 1882         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Michaelis, O.E. 1882         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Thompson, D.S. 1882 (1)         (c)     3   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Miller, E.H. 1882         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Thompson, D.S. 1882 (2)         (c)     2   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of the move
Steinitz, W. - Shipley, W.P. 1882         (f)     0.5   -   0.5
Steinitz, W. - Labatt, L.L. 1882         (f)     3   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Sellman, A.G. 1882         (f)     3.5   -   1.5
Steinitz, W. - Maurian, C.A. 1883         (c)     6.5   -   0.5
Steinitz, W. - McConnell, Ja. (1) 1883         (c)     11.5   -   3.5
Steinitz, W. - Wibray, J. 1883         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Farrar, E.H. 1883         (c)     0   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Mackenzie, G.H. 1883         (f)     4   -   2
Steinitz, W. - Schloestein, R. 1883         (c)     0   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a rook
Steinitz, W. - Delmar, E. (1) 1883         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Teed, F.M. 1883         (c)     0.5   -   1.5
Steinitz, W. - Golmayo, C.F. 1883         (f)     8.5   -   1.5
Steinitz, W. - Martinez, D.M. 1883         (f)     10   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Elson, J. 1883         (c)     2   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Eno, W.F. 1884         (c)     0   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Sellman, A.G. 1885         (f)     3   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Young, F.K. 1885 (1)         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Young, F.K. 1885 (2)         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Paine, W.C. 1885         (c)     2   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Snow, C.B. 1885         (c)     2   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Everett, W. 1885         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Sargent, H.S. 1885         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Harlow, F.P. 1885         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Worrall, Ms. H.J. 1885         (c)     0   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Zukertort, J.H. 1886         (f)     12.5   -   7.5
Steinitz, W. - Golmayo, C.F. 1888 (1)         (f)     5   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Vazquez, A.C. 1888 (1)         (f)     5   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Ponce, A. 1888         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Gavilan, A. 1888         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Golmayo, C.F. 1888 (2)         (c)     4   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Vazquez, A.C. 1888 (2)         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Lopez, G. 1888 (1)         (c)     0   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a rook
Steinitz, W. - Lopez, G. 1888 (2)         (c)     5   -   4      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Judd, Max 1888         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Carvajal, V.M. 1889         (c)     4   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Chigorin, M.I. 1889         (f)     10.5   -   6.5
Steinitz, W. - Gunsberg, I.A. 1891         (f)     10.5   -   8.5
Steinitz, W. - Lipschutz, S. 1891         (c)     12   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Chigorin, M.I. 1892         (f)     12.5   -   10.5
Steinitz, W. - Pillsbury, H.N. 1892         (c)     1   -   2      Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Barry, J.F. 1892         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Dresel, E.L. 1892         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
Steinitz, W. - Sargent, H.S. 1892         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Winslow 1892         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Sanford, G.W. 1892         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Robertson, D.C. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Bemrose, J. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Hall, W.A. 1893         (c)     1   -   0      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Short, R. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Barry, P. 1893         (c)     1   -   1      Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Steinitz, W. - Fleming, R.P. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Robertson, E.A. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Babson, J.N. 1893         (c)     1   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Sanderson, E. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - MacLeod, N.M. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Pope, E. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Chalk, W. 1893         (c)     1   -   0
Lasker, Em. - Steinitz, W. 1894         (f)     12   -   7
Steinitz, W. - Ettlinger, A.K. 1894         (f)     10   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Lipschutz, S. 1895         (c)     3.5   -   2.5
Steinitz, W. - Solovtsov, A.V. 1896         (c)     1   -   0
Schiffers, E.S. - Steinitz, W. 1896         (f)     4.5   -   6.5
Lasker, Em. - Steinitz, W. 1897         (f)     12.5   -   4.5
Steinitz, W. - Ettlinger, A.K. 1898         (c)     2   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Showalter, J.W. 1898         (c)     2   -   1
Steinitz, W. - Hymes, E. 1898         (c)     1.5   -   0.5
Steinitz, W. - Richardson, P. 1898         (c)     1.5   -   0.5
Steinitz, W. - de Visser, W.M. 1898         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Halpern, J.C. 1898         (c)     1   -   0
Steinitz, W. - Rocamora, S.R. 1898         (c)     1   -   0

Tournament data

Vienna 1861     Vienna Club Tournament    
  Steinitz, W. - Harrwitz, D.     0 - 2    
Vienna 1862     Vienna Free Tournament     30  /  31
London, England 1862 (3)     British Chess Association Congress - Grand Tournament     7.5  /  14
  Steinitz, W. - Dubois, S.     0 - 1    
Dublin 1865     Dublin Masters Tournament     4.5  /  5
London, England 1866 (2)     British Chess Association Handicap Tournament    
  Steinitz, W. - de Vere, C.V.     3 - 1    
  Steinitz, W. - MacDonnell, G.A.     2 - 0    
  Steinitz, W. - Mocatta, A.     2.5 - 0.5          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
  Steinitz, W. - Green, S.J.     2 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and two moves
Paris 1867 (1)     International Chess Congress - Grand Tournament     17.5  /  22
Dundee 1867 (1)     Dundee Tournament     7  /  9
Dundee 1867 (3)     Dundee Handicap Tournament    
  Steinitz, W. - Keating, W.H.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
  Steinitz, W. - Scott, P.     1.5 - 0.5          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
London, England 1869 (1)     British Chess Association Handicap Tournament    
  Steinitz, W. - Gossip, G.H.D.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of the move
  Steinitz, W. - Franklin, W.L.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and two moves
  Steinitz, W. - Haggard, H.D.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
  Steinitz, W. - Mongredien, A. (2)     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
  Steinitz, W. - Wisker, J.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of the move
Baden-Baden 1870     Baden-Baden Tournament     12.5  /  18
London, England 1872 (1)     City of London Club Handicap    
  Steinitz, W. - Lowson, H.     2 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a rook
  Steinitz, W. - Swyer, S.     2 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
  Steinitz, W. - Watson (2)     2 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and two moves
  Steinitz, W. - Potter, W.N.     2 - 0    
  Steinitz, W. - Thomson, R.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
  Steinitz, W. - Keates     2 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and two moves
London, England 1872 (3)     British Chess Association Grand Tourney     6  /  6
London, England 1872 (4)     British Chess Association Handicap Tournament    
  Steinitz, W. - Fenton, R.H.F.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of pawn and move
  Steinitz, W. - Zukertort, J.H.     1 - 2    
Vienna 1873 (2)     Vienna International Tournament     20.5  /  25
  Steinitz, W. - Blackburne, J.H.     2 - 0    
London, England 1874 (9)     City of London Club - Bermondsey Club Match    
  Steinitz, W. - Huttley, E.J.     1 - 0          Steinitz, W. gave odds of a knight
Vienna 1882 (2)     Vienna International Tournament     22  /  32
  Steinitz, W. - Winawer, S.A.     1 - 1    
London, England 1883 (5)     London Tournament     21.5  /  32
New York 1894 (6)     New York Tournament     8.5  /  10
Hastings 1895 (7)     Hastings International Congress - Master's Tournament     13  /  21
Saint Petersburg 1896     Saint Petersburg Tournament     9.5  /  18
Nuremberg 1896     Nuremberg Tournament     11  /  18
Murray Isle, Thousand Islands 1897 (1)     7th Staats-Zeitung Challenge Cup Tournament     2.5  /  4
  Steinitz, W. - Lipschutz, S.     0.5 - 0.5    
Vienna 1898 (3)     Kaiser Jubiläumsturnier     23.5  /  36
Cologne 1898 (2)     11th German Chess Federation Congress - Meisterturnier     9.5  /  15
London, England 1899 (3)     London Major Tournament     10.5  /  26


Player information updated: 17 Jul. 2025