Emanuel Lasker defeated reigning champion William Steinitz to claim the World Chess Championship, beginning a reign he would hold for 27 years.
Key Facts
- Match duration
- 15 March – 26 May 1894
- Wins required to claim title
- 10 wins
- Age difference
- Lasker was 32 years younger than Steinitz
- Cities played across
- New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal
- Total games played
- 19 games
- Consecutive wins by Lasker from game 7
- 5 wins
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Emanuel Lasker, having relocated to the United States, challenged reigning World Chess Champion William Steinitz, who accepted after publicly considering retirement. Lasker had built his reputation by defeating several top European players, including Curt von Bardeleben in 1889 and Joseph Henry Blackburne in 1892, establishing himself as a credible challenger.
The fifth World Chess Championship was contested across New York City, Philadelphia, and Montreal from March 15 to May 26, 1894. After early exchanges kept the score level, Lasker seized control with five consecutive wins from game 7 onward. Despite Steinitz winning several subsequent games, he could not equalise, and Lasker secured his tenth win on May 26 to claim the title.
William Steinitz lost the World Chess Championship title he had held since 1886, ending his reign as the first undisputed world champion. Lasker went on to hold the title for 27 years. The two competitors met again in a rematch in 1896, with Lasker once again defeating Steinitz.
Result
at New York City, Philadelphia, and Montreal