18 July 1866—10 August 1866

Game	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Total
Anderssen	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	6
Steinitz	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	8

Format: The winner of the first eight games to be declared the victor, draws not counting.
Time Control: 20 moves every 2 hours.
Wager: £200 (£100 a side Forster vs Burden)
Purse: £50 of the wager to the winner, £20 club subscription to the loser.
Preliminaries

Great Chess Match Between Professor Anderssen And Mr. Steinitz.
On Monday evening last a meeting of the leading London chessplayers was held in the rooms temporarily occupied by the Westminster Chess Club, Gordon Hotel, Covent-garden, for the purpose of settling the terms for the contest between Messrs. Anderssen and Steinitz. The chair was taken by Mr. Staunton, and among those assembled, besides the two combatants, were Messrs. Boden, Bird, Burden, McDonnell, De Vere, Hewitt, Russell, and Duffy. The important question of the stakes (£100 a side) having been previously disposed of, the attention of the meeting was directed chiefly to the consideration of the number of games to be played, the place of playing, the limitation of time in moving, and the duration of each sitting. These points were severally discussed; and, with more or less unanimity, the following conditions were finally agreed to both by the players of the match and their supporters:—


In accordance with the foregoing stipulations, the first game was played at the Westminster Chess Club on Wednesday, and, after a sitting of about six hours, was won by Mr. Anderssen.

Match At Chess Between Herren Anderssen And Steinitz.
The history of this match, the most interesting which has taken place in London for some years past, is as follows: About a month or more ago a discussion arose in the course of a casual conversation amongst several metropolitan amateurs as to the relative merits and powers in play of the leading continental masters, especially Herr Anderssen and Herr Steinitz. As some difference of opinion existed, one amateur (Mr Forster) very spiritedly proposed to bring the matter to a test by stating that he was willing to back Mr Steinitz for the sum of £100 in a match. This proposal was at once taken up by Mr Burden, who was joined in his wager by about half a dozen other gentlemen, so that there was speedily subscribed another £100, waged on each side (between Mr Forster and Mr Burden and Co.) the sum of £50 should be proffered to the winner of a short match, if Herr Anderssen would come over and play with Herr Steinitz in London. On being written to by Herr Steinitz, however, Anderssen naturally declined to undertake a long and costly journey unless he were guaranteed £20 towards his expenses in case he ultimately came off loser of the match.

On this being represented to Mr Burden and Mr Forster they declined to be responsible for the extra amount, and the match might have hung fire for a short space* had not the members of the London Chess Club, on being spoken to as to the state of affairs, immediately offered to subscribe £10 of the required £20, proposing that the St. George's Chess Club should find the other £10, and that in return the games of the match should be played at these two clubs alternately. Mr Medley, the active and zealous secretary of the London Club, whose exertions have promoted many an exciting chessboard battle, at once gave his guarantee for the money due from the members of that circle, and Mr Forster and Mr Burden agreed to the condition proposed. Pending these arrangements, however, and ere Mr Anderssen arrived, the Westminster Chess Club was organised; and as Mr Forster and all the backers of Herr Anderssen had become members of it, this society considered it only due to their club that a portion of this attractive match should take place in their rooms. A proposal for this re-arrangement was made to the London Chess Club, and was received in the most fair and gentlemanly spirit, that circle of amateurs at once agreeing to waive the previous agreement, if the Westminster Club would take their share in the payment of the £20 expenses. It was then agreed on all sides that each of the three clubs would find a third part of the £20, that this £20 should in any case be given tot he loser of the match, and that the games should be played alternately at the Westminster Chess Club, the London, and the St. George's.

Mr Anderssen had now arrived in town, and all that remained to be done was to arrange the terms of the match, which was presently accomplished at a meeting of the promoters of the match and their representatives, held at the Westminster Club's rooms, at the Gordon Tavern, Covent-garden, Mr Staunton in the chair. The terms decided were briefly these: That the winner of the first eight games should be declared victor, and entitled to the sum of £50; that the loser should be entitled to £20; that in case of any dispute, the Earl of Dartrey, known to all chess players as Lord Cremorne, be appealed to as final umpire; that all members of the London, the St. George's, and the Westminster Chess Clubs have free admission throughout to see the play, as also the members of the British Chess Association; that the games are the property of any on-looker who chooses to record them; that the games be played according to the set of rules preferred by the players; and that the games, four per week, and always commencing at one o'clock in the day, be played at the three clubs in rotation, in the order which we have already indicated, and which order was justly decided by the casting of lots.

* We say only for the moment, because we understand that as soon as the project reached Mr Staunton's ears he offered to guarantee the £20 himself.

M. P.—The old institution of "seconds" has not been forgotten in the match now pending. At the request of the players, Mr. Staunton and Mr. Hewitt consented to officiate for Anderssen, and Mr. Boden and Mr. Strode for Steinitz. The Earl of Dartrey, too, very kindly accepted the post of umpire in the contest.

We give the first game in the match between Anderssen and Steinitz.

Match Between Herren Anderssen And Steinitz.
After losing the first game of this contest, given in our last, Mr Steinitz made a tremendous "spurt," and scored the next three games, all in succession. [...] The present state of the score gives to Mr A. 1, Mr S. 3, with no drawn games.

Match Between Anderssen and Steinitz.—On Thursday five games in all had been played in this match, of which Anderssen won the first and lost the remaining four. This result is highly favourable to his youthful antagonist. The player who first scores eight won games carries off the laurel of victory, and the minor stake of the £500 [sic; £50] for which the match is played. Particular interest is naturally felt for Steinitz, he being permanently located here, while our old friend Anderssen has so many times come over and defeated every player we could ever match him with, except Paul Morphy, that he may well afford for once to strike his flag, should such be the result, without a blemish on his shield. The time for each move being limited, according to the excellent plan introduced by the London Chess Club, is slightly in favour of Anderssen, as Steinitz, when unlimited, is a very slow player. The fives games played are all of first-rate character and brilliancy. All credit is due to the British Chess Association, who got up the match and furnished the cash at stake.

The Anderssen-Steinitz Match.—Since our last report Mr. Anderssen, after losing four games in succession, has recovered a portion of his ancient vigour; and, by winning the three last games, has placed himself once more breast to breast with his gallant little foe. The score, as we write, stands:—Anderssen, 4; Steinitz, 4; Drawn, 0.

Anderssen And Steinitz.—Since our last notice of this interesting match things have taken a turn, and Anderssen has won five games to four. Whether he held Steinitz a little too cheap, or whether the energies of the latter relaxed, such is the result of matters at present. We had the pleasure of seeing the ninth game played on Wednesday at the London Club, Cornhill, and the victory was gained by Anderssen in the most masterly style. He seemed to have fully appreciated the force of the young Austrian, and played in his very best form. The opening was the Evans Gambit, against which attack we reluctantly begin to admit a complete defence has yet to be discovered. In playing the attack Anderssen makes a long waiting game, bringing his Queen's Knight over to the King's side, and opening a fearful battery with King's Rook; while second player is choked up on his Queen's side, and virtually contends with at least two pieces off the field. They play a game on Monday at the New Westminster Club, at their temporary place of meeting, Gordon's Hotel, Covent-garden.

Match Between Herren Anderssen And Steinitz.
Within the last week the tide of success has again turned; and, after losing four games running, Mr Anderssen appears to have "warmed to his work," for he then gained four consecutive games, and the score, as we write, gives to Mr A. five and to Mr S. four. No draws.

Anderssen And Steinitz.—The match between Anderssen and Steinitz has again changed its appearance; Steinitz, while we write, having won seven games to six. The first who wins eight games takes the victory. To have thus turned the tables on the veteran is a feat on the part of Steinitz worthy of all praise; and is the result of the hard practice he has had during a London residence of four years, grafted on his great genius for chess. Anderssen plays as coolly as ever; known as the man of iron nerves, and never more to be dreaded than when he has a loss to fetch up; so we venture no prophecy on the event now so shortly to be decided. All the games played are of great brilliancy, chiefly Evans's gambits. We shall print them in due season when the match is concluded, until which we consider all publication of games hardly propr. Should Steinitz come off victor, we trust Anderssen's chivalrous friend, Herr Neumann, may be tempted to visit England to redeem the Prussian laurel. Anderssen and Neumann have long ranked as the two first German players now in the field, and our chess column has been favoured with many and repeated proofs of their excellence as rival players.

Match Between Herren Anderssen And Steinitz.
Never has a match at chess been more closely and gallantly contested than this. The thirteenth game of the match, won by Herr Steinitz last Wednesday, gave him a score of seven to Herr Anderssen's six, not a single game having been drawn.

The Chess Match Between Anderssen And Steinitz.—The interest of this match culminated on Friday afternoon, when the "veteran" and his "gallant little foe" met at the St. George's Chess Rooms to play the fourteenth and (as it turned out) deciding game. It will be remembered that the winner of the first eight games was to be entitled to the stakes (£100). At the commencement of the proceedings on Friday, the score was as follows:—Anderssen, 6; Steinitz, 7. These games, all brilliantly played, showed that Mr. Anderssen still possessed many of the qualities which enabled him to carry off the prize of the International Contest of 1851, as well as that of 1862. The play on Friday was as fine as it was interesting; and at its conclusion Mr. Steinitz proved the victor, having, after a protracted game, given checkmate to his veteran opponent.

Chess Match.—Steinitz And Anderssen.—We have to announce the termination of this interesting match in favour of Steinitz, who won eight games to six. They were all games of much brilliancy, and present positions of great difficulty. Anderssen highly compliments his youthful conqueror on the rank he has secured among chess players. Steinitz came here from Vienna in 1862, and by his genius for the game and constant hard practice with all comers, the best players the most acceptable, has attained the honourable rank of first player in this country. Steinitz is prepared to play a match with any foreign player, who may wish to redeem Anderssen's laurels. There were no drawn games in the match.

Match Between Herren Anderssen And Steinitz.
This exciting struggle has at length ended in the Austrian's defeating the Prussian, Herr Steinitz having gained eight games to his opponent's six. There is no doubt that this final score is the reverse of what was expected by most players conversant with the powers of both combatants, and by achieving this result Herr Steinitz was placed himself very high up in the first class of chess players; and we may add that as a match player he is probably surpassed by no one except Morphy. On the part of Herr Anderssen we may fairly say, and that without the slightest disparagement of Herr Steinitz's hardly and bravely earned victory, that he did not manage judiciously in his choice of openings, that he risked too much by plunging into bad defences, and that, as if feeling himself pressed for time and dreading a long protraction of the match, he risked the chance of loss rather incur inevitably drawn positions. We may add that there are hopes of a return match being brought about by the amateurs of the London chess circles.

The Anderssen-Steinitz Match.—This interesting contest, which has occupied so large a share of the attention of chess-players throughout Europe for the last month, was brought to a conclusion, we are informed, a few days since by Mr. Steinitz scoring eight games to his opponent's six. We have only room this week to announce the result.

The Westminster Chess Club And The Anderssen-Steinitz Match.—Mr. Forster, the gentleman who liberally backed Mr. Steinitz in this contest for £100, has written to us to say that he is not a member of the Westminster Chess Club. The statement, which appeared in our columns a few weeks back, that the whole of the stakes in the match were subscribed by members of that club is therefore erroneous.

Match Between Steinitz And Anderssen.—This interesting Chess conflict has terminated, as we stated on the 12th inst., in favour of Mr. Steinitz, who scored eight games to his opponent's six. The result fully justifies the opinion which we expressed previous to the match, viz., that Mr. Steinitz is the best foreign Chess player now resident in England. The play throughout has been of the most brilliant description, but we think Mr. Anderssen's tactics were faulty in choosing Gambit openings for an important match. Had he adopted 1. P to K B 4th, or 1. P to Q B 4th when he had the first move, and the Sicilian defence as second player, the result of the match might, possibly, have been different. In saying this, we by no means desire to detract of the well-earned reputation of Mr. Steinitz, who gained his victory like a first-rate Chess player, which is assuredly is.

L. C. H.—It is true, we understand, though known only at the time to his opponent and two or three friends, that Mr. Anderssen was seriously indisposed while playing the late match.

Match Between Anderssen And Steinitz.—We understand that a plan is on foot in Chess circles for promoting a second match between these gentlemen. As it would create general interest in the Chess world, we hope the report may prove to be well founded.

The Match Between Anderssen And Steinitz.
The match between Herren Anderssen and Steinitz is, if we are not mistaken, the first set encounter of any duration which has ever taken place between masters representing the rival schools of Austria and Prussia. Just at the time at which the young levies of Prussia were proving there superiority over the old experienced armies of the Austrian Empire, a quiet, unassuming Austrian player was avenging, in his own way, the defeat of Sadowa, and gaining victory over Professor Anderssen, the famous Prussian champion, a veteran of a hundred successful battles in the mimic war of Chess. Germany was divided against herself in both instances; there the contest was physical, and the laurels of the conqueror not unstained with blood; here it was mental, and the crown could be worn without causing misery, whilst a great neutral but friendly country looked on as arbiter of the lists, and afforded the fairest field for action, for there was no fear lest she should turn either the defeat of the one of the aggrandisement of the other to her own peculiar advantage.