Adolf Anderssen
Adolf Anderssen was the best player in the world for a lot of his life, but was never ‘World Champion’ because there was no official match or organisation to arrange an official match. But from the time he won the 1851 London Tournament (the first ever international chess tournament), he was recognised as being the best player, and the “world’s champion of chess”, up until another victory in London in 1862. He lost a match to Morphy in 1859 and another to Steinitz in 1866, and some people date Steinitz’ reign from that date (including Steinitz!), although that 1866 match was not for an official title.
He was a wonderful attacking player, but lost matches to Morphy (1859) and Steinitz (1866), who both knew how to attack, but understood more than Anderssen about developing and defending. But he was a great favourite, not just among chess fans, but also chess players, for being a decent chap as well as a terrific player.
Frederick Edge describes Anderssen:
“I have never seen a nobler-hearted gentleman than Herr Anderssen. He would sit at the board, examining the frightful positions which Morphy had forced him, until his whole face was radiant with admiration of his antagonist’s strategy, and positively laughing outright, he would recommence resetting the pieces for another game, without a comment.”
He played two of the most famous chess games ever, which I give you below. In both games, Anderssen sacrifices his Queen, and more besides!
But first here is a game against Zukertort, who played Steinitz in the first match for the World Championship. Anderssen gives up a pawn but the position becomes quite blocked. White then attacks down the g-file, and is not afraid to sacrifice to do so:
This game, from the first ever international chess tournament, is known as ‘the Immortal Game’:
And this game is known as ‘the Evergreen Game’