World Championship 1896–1897: Lasker – Steinitz
Steinitz earned a rematch by finishing second to Lasker at St. Petersburg 1895–96, but in Moscow the young champion left no doubt at all. Lasker won ten games to two to retain the title — a result so one-sided it silenced any suggestion that his 1894 victory owed anything to Steinitz's age.
◈The rematch Steinitz wanted
After losing the title in 1894, Steinitz set out to prove it a fluke. A strong second place behind Lasker at the St. Petersburg 1895–96 quadrangular — ahead of Pillsbury and Chigorin — let him raise support for a return match, staged in Moscow over the winter of 1896–97.
It was Lasker's first defence of the crown he had taken two years earlier.
◈No doubt left
This time there was no early parity. Lasker dominated from the start and won by ten wins to two, with five draws — a final score of 12½–4½. His command of the match settled the question of who was the world's best player beyond argument.
The defeat broke Steinitz: weeks after the match his mental health collapsed. Lasker, meanwhile, would hold the title until 1921, the longest reign in the history of the championship.
◈Cross Table
| Player | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasker | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 12½ |
| Steinitz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 4½ |
1 win · ½ draw · 0 loss — click a game number to replay it.