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Wilhelm Steinitz, Austro-Hungary, 1866-94

Steinitz was the first official world chess champion and perhaps the most profound chess thinker of all time. He rethought the game for a generation, emphasizing the importance of small, accumulated advantages. His ideas were very controversial, and he was never very popular for adhering to them.

By all accounts, Steinitz was a striking figure with short legs, a massive head, powerful shoulders and arms. He was a good swimmer. He walked with a limp.

Steinitz had a winning record against many of the best players the game of chess has produced: Pillsbury, Lasker, Chigorin, Zukertort, Blackburne, and Anderssen.