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Johannes Zukertort Grave (Ceremony)

Rededication of Johannes Zukertort Grave

New restored Johannes Zukertort Grave. Photo © John Saunders.

New restored Johannes Zukertort Grave. Photo © John Saunders. | http://goo.gl/5Pa2b

The grave of Johannes Zukertort was rededicated yesterday at Brompton Cemetery, thanks to the efforts of GM Stuart Conquest and support from the Polish Embassy. Zukertort is considered to have been the second best player in the world from about 1871-1886. His burgeoning reputation led him to be invited to London in 1872, where he lived as a professional chess player. Amongst his many talents was an unrivalled ability to play blindfold games simultaneously, he held the world record of sixteen.

His greatest triumph was at the London tournament in 1883 where he finished three points ahead of Wilhelm Steinitz with the astonishing score of 22/26. Zukertort won twenty two and lost four. Draws were replayed and Zukertort played thirty three games in all. The tournament lasted over seven weeks.

This led to Zukertort challenging Steinitz in the first official world title match in 1886, played at New York, St Louis and New Orleans. Steinitz won 10-5 with 5 draws as Zukertort's health failed.

Two years later Zukertort had a stroke while playing at Simpson's in the Strand and died the following day.

J Zukertort - W Steinitz

World Championship Game 5 1886

Slav Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.cxd5! cxd5 6.Qb3 Bc8

(6...Qd7 7.Bb5 Nc6 8.Nf3 e6 9.Ne5 with the initiative)

7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Ne5! e6 9.Bb5 Qc7 10.Bd2 Bd6 11.f4!

Wilhelm Steinitz

r_b_k__r
ppq__ppp
__nbpn__
_B_pN___
___P_P__
_QN_P___
PP_B__PP
R___K__R

Johannes Zukertort

Position after 11.f4!

11...0-0 12.Rc1 Bxe5 13.fxe5 Ne8 14.0-0 f6 15.Bd3! Rf7

(15...Bd7? 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qxd5+ Kh8 18.e6 Bc8 19.Qh5 g6 20.Bxg6 Qe7 21.d5 Ne5 22.Bb4 wins)

16.Qc2

Wilhelm Steinitz

r_b_n_k_
ppq__rpp
__n_pp__
___pP___
___P____
__NBP___
PPQB__PP
__R__RK_

Johannes Zukertort

Position after 16.Qc2

16...f5

(16...fxe5 17.Bxh7+ Kh818.Nb5 Qe7 19.Rxf7 Qxf7 20.Rf1 Qe7 21.Qg6 Nf6 22.Nd6 Qxd6 23.Rxf6)or 16...g6 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.exf6; 16...h6 17.Bg6 Re7 18.Bxe8 Rxe8 19.exf6 all win for White)

17.Ne2 Bd7 18.Rf2 Rc8 19.Bc3 Qb6 20.Qd2 Ne7 21.Rcf1 Bb5 22.Bb1 Qa6 23.g4 g6 24.h3 Rc725.Re1 Ng7?!

(25...Bxe2!)

26.Nf4 Nc8 27.gxf5 gxf5

(27...Nxf5 28.e4)

28.Rg2 Kh8 29.Kh2 Qc6 30.Reg1 Ne7 31.Qf2 Qe8?

Wilhelm Steinitz

____q__k
ppr_nrnp
____p___
_b_pPp__
___P_N__
__B_P__P
PP___QRK
_B____R_

Johannes Zukertort

Position after 31...Qe8?

32.Rxg7! 1-0

32...Rxg7 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 34.Nxe6+ and Nxc7

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