Most chess historians (0) AGREE that the first chess world championship place in 1886 in the United States. On one side was an Austrian chess champion Wilhelm Steinitz, who for many years was to be one of the best in the world. Playing against him was Johannes Zukertort from Poland, living in the UK, and another player who many believed at the time was one of the world’s greats. According the contract, the match would be for the championship of the world and would of 20 games played in three different cities: New York, St Louis and New Orleans. Steinitz won 10-5 and was world champion until 1894. Steinitz was in how the game should be played and many of his ideas had a big influence the modern game.