The Ink War

The rivalry between William Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, the world's strongest chess players in the late nineteenth century, became so fierce that it was named The Ink War. They fought their battle on the chessboard and in various chess magazines and columns. It was not only about who was the strongest player but also about who had the best ideas on how to play the game. After his bestseller Move First, Think Later and his much-acclaimed second book, On the Origin of Good Moves, IM Willy Hendriks once again offers his unique perspective in a well-researched story that continues to captivate until the tragic outcome. The Ink War gives a beautiful impression of the 19th-century chess world and the birth of modern chess.