Johannes Hermann Zukertort was born on 7 September 1842 in Lublin, then part of the Russian Empire. He was one of the world's best players in the 1870s and 1880s, and in 1886 he played what is regarded as the first official World Chess Championship match against Wilhelm Steinitz. Although he had quickly built up a 4-1 lead, Zukertort eventually lost the match 12½-7½. Two years after the match Zukertort died in London on 20 June 1888.
/
