POSITIONAL PLAY

Wilhelm Steinitz was the first official world chess champion. Known for his original contributions to chess strategy, many call him the founder of modern chess. He was also an influential writer, editor, and publisher. After his loss to Dr. Emanuel Lasker, his mental health deteriorated rapidly. In his final years, he claimed he could telephone any person anywhere without wire, could move chess pieces by thought alone, was an early advocate of the health practices of Monsignor Kneipp, and finally challenged God to a chess match (with odds of pawn and first move). He died in the East River Sanitarium in New York City, destitute and insane, on August 12th, 1900…the setting of this one-act play titled POSITIONAL PLAY. In 1987, the second year of induction, Steinitz was named to the United States Chess Hall of Fame.