Lengthy Correspondence

‘In fact it is now conceded by all experts that by proper play on both sides the legitimate issue of a game ought to be a draw…’ Those words were written by Wilhelm Steinitz, who became the first world champion after beating Johannes Zukertort in 1886. But their 20-game match saw 75 per cent decisive games, a quantity of bloodshed that would be unimaginable in the 21st century. By comparison, Magnus Carlsen has played five world championship matches, in which less than 25 per cent of the classical (slow) games were decisive. It is not a matter of style, but rather of skill – the fact is that modern players make far fewer mistakes.

Modern chess computers are qualitatively stronger than the human world champion, which means that matches between these engines produce an even lower percentage of decisive games. (The ‘Top Chess Engine Championship’ successfully mitigates this sterility by starting the games from various risky and unbalanced opening positions.)