THE INK WAR (PB)

The Ink War (PB) is an English-language paperback chess book about one of the most famous rivalries in chess history: Wilhelm Steinitz versus Johannes Zukertort. More than a match report, it explores the debate over ideas and style that helped shape modern chess.

Written by IM Willy Hendriks, author of Move First, Think Later and On the Origin of Good Moves, this book offers his distinctive view of a defining period in the game’s development. Hendriks follows the story not only across the board, but also through magazines, journals and chess columns, where the argument over who understood chess more deeply played out in public.

What this book covers

The book takes the reader into nineteenth-century chess, when the foundations of modern strategic and positional thinking were being formed. Hendriks combines careful research with a narrative that carries the story through to its dramatic conclusion. That makes it a strong choice for anyone who wants to understand where modern chess ideas came from, as well as for readers interested in the history of world-class players.

Who it’s for

It will appeal to chess history enthusiasts, ambitious club players and collectors of English-language chess books. It also makes a thoughtful gift for a player who enjoys more than move-by-move analysis and wants the wider context behind the game’s development.

Key details

• Product type: paperback chess book
• Author: IM Willy Hendriks
• Language: English
• Binding: paperback
• Subject: the rivalry between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort
• Page count: 468