GM Stuart Conquest, Dr Stella-Sawicki help rededicate Chess Legend Johannes Zukertort's Grave

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Hi everyone,

GM Stuart Conquest at Zukertort's grave

The grave of Polish Grandmaster Johannes Zukertort (1842-1888) was rededicated recently thanks to the efforts of Dr Marek Stella-Sawicki, Chairman of the Polish Heritage Society and English GM Stuart Conquest. The earlier forgotten and overgrown grave of Johannes Zukertort in Brompton Cemetery in London was given a brand new headstone.

On 26 June the grave was rededicated in a ceremony conducted by Rt. Rev. Walter Jagucki, Bishop Emeritus of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, and Father Wladyslaw Wyszowacki, Rector of the Polish Catholic parish of Balham in south-west London. It is a befitting fitting memorial for a great player of the 19th Century who passed away at the young age of 45. Zukertort was one of the strongest chess players in the world during the 1870s and 1880s. His best tournament victory was in London, 1883 ahead of all the best players in the world, including Wilhelm Steinitz.

Zukertort lost an early lead to Wilhelm Steinitz in a match in 1886 which is generally recognized as the first official World Chess Championship match. Zukertort settled in London in the 1870s and died there on 20 June 1888.

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