Showalter-Pillsbury 1897
Jackson Whipps Showalter was the reigning United States chess champion in 1897 when he extended a challenge to up and coming phenom Harry Nelson Pillsbury. The match stipulations were that the first player to win seven games (draws not counting) was to be declared the winner. In the event of a 6-6 score, the match would be extended to the first to win ten games. Finally, in the event of a 9-9 score, the match would be declared drawn and the title would stay with the champion Showalter.
Pillsbury led early on in the match, but Showalter fought back and actually had a chance to win the match at 6-5. Pillsbury won a dramatic game 12 with the black pieces to extend the match to the first player to win ten games, eventually prevailing by the score of 10 wins, 8 losses, and 3 draws. Showalter was granted a rematch the following year, with Pillsbury winning more convincingly (+7 -3 =2).
The two of them are forever linked in chess history as a result of their two memorable matches against each other. They additionally played the first two boards for the United States in several of the Anglo-American cable matches against Great Britain.
Below is one of their memorable games from the 1897 match:
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