Title matches

How title-match chess changed

In the 1880s one game in six was drawn. In the 2010s it was more than three in four. Blunders fell from one every hundred moves to one every four hundred. The players didn't get timid; they got harder to beat.

Draws and White's wins

Games drawn Games won by White

Blunders

Blunders per 100 moves

A blunder: a move that cost 20% or more of its own side's chances, as the coach sees it.

The first moves, by era

1875–1899

1900–1924

1925–1949

1950–1974

1975–1999

2000–2024