Hastings 1895

Hastings 1895 was a major tournament held in Hastings, England, from August 5 to September 2, 1895. Its 22-player field included world champion Emanuel Lasker, former champion Wilhelm Steinitz, and many leading masters. Harry Nelson Pillsbury, then relatively unknown in Europe and making his first major international appearance, won with 16.5 points from 21 games.

The event used a single round-robin: every participant played each of the other 21 once. A win scored one point and a draw half a point. Mikhail Chigorin finished second with 16, while Lasker placed third with 15.5. Pillsbury's result immediately established him as an international star and gave the tournament a distinct historical identity.

The official book, edited by Horace F. Cheshire and published in 1896, collected 230 games, annotations by several participants, and biographical sketches. It allowed the event to remain accessible for study long afterward. Hastings 1895 should be distinguished from the many later congresses in the same town. Like London 1851, it names one specific historic edition rather than a general tournament category.