German-born Emanuel Lasker held the World Chess Championship title for an unbroken 27 years, from 1894 to 1921 -- the longest reign in chess history, a record that still stands today. Lasker was a true Renaissance figure who also made notable contributions to mathematics and philosophy, and counted Albert Einstein among his close friends. In the modern era, with title matches held on a regular schedule, it is virtually impossible for this record to be surpassed.