Joseph Wolfl vs. Beethoven
Beethoven was simply good at what he did, and that made him a bigger target for other performers who were trying to carve out reputations. Wolfl and Beethoven were friends at one point, but Wolfl apparently became upset with his status as the second. He then challenged Beethoven to a piano duel in 1799. By the time the duel took place, Wolfl had already played many concerts all over Europe.
Source: Primephonic
Beethoven was informed that he was no longer without competition. Wolfl was 6 feet tall and had gigantic hands that could stretch a thirteenth on the piano. Beethoven was 5’3 and 3/4” and only managed a tenth. The duel played out in the same way as his duel against Steibelt. Beethoven and Wolfl were evenly matched for the first round, but in the second and third, Beethoven won fair and square. When it came to sight-reading and improvisation, Beethoven had no equal.