[r9etb]

Grindelwald stole the wand from the previous owner, remember? So he was not the “true master” of the wand and it did nothing special for him. Dumbledore did win the wand so he was its master... I think... that was the implication anyway.

But Malfoy did not "win" Dumbledore's wand, and Harry didn't "win" Malfoy's wand, either. Ollivander's discussion of wandlore, and the connection between wizard and wands, makes it sound like they don't really understand what makes a person the "master" of the Elder Wand.

Going back to the Tale of the Three Brothers, the wand itself is supposed to represent one aspect of cheating death. Perhaps the "master" of the wand is the one who can give it up.

So Grindelwald was never its master. Dumbledore wasn't able to master his fear of death, until the end, but perhaps the wand "knew" regardless. Harry definitely was its master. Malfoy probably never was.

[Smedley]

Grindelwald stole the wand from the previous owner, remember? So he was not the “true master” of the wand and it did nothing special for him.

Actually, I thought that Grindelwald managed to stun the owner as he was making a getaway, so the implication is unclear.

[grellis]

But Malfoy did not "win" Dumbledore's wand

He did, when he disarmed him on the tower.

[TalonDJ]

But Malfoy did not "win" Dumbledore's wand, and Harry didn't "win" Malfoy's wand, either. Ollivander's discussion of wandlore, and the connection between wizard and wands, makes it sound like they don't really understand what makes a person the "master" of the Elder Wand.

Ollivander made it clear taht disarming someone made the wand 'yours'. So Malfoy did 'win' it by the standards of what transfers wand 'ownership'.