20 Greatest Chess Players In History

Masters of the Sixty-Four Squares

Chess is a game that continues to fascinate millions of people across the globe. Over the centuries, certain individuals have elevated the game from a mere pastime to a high-stakes art form that requires nerves of steel. Some of these names might be recognized from history books or Netflix specials, but each one brought something totally unique to the board.

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1. Garry Kasparov

His aggressive style of play is what many attribute to him being the gold standard of modern chess. Garry also spent years playing against stronger and stronger computers, proving that humans could still be as good as chess machines. Kasparov won more games than anybody else at his peak and showed great sportsmanship throughout his career.

2. Magnus Carlsen

Magnus has a way of squeezing wins out of positions that look completely equal to everyone else watching. He’s known for his incredible endgame technique and a versatile approach that makes it almost impossible for opponents to prepare for him. His dominance in the current era is so absolute that he’s become a household name even for people who don’t play the game.

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3. Bobby Fischer

Bobby popularized chess for millions of people during the middle of the 20th century. His obsession took him to the highest level of technical proficiency that the game of chess has ever seen. Fischer was definitely an eccentric character, but he dominated the world stage with his astonishing wins.

The AP lists

4. Anatoly Karpov

He mastered the art of winning slowly by taking away all of his opponents’ resources. He was World Champion for ten years and played more games at the top level than any other player. Anatoly was able to keep up with the biggest political chess shifts while dominating with his deep-thinking positional play.

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5. Mikhail Tal

Mikhail was the magician from Riga, as he would surprise everyone with crazy sacrifices at the worst times. Tal didn’t care about perfect moves as long as they frightened his opponents into making mistakes. His games are considered the most fun to study for those who enjoy creative chess.

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6. Emanuel Lasker

Holding the world champion title for twenty-seven consecutive years is a record that likely won't ever be broken in this lifetime. Emanuel was a philosopher and mathematician who understood the psychological aspect of the game better than his contemporaries did. He managed to stay at the top of the rankings while the world dealt with the economic fallout of the early 1900s.

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7. José Raúl Capablanca

Capablanca had a natural talent for chess, which earned him the nickname “Human Chess Machine.” The Cuban champion went over a year without losing a single tournament round at his peak. For those looking for someone who plays clean, lecture-style chess, look no further.

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8. Alexander Alekhine

Alexander proved that studying chess at home could actually lead to a world championship. He was a ferocious attacker who loved to calculate complicated variations faster than everyone else. Hard work led him to his goal of becoming World Champion once again.

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9. Viswanathan Anand

As the first grandmaster from India, "Vishy" sparked a massive chess explosion in his home country that’s still growing today. He’s celebrated for his lightning-fast intuition and his ability to win world titles in many different formats, including blitz and rapid. It is noticeable that he always carries himself with a quiet dignity that has made him one of the most respected figures in the community.

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10. Mikhail Botvinnik

Mikhail was known as the father of the Soviet chess school and approached the game like a science. He was one of the first players to focus on physical fitness and opened up ideas of how to use technology to improve at chess. He helped lead the way during chess’s reconstruction period.

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11. Vladimir Kramnik

The man who defeated Garry Kasparov to win the World Chess Championship. Vladimir made the Berlin Defense popular at the highest level of chess and still uses it to this day. For cold, hard chess logic, there is nobody more famous than Vladimir Kramnik.

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12. Tigran Petrosian

If defense is valued above all else, Tigran is the player who will likely seem most impressive. He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" because his defensive maneuvers were so subtle that opponents often didn't realize they were losing until it was too late. He survived the hardships of the mid-20th century to become a champion who prioritized safety and patience.

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13. Paul Morphy

Playing in the 1800s, Morphy is said to be the first modern chess player because he understood the concept of development. Paul toured through Europe, picking up wins against the best players, and retired at the age of 21. Even though he has been gone for over a century, lessons can still be learned from the “Opera Game.”

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14. Judith Polgar

Breaking through the glass ceiling, Judith proved that gender has absolutely nothing to do with intellectual prowess at the board. She was a fierce attacking player who consistently beat world champions and stayed in the top ten rankings for years. Her legacy is one of pure talent and the courage to compete against the very best in a male-dominated field.

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15. Boris Spassky

Spassky could play any kind of position placed before him. He’s perhaps best known for his involvement in the match of the century and for displaying amazing sportsmanship during one of the most stressful situations. Everyone loves Boris’ games because they show how to stay calm under pressure.

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16. Levon Aronian

This Armenian superstar is beloved for his quirky personality and his incredibly creative, often unorthodox, ideas on the board. He has won almost every major tournament at least once and is known for being a very difficult opponent to predict. His influence has made chess a national obsession in Armenia, which is a notable achievement for any athlete.

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17. Fabiano Caruana

Fabiano is an American-Italian grandmaster who famously went on a seven-game winning streak against the best in the world at the Sinquefield Cup. His preparation is legendary, and he’s one of the few players who has pushed Magnus Carlsen to the absolute limit in a title match. He appears as a modern-day scholar who uses computers to find tiny advantages that others miss.

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18. Hikaru Nakamura

He gained a reputation as a “speed freak” due to his reckless play in online chess. Now, Hikaru is one of the best classical players in all of chess and has brought a new, younger audience to the game. Notice how he calmly defends razor-thin positions with only seconds on his clock.

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19. Veselin Topalov

Veselin was known for his "all or nothing" approach, often choosing to sacrifice material just to keep the initiative and stay on the attack. This fearless style led him to the world championship and made him a fan favorite for anyone who dislikes boring draws. He played during the early 2000s, a time when computers were starting to change the game forever.

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20. Vasily Smyslov

The Russian grandmaster was actually trained as an opera singer. His endgame prowess was so beautiful and harmonious that it seemed as if he were telling a story. He looked for the truth in every position rather than trying to trick his opponents.

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